English Little League
Robert Pollard isn\'t going to edit himself; we know that. So it\'s up to his fans to do it themselves. 2013\'s *English Little League* is the *fourth* album by the reunited mid-\'90s version of Guided by Voices in about a year. (A fifth one is planned for release before year\'s end.) Clearly, not even a prolific middle-age prodigy like Pollard can make clean contact this often. However, debating the merits of his relentless output is a sport of its own, and fans agreeing to disagreeing comes with the territory. Listeners have been noticing Tobin Sprout\'s contributions as well; here they include his Robyn Hitchcock–like \"Islands (She Talks in Rainbows)\" and acoustic Nikki Sudden–esque \"The Sudden Death of Epstein\'s Ways.\" These are sweet, measured counterpoints to Pollard\'s brazen, slap-in-the-face pop songs, which can either nail it down (\"Crybaby 4-Star Hotel\") or linger in lo-fi purgatory (\"A Burning Glass\"). Pollard and Sprout put together the lovely \"Noble Insect\" and the enjoyably psychedelic \"Birds.\" There\'s still plenty of gold in these hills. Just sift carefully.
English Little League is Guided by Voices' fourth LP since their comeback, meaning they've now made as many post-hiatus LPs as they managed during their "classic era." Amidst the booming arena-rockers, swift power-pop, proggy bluster, and wads of bubblegum, it marks the first appearance of recordings from Bob Pollard's new home-studio.
It should come as no surprise to the disciples of songwriting automaton Robert Pollard that the reunited “classic lineup” of Guided By Voices has released nearly as many records as its original ’93-’96 incarnation. Equally unsurprising is the fact that the 21st century Classic Coke version of the band has accomplished…
It truly sucks that the man who delivered us the near-perfect Bee Thousand almost 20 years ago is the same man who now is…