New (and last) Guided by Voices album is....interesting.

[RandomKoolzip]

Just got it yesterday. Still haven't decided whetether it's a worthy parting salvo. After the serious letdown that was "Universal Truths" and the hot, creative comeback of "Earthquake Glue," This new one, "Half Smiles of the Decomposed," feels a little rushed. The usual ratio of masterpieces to filler is lower than the last one, but the masterpieces glow with radioactive genius like they used to (there's just three on this rec, though.)

I'll be the first rabid, frothing GbV fan to admit that Pollard's voice is shot, though. He really does need some time off.

I was thinking that the lst rec to bear the GbV insignia would be a poignant send-off, but there's nothing on here that feels heart-tuggingly sad or even resigned or exhausted. It just feels like...the new GbV. No "I'll be back" messages or ballads full of longing or regret; none of that. Just the usual filler plus a handful of songs where Bob and Co. are trying to rock out against their gremlins, i.e. the heartbreaking strain in Bob's voice and the age/alcoholic drag on the motor skills of the players.

Anyhow, pick it up anyways, because it's the last we'll hear of this institution, and because "Everyone Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)" is a breathtaking feat of songwriting. I give it three stars out a possible five.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

1. Why don't you like Iron & Wine?

Man - those are great songs!

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Ah come on.....

Whispering's not my thing. I've heard far too many sensitive, whispering males pour their hearts out in quiet gushes of romantic longing. It just doesn't cut through to me anymore, that kinda stuff. (Back in 92 when I was taping hours and hours of WYBC, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a band who sounded exactly like them.)

And Iron & Wine got their whole shtick from Sebadoh, anyways, who were better at it. It's not like they existed in a vacuum; there's literally dozens of very similar outfits. For some reason Iron & Wine got famous with that sound.

Have you ever heard of the Mountain Goats? If you like I&W, they might tickle yer clit.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. You just hate male musicians - admit it!

you bastard!

[RandomKoolzip]

4. No, just males with beards.

Except Jerry Garcia.

I mean, come on! The Doobie Brothers?! That guy from Phil Collins's band?! Mike Love circa 1971?!?

A beard is, in and of itself, a guarantor of musical inferiority.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. if you ever say anything even REMOTELY negative about Mike Love again

I will make sure you pee sitting down for the rest of your life!

[tigereye]

7. wait there RKZ

D Boon had a beard... :) at least in your picture

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

8. You tell em TE!

Huzzah!!!

[tigereye]

10. beautiful new icon C

hubby thinks so too.

you boys squabblin? ;)

time for Conan soon, seems a little quiet around here...

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

11. Me and my man RKZ have WAY too much love to ever squabble for real

I just differ in opinion with him sometimes.

Actually - what gets me is when I hear a band and think - man Koolzip would LOVE that - and he gives me some kind of response like "I hate people who whisper when they sing" and he ignores the excellent songwriting and melody structure, etc.

That really frosts my miniwheats!

[RandomKoolzip]

13. Actually, the melodies didn't knock me out either.

It's not just the whispering. Seriously, it all sounds very similar to stuff I used to hear on college radio circa 1992 and didn't like then either. And I never liked Elliot Smith, the other artist (besides early Sebadoh) that I&W reminds me of. Oh, and Nick Drake? IMO, the personification of mediocrity mistaken for genius due to early death. And the progenitor of the "whispering" school of male vocals: ick.

You've heard The Shins, right? Now THERE'S some excellent songwriting, with excellent vocals to deliver it.

I just have different standards than you, that's all. I envy your determination to wade through all that jazz and hip-hop. I don't have the where-withal to take that much of either genre. I'm sure you'd go nuts with irritability to endure half of the things that I have in my tape/CD collection. In fact, I KNOW hearing The Grifters or Brendan Benson or Any Trouble would make you shit/puke, but they give me hours and hours of pleasure.

It's all subjective, brah. And you know I love you (man) and have deep respect for your ass, so your taste in music is mere frosting on the multi-tiered cake that is Chavez. So don't take it personal!

(PS, you should see the look on Paul's face when he thinks I'll cream over some band or song he likes and I tell him it does nothing for me andd vice versa. Many's the time when I've made mix tapes for him and he hasn't liked a SINGLE thing on it! And me and Phil have been tight for years; the music was fucked!)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

16. I 've been tight with YOU for years and I'd still push you down the stairs

And I'd be craclin with energy!

Its all good - you just have shitty taste and I have good taste. Oh well - :)

- Martha Duddy

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

12. oh - this icon is far superior isn't it?

I'm trying to find the guy (or gal) who painted it so I can get a higher rez pic and buy a copy for my home

[RandomKoolzip]

14. That's not a beard....it's pubic hair.

He had an especially sticky chin and was performing cunnilingus the minute before that pic was taken.

(Um, the beard thing was a joke)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

6. Incidently comparing Iron & Wine to Sebadoh tells me you've never listened

to I & W

[jpgray]

9. Well, the new Brian Wilson album sucks

And the latest Fall album was pretty mediocre (like Middle Class Revolt). So I've been waiting for something that doesn't tarnish the memory.

[RandomKoolzip]

15. It's neither a big letdown or a regal finish.

It's just....there. I'm giving it a fifthe listen right now.

Actually I heard the new Fall album was a big comeback; what's the dealio?

Expecting Brian Wilson to cut the mustard NOW is like expecting to see my grandmother turn into a giant chromium dildo when I say the word "cock-sled." It's absurd, dig?

[jpgray]

17. I know--it's mostly collaborations and old stuff anyway

But I just got the Adult Child bootleg (which is hilarious and fun at the same time), so maybe I was expecting too much.

The new Fall album reminds me a lot of Middle Class Revolt. Almost too slickly produced, some neat guitar noises but no solid riffs--kind of a meandering vibe throughout. There are some good songs, but nothing really kicks my ass. It is much better than they have been lately.