Space Gun

Space Gun / Guided by Voices
Label: GBV Inc.

Reviewed: 6/25/2018
DJ Stace

26th Studio album from GBV, which is just ridiculous, right? WTF does Robert Pollard sleep? A collection of 2 minute epic indie-rock anthems scattered with GBV's Pete Townsendesque riffs. Bill C. told me "When in doubt, play Bauhaus" but you could just as easily say the same about GBV. Only a few stand-outs, here, but GBV fans will find plenty to love. At least there aren't 27 tracks, though. In fact, these are some of the longest songs in the GBV canon. Featuring Bobby Bare Jr., throughout.

FCCs: 7
RIYL: Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, rock&roll, Nada Surf, Doug Gillard

Favorites: 1,12,5,6,10,11,14,15

1. *** Space Gun (4:17) - One of the longest songs Pollard has ever written. Flies out of the gate with power-tool SFX giving way to that familiar and satisfying single guitar note, building to a chord. If you had nothing but the first 30 seconds of this song without vocals, there would still be no mistaking who it is. Epic, driving, crashing, rocking. Play it.
2. * Colonel Paper (1:59) - Mid-tempo aggressive rocking marcher. Pollards signature low-fi wall of guitar riffs.
3. King Flute (1:22) - This songs sounds like Pollard's on-stage flailing antics. Odd little rocker about wanting to be a flautist.
4. Ark Technician (2:18) - R.E.M./Big Star-like mid-tempo jangler with typical fantastical lyrics.
5. * See My Field (2:47) - Steady rocker with mellotron and strings.
6. ** Liar’s Box (2:49) - This one grabs you with the opening lyric "This is a liars' box Where anyone can speak," and the deft riffage Pollard unleashes on it.
7. FCC Blink Bank (3:25) FCC ("shit storm") - Bass drum beat drives this chugging low-key mid-temp tune. I like the backup vocals "bum, bum, bum, bum ,bum ,bum ,bum." Again, FCC
8. Daily Get Ups (1:35) - Brief, uptempo driving rocker. This seems like a great song to get ready in the morning to. Conservative use of handclaps is fun.
9. Hudson Rake (1:44) - Strange down-tempo anthem about smashing rats and raking them out of the Hudson River
10. ** Sport Component National (2:48) - You may find yourself involuntarily singing the refrain "Getting ready, getting ready to run," as Pollard really hammers it in there. Changes pace at about 1:40 to a wall of rock epic outro.
11. * I Love Kangaroos (3:07) - Pleasant Mid-tempo jangle rocker about sailing and liking kangaroos (yes, welcome to Pollardia).
12. *** Grey Spat Matters (1:28) - tiny, mid-tempo scorcher with Pollard at his vocal best. Ends ubruptly.
13. That’s Good (3:15) - Down-tempo, melancholy, ethereal strummer with moments of GBV riffage. Cool effect of the drums sounding like they are in another room. Nice string accompaniment.
14. * Flight Advantage (2:23) - Uptempo Who-like rocker. Pollards voice is strained in this one, but it's a bit endearing, actually. Spiders will dance.
15. * Evolution Circus (3:36) - Plodding, crashing, rocking closer outros with "Get on, get on, get on, get on up..."