Album Profile: Robert Pollard - lord of the birdcage

Robert Pollard. The man's creativity and work ethic knows no bounds. His latest solo album "Lord Of The Birdcage", finds Bob wagging his smashed middle finger at rock and roll, the world, and himself. As any fan of Pollard's post Guided By Voices work can attest, his solo output can be maddeningly inconsistent. He follows his muse, wherever it leads him. I respect that, and would never want him to change this, even though it makes for some difficult listening at times. "Lord Of The Birdcage" is different. This feels like a completely focused, true album. Everyone wants to compare what Bob did with GBV to what he is doing now, and if I were hard pressed to do so I'd say that this is the sort of album that would fit nicely between "Isolation Drills" and "Universal Truths And Cycles". Which means nothing to a neophyte. So let me break this down for those unfamiliar with his work, in as compact a way as I can muster: Bob forms loose-nit band to play the thousands of songs he is compelled to write/record/release all on a 4-track recorder in a garage/basement/etc (read: lo-fi). Songs are made up of the four "P's" (Pop, Punk, Psychedelic, Prog Rock), he finally gets noticed at age 36, the band becomes lo-fi kings and indie darlings, putting out a stretch of albums that are goal posts on the football field of music. They move from lo-fi to normal fidelity. His songwriting can't be contained by one band (he is, after all 'guided by voices"...) starts putting out solo albums at a rate that finds factories jealous of his production schedule. GBV calls it quits, and his solo output exponentially increases. Which brings us to now (give or take some historical forks in the road, but hey, this is a review, not a novel). "Lord Of The Birdcage" has all of the focus and beauty of Bob's best solo work. Rockers, melancholy reflections, as well as sonically just simply being a great sounding record, make this one of his essential post-GBV releases. In a solo career that has more twists, turns, and cul-de-sacs than a map of upper China, this one is a definitely stop along the way. Take the time to dive in to Bob's world. It's a good world to be in.

Rating - 10/10 It's the solo Bob album I've been patiently waiting for.
- Jay Mazeffect

www.robertpollard.net

Click here to download "In A Circle" from Robert Pollard's new album Lord Of The Birdcage

2011 is turning out to be quite a year for Robert Pollard. The hugely successful Guided By Voices reunion tour is doing victory laps at Pitchfork, Northside, Hopscotch and Sasquatch Festivals, a tribute album is coming out for Record Store Day (including Pollard covers by Flaming Lips, Lou Barlow, David Kilgour, James Husband, Blitzen Trapper, Thurston Moore), and, believe it not, new White House Spokesman Jay Carney declared in a press conference that he's obsessed with Guided By Voices January, February and March saw three remarkable albums by Pollard projects (as well as a live Guided By Voices triple-LP) and watch out, here comes another one, with a new twist.

On Lord Of The Birdcage, out June 7, Pollard reverses his songwriting process, transforming a dozen previously written poems into songs. He's previously never written in this fashion, and his whimsical, surrealist lyrics take center stage.

Lord Of The Birdcage is a subtle record, of mostly steady, relaxed tempos, power pop, glam chugs, gorgeous ballads and a notable number of 3/4 waltz-time meters, including the haunting acoustic "In A Circle", the frenetic rocker "You Sold Me Quickly" and the lush string-driven "Silence Before Violence." Lord Of The Birdcage is a rather cohesive flowing work, and Pollard's sublime songs reveal their treasures through repeat listening. His albums are consistently rewarding.