Search - Robert Pollard :: From a Compound Eye

How many songs a year does Bob write?

Stargrazer | deep in the heart of Michigan | 09/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A lot has been said about this album... perhaps because there is a lot to say. Given: Robert Pollard is a prolific songwriter, with erratic output (not necessarily a bad thing -- his very jaggedness is part of his appeal, veering from lo-fi gold to psych-pop gems that'd make any second- or third-wave British invader proud), critical love/hate (see pitchfork and allmusic -- neither site can come right out and say they love him for his merits, both harp on his perceived faults).



"Ya know, Einstein never DID discover time travel. Or the fountain of youth. What a failure!"



Pollard = Einstein? Well, maybe not -- but, he has managed to put out a downright glorious latter-career album here. Several of these songs shirk the silver medal and go straight for gold -- "The Right Thing," "The Numbered Head," "Other Dogs Remain," all thoroughly enjoyable as hushed falling-asleep music or cranked on a Saturday morning with too much black coffee.



Critics like to point out that the album was allowed to cool for almost 2 years before it was released, yet it sounds fresher and freer than a lot of the tossed-off "love vs. death" journal entries passing for popular music these days.



There are pop hooks all over this creeper of an album. If you are still trying to figure out what Bob is "saying," maybe it won't connect on the pure visceral level that a good 90 dB thrashing of this double album will provide -- recommended: turn it up, turn your literal mind off and enjoy the effortless melodic indie-pop Mr. Pollard spins and flings out at a daunting rate."

...his first "real" solo record

A. J. Pepin | Lino Lakes, Minnesota United States | 08/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Guided By Voices ever since I heard "My Valuable Hunting Knife" on a local radio station in the summer of 1996. Ten years later I'm still listening to Bob Pollard's work (while a lot of the bands that I was into back then seem ridiculous now). "From A Compound Eye" is easily his best work since 2001's "Isolation Drills". In contrast to his last few releases with GBV, his latest outing seems to keep things sharper without all the layered, (sometimes overcomplicated) guitar parts. The vocals are also stellar. If you're a fan of GBV you'll love this cd. Even if you're looking for some great rock music, get this cd."