Search - Robert Pollard :: Normal Happiness

Get A Faceful!

G. Preston | Baltimore, MD United States | 10/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This and "From A Compound Eye" clearly represent a new beginning for Mr. Pollard. The end of Guided By Voices was not merely symbolic and this is definitely not just "more of the same." Pollard has finally integrated his pop and prog impulses into a cohesive new approach, and the results sound simply incredible! By prog, I only mean more complex song structures, but somehow his incredible pop sense and interesting lyrics always redeem the songs before they can become just complexity for it's own sake. The songs take many twists and turns but there's always a memorable chorus in there. Best songs? "Towers and Landslides", "Give Up the Grape", "Rhoda Rhoda", "Get A Faceful" and several others. I'll even go out on a limb and say that these first two are among the best songs he's ever written. Lyrics are strong as always, and somehow seem to be simultaneously more abstract and topical than normal. For instance, the strangely titled "Pegasus Glue Factory" contains the line "his doomed ship apocalypse dissolved in his hands; of twenty thousand rivers of oil slicks and blood" which can easily be deciphered in light of an earlier line, "I hide myself in dream from Howdy Doody's terrorist regime"! Not making any political statements here, just saying there are some deeper messages (as always) lurking beneath the surface.

As an overall listening experience, I think this is the best Pollard release since "Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Dept." If you're not a super fan, you may not agree with all of this praise and the five star rating, but I honestly think this is one of the best albums Pollard has ever assembled. The last one was great, but this is even better!

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Pollard's most consistent offering

Steve Curtis | Topeka, Kansas United States | 12/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was initially disappointed my first couple of listens through this CD. But, I kept coming back to it because of "Boxing About" and 'Pegasus Glue Factory." Now, I can't stop listening. Just a wonderful set of tunes! Give it some time and perhaps you, too, will find this to be most satisfying!"

Subtly impressive

Brian Conley | Hebron, KY USA | 11/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album full of "pop songs" has precious few recognizable choruses and one of Bob's most understated vocal performances on record. What it does have is a meandering, complex style that is as likely to baffle as to entertain. Underneath the whirl of bizarre chord changes there are some really great songs."