Search - Robert Pollard :: Standard Gargoyle Decisions (Dig)

The other 2007 Robert Pollard album

W. K. Miller | NC, USA | 01/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 2007, Robert Pollard released two CDs. This is Standard Gargoyle Decisions; the other one is Coast to Coast Carpet of Love.



Whereas the songs on Coast to Coast Carpet of Love are very catchy, tuneful, hummable, and singable, the music on Gargoyle Decisions resembles the side of Guided By Voices which leaned more towards progressive rock. It's more difficult-- not as singable, hummable, etc. I realize that Pollard is unlikely to have any hits on the radio, so this statement is nearly pointless, but here it is: the songs on Carpet of Love seem about ten times as radio friendly as the ones on Gargoyle Decisions.



The songs on Gargoyle Decisions just don't have the best hooks. At first, the songs seem brittle, overly strange, and too odd. They seem like the throwaways from Carpet of Love.



It's been a few months since these CDs were released on the same day, and, obviously, I still prefer Coast to Coast Carpet of Love, but Gargoyle Decisions has its moments, and I won't give up on it. After listening to Guided by Voices CDs for years, I realize that some of Robert Pollard's best songs took me a long time to like.



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