Has dropped. PM if interested.

count me in

is this the film soundtrack he was working on?

I think it might be. He has three releases out this year right?

I really wish Robert Pollard would focus on getting one good album out a year again

you know, like he used to.

Spade -
Have you heard the reckkid he did with Tommy Keene that was released about 6 weeks ago ? - The Keene Brothers - Blues & Boogie Shoes.
Tommy wrote the music, played all the instruments & produced it. Mr Melody Man sang, wrote the lyrics and well, the melodies. It might be his most fully realized release yet. OUTSTANDING

I can send you a file a little later today if interested.

From a Compound Eye kicks major ass. It's easily the best non-GBV thing he's ever done, and it's also better than about 75% of the GBV canon, as well.

6. From a Compound Eye - a solo album, then the Keene Brothers' Blues and Boogies Shoes, which came out in May along with (on the same day, actually) the Takeovers' (with GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko) Turn To Red and Psycho and the Birds' (with GBV's Todd Tobias) All That Is Holy. Then a few weeks back Psycho and the Birds released an EP, Check Your Zoo. And, of course, there is the upcoming release of Normal Happiness.

So far, Blues and Boogie Shoes is the winner, but I liked the Psycho/Birds EP a lot, too (better than the album.) FaCE feels forced in a lot of spots, but has some gems, as usual mixed in. I have yet to heard NH, but I'll save the surprise for when it comes out - I've got more than enough Pollard to keep me busy right now, no need to burden myself with more.

'Supernatural Car Lover' is kicking my ass.

That is all.

I'm quoting myself because I have to take it back - the Psycho & the Birds EP isn't all that good afterall. I listened to it again the other day after writing this, after a couple weeks not listening to it, and I really didn't like it. Both Psycho projects are really noisy - Pollard recording vocals on a boombox and with Tobias' music as backing . . . it's just kind of a mess. I still stand by the Keene Bros, however.

I've listened to this album over 30 times now, but I can't rank it any higher than 23rd out of every project he's ever been involved with.

Also, "Speak Kindly" is the very best non-GBV thing he's ever done.

I'd like to say I'm really intrigued, but here's the thing:

Robert Pollard is 0 for his last 8 as far as I'm concerned.

Can you sendspace one song?

Two options-
1. I can send you files now pointing out one song on each to listen to.
2. I will send you one track from each later tonight.

whichever is easier man, thanks!

What's the last release of his that gets the SK seal of approval?

Solo - Airport 5 - Tower in the Fountain of Sparks
GbV - Universal Truths and Cycles

these have all been clunkers:

Airport 5 - Life Starts Here
any number of recent halloween Circus Devils noisefests
that Lifeguards release
the last two gbv albums
Motel of Fools
Fiction Man

my head hurts just thinking about it

Love to hear this if you feel like sharing.

I will try to up it this weekend

Thanks Spade.

btw - you nailed just about every record Pollard has swung & missed.
From A Compound Eye being the only exception, albeit not on your list.

agreed, but Red Ink Superman is an awesome song

You have got to be shitting me. Half Smiles of the Decomposed is killer, and Earthquake Glue is way better than Universal Truths.

Eh, it's a toss-up in my opinion.
Earthquake - My Kind Of Soldier & Best of Jill Hives
Universal - Wire Greyhounds & Back To The Lake
It's not that I'm trying to pin it down to a few songs, but these are the ones I consistently go back to.

Neither come close to FaCE, Normal Happiness...or The Keene Brothers for that matter.

MOON - ROBERT POLLARD LIVE

As an ADD IN BONUS CD for Robert Pollard's upcoming
Merge Records release, Normal Happiness (10/10/06),
this 14 track disc features Robert Pollard and the
Ascended Masters live at the U.S. Bank Arena in
Cincinnati Ohio from June 24 2006. The show was part
of a two day opening stint for Pearl Jam.

Fans who purchase their copy of Normal Happiness from
independant record stores across North America will
receive the bonus disc for free.

Setlist-

Gold
I Surround You Naked
Blessed In An Open Head
Get A Faceful
Dancing Girls and Dancing Men
The Right Thing
Dolphins of Color
Boxing About
Fresh Threats Salad Shooters and Zip Guns
Conqueror of the Moon
I'm A Widow
I Feel Gone Again
Games of Pricks
Love is Stronger Than Witchcraft

Recorded with PJ's set up, mixed by Todd Tobias and Chris Keefer.

Son of a bitch. Guess I have to cancel my Amazon preorder and actually go out to a real store to buy this thing now. Dammit, so much for laziness.

Earthquake Glue is one of the worst GbV related albums I've ever heard. I've tried to like it. Really, I have. Half Smiles has six great songs, and 8 really, really awful songs. Nothing is worse than hearing Bob Pollard harmonizing off-key in a hi-fi studio.

UTAC is better than both of these because it has 9-10 really great songs. It's not one of their best, but I'd certainly take Wire Greyhounds/Skin Parade/Zap/Cheyenne/Back to the Lake/Eureka Signs/Everywhere with Helicopter/Wings of Thorn/Pretty Bombs/UTAC/Father Sgt. Christmas Card over any combination of songs you can come up with from either one of those releases.