The cult of
indie rock
thrives on the unexpected discovery, and in 1994
Guided by Voices
were just the sort of musical phenomenon no one figured was still out there -- 30-something
rock
obsessives cranking out fractured guitar-driven
pop
tunes in a laundry room.
Robert Pollard
and his stable of beer buddies/backing musicians had been churning out stuff like
Bee Thousand
for years, but the album's surprise critical success marked the first time the group found a significant audience outside their hometown, and it made a clear case for
' virtues -- as well as their flaws. From the moment
"Hardcore UFOs"
kicks in, it's obvious that
Pollard
has an uncanny gift for a hook and a melody, and
's 20 cuts are dotted with miniature masterpieces like
"Echos Myron,"
"Smothered in Hugs,"
and
"Queen of Cans and Jars."
However, there are also more than a few duds that threaten to cancel out the goodwill the great songs generate, and
is an acquired taste as a lyricist -- his freakishly poetic verse has a real charm, but it's hard to figure out what he's on about. (
GBV
's other principal songwriter,
Tobin Sprout
, contributes less often, but manages a higher batting average.) The lo-tech rumble of the album's D.I.Y. production also wavers between being a help and a hindrance, depending on the songs, and as musicians
veer between sounding like inspired amateurs and, well, just amateurs. On
,
sound like a passionate and gloriously quirky garage band fronted by a thrillingly and maddeningly idiosyncratic songwriter; its many pearly moments make it a fascinating discovery for
enthusiasts, but a few years would pass before this band was fully earning the new accolades showered upon it. ~ Mark Deming