Crystal Nuns Cathedral (2022)
It’s simply logic-defying at this point. The sheer volume of output accompanied by zero dilution of quality is, to my knowledge, unprecedented. This lineup (and jack-of-all-trades, producer/engineer, Travis Harrison) is special and have dutifully churned out a dozen high-quality albums in just over five years. If the past is any indicator of the future, we will see another pair before 2022 is in the books. It’s all there on the first release of the year – clever album title, beautiful cover, excellent production and top-notch songs. After a month of listening, I’m ready to call this record my favorite of the current version of GBV and one of Pollard’s finest albums ever. It’s that good. But enough of my fanboy gushing. I’ll turn it over to Rockathon Records’ own, Kevin Poindexter, who penned the official press release for
Crystal Nuns Cathedral.
The mighty Guided by Voices are set to unleash upon the world their 35th and quite possibly…BEST album, Crystal Nuns Cathedral. How do they do it you might ask? Well we have no idea how they do it, but we certainly do know WHY they do it. They do it because quite honestly we NEED them to do it. The world needs The Rock, and we need loud guitars, we need anthemic songs, we need a reason to raise a rock fist in the air and give a “Hell Yeah”! On Crystal Nuns Cathedral, the band delivers all of this and so much more.
Just four months since It’s Not Them. It Couldn’t Be Them. It Is Them!, comes Crystal Nuns Cathedral, twelve songs determined to challenge for the title of greatest Guided by Voices album of all-time. Hyperbole you say? Not this time. The guitars are bigger, the arrangements are more ambitious, the songs are uplifting, epic, and as incredibly hook laden as always!
Pure power pop perfection like lead single “Excited Ones” mix perfectly with the slow burning “Climbing a Ramp” which reaches its climax on a stunning guitar lead before dissolving into the fist pumping anthem “Never Mind the List”, which serves as the beating heart of the entire album. Do you still need convincing? Listen to the one-two punch of “Forced to Sea” and “Huddled” and marvel at the epic scope and vision of an incredible band on full display.
This record is a statement, a challenge, a monument, a call to arms. Top this one if you can, this is the new benchmark. Who will best it? Who will try? Listen to Crystal Nuns Cathedral, and report back to us. We will be eagerly waiting
1.
Eye City – The tone setter is this menacing, snarling track that is one of the few GBV songs to crack the four-minute mark. Starts off on a slow boil and kicks into gear at the 1:18 mark. Kevin March providing some thunderous percussion. Doug Gillard arranging a cello (!!) part into the mix. “Perhaps they know not to come back to Eye City.” (9)
2.
Re-Develop – Lurching, pounding track that immediately brings to mind one of Pollard’s chief influences – The Who. Ironically enough, Bob calls this his ‘Yes song’. To my ears, this is a second cousin to the fantastic ‘Psychic Pilot Clocks Out” off the excellent 1996 Pollard solo debut,
Not in My Airforce. “Re-Develop – out from nexus to plexus – the next phase to come…” (10)
3.
Climbing a Ramp – Tension established right out of the gate (courtesy of March’s frantic hi-hat beat and Gillard-arranged staccato cellos) on this jittery, epic track that possesses a strong cinematic quality. The 1:49 mark when Gillard’s guitar comes in is my favorite moment on the album. I wish it went on for another three-plus minutes. Unlike anything GBV has ever done before. Lyrics read like Bob’s
Myth of Sisyphus. “And it can’t get over because it’s always climbing a ramp.” (10)
4.
Never Mind the List – The second single in advance of the album release returns to the more familiar power pop territory Pollard has successfully mined for several decades. Effortless and catchy, this will get fists pumping at GBV shows across the country. “Make a fist when you pray…” (8)
5.
Birds in the Pipe –
* Inside scoop alert! * The song is loosely based on Benjamin Franklin who, according to Pollard was "someone ridiculed at one time and then greatly respected in the end." The lyric "when airing out his farcical pipe organ" refers to the Benjamin Franklin air bath. “Cuz he’s got birds in the pipe.” (7.5)
6.
Come North Together – Side one closes with an absolute heavyweight of a track, bursting with energy. Or, as the kids today say, a banger. Fist-pumping, ass-shaking, head-bobbing and pogo-sticking all encouraged. This must slay live. The “hit” of the record. “Rising like birds of a feather, all together.” (10)
7.
Forced to Sea – Side two kicks off with a proggy, slow burner that would’ve fit perfectly on 2020’s
Surrender Your Poppy Field. Major “Cat Beats a Drum” vibes on this one. Gillard notes, “I recorded a couple guitars to simulate horns from a distant barge for the intro.” His brilliance continues to elevate this version of GBV to new heights. “Chasing the seahorse around…” (8)
8.
Huddled – Previous track fades directly into this one. If not for the track listing, one might never realize they are two distinct songs. More cinematic vibes on this
Tommy-flavored song. Bob gets political and takes some jabs at the Trump administration. “"He's getting warmed with every word he speaks, and inundated with his hair dye streaks." (8)
9.
Excited Ones – The lead single from the album is another straightforward slice of power pop, packed with hooks. Can see this being a live staple for years to come. “Excited ones, they crush it every day…” (8)
10.
Eyes of Your Doctor – Another fist-pumping anthem to add the ever-growing heap. Plenty of guitar theatrics courtesy of Gillard and that rhythm duo of March and bassist Mark Shue propel this one along perfectly. "All is riding on the bets you make." (9)
11.
Mad River Man – The quintessential song of
Crystal Nuns Cathedral. Seamlessly transitions back and forth between brooding, ominous and anthemic, fist-pumper. In other words, this is a psych/prog/power pop masterpiece. Shades of Sabbath. “And it’s a long, long, long day coming down…” (8.5)
12.
Crystal Nuns Cathedral – Classic, sub-two-minute, GBV power pop chugger to close things out. More Gillard guitar wizardry in the outro. “Look beyond his cage and see him out.” (7)
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
- DPM
