Mirrored Aztec (2020)
Coming off the heels of
Surrender Your Poppy Field is the second of a trio of planned 2020 GBV albums. The first,
Poppy Field, is a record that borrows heavily from the prog component of Pollard’s allegiance to the 4 Ps, whereas
Mirrored Aztec heavily mines the pop realm, along with a dose of that trademark garage energy GBV brings to the party. The 107th (and counting) Pollard-associated album packs eighteen original compositions into an economical forty minutes. In addition to succinct songs, the release notes for
Mirrored Aztec are also uncharacteristically so:
After venturing through the tangled brambles of Plague and Poppy Field, here is a sunny summer reprieve, a relentless barrage of hooks—Mirrored Aztec is the latest stop on this runaway train. Like its immediate predecessors, Mirrored Aztec is both its own entity and unmistakably GBV.
In what was proving to be a stable, drama-free period for the band, all the same members were back in the fold, including engineer/producer Travis Harrison behind the controls. The only big shake-up here is the vibrant cover art. While the vast majority of GBV records have featured one of Bob's original collages or a photograph,
Mirrored Aztec's artwork was created by fellow Daytonian artist, Courtney Latta. The outbreak of the Coronavirus killed any opportunity for the band to hit the road and promote the album. However, they did get creative and performed a fifty-plus song show on July 17th, in an empty venue in Pollard’s hometown of Dayton, Ohio, which fans will be able to livestream.
Mirrored Aztec is, appropriately, a summer album, ideal for being cracked a high volumes as you drive around with the windows down or are having a nice, social-distanced outdoor darty with your friends on your patio, porch or backyard. The album does not seek to blaze new territory, rather it distills what Pollard and the band do so well, their own distinct brand of garage power pop rock & roll. The iron is glowing orange and Pollard continues to strike.
1.
I Think I Had It. I Think I Have It Again – The official GBV anthem of the COVID-19 pandemic. The record charges out of the gate on this power pop nugget that clocks in at just under two minutes. “I'm keeping it low now. Yeah I promised my father, but I crave it and I'm sick once again.” (8)
2.
Bunco Men – Originally written and recorded for
Under the Bushes Under the Stars, this song was first officially introduced on
Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft. That original version from the
Under the Bushes sessions is one of my all-time favorite GBV tracks. Here, it gets an update with the new lineup. While it is a well-performed version, it’s always difficult to top your first love. “Ours is a room with a view, under the bushes.” (8)
3.
Citizen’s Blitz – Bob’s vocals are slightly distorted here. Tempo is turned up a notch, with March’s drumming giving it a bit of an ass-shaking vibe. Nothing wrong with some danceable GBV. “Everything that is motionless takes a dive, stays at rest.” (6)
4.
To Keep an Area – Five decades into his music career, Bob can still pen and deliver a masterpiece. The highlight of the album and 2:21 minutes of pure aural bliss. This song is so familiar, yet so fresh. Per usual, Gillard shines. “I wanted to keep you away and in an area - a safe haven, your own zone.” (11)
5.
Easier Not Charming – Another up-tempo, power pop/garage rock chugger. Not in the same league as the previous track, but not many are. Shades of
Earthquake Glue here. “There's a queasily alarming piston pounding the light down from the sky.” (7)
6.
Please Don’t Be Honest – What a difference four years makes. Bob dusted off the GBV moniker for 2016’s
Please Be Honest. He’s now changed course and requested that we follow the lead of our president and cease being honest. Fuckin’ Trump…. Another high energy track with some signature Gillard stop-and-start guitar parts. “Over a foolish impulse, a practical mindset should prevail.” (6)
7.
Show of Hands – Clocking in at just under three minutes, one of the more fleshed out songs on the record. Proggish in that is incorporates several different styles and non-traditional chord progressions. Wouldn’t have sounded out of place on either of its more proggy predecessors,
Sweating the Plague or
Surrender Your Poppy Field. It’s the type of song well-suited for this lineup. “Reverse the exit sign. Go back in.” (8)
8.
Lip Curlers – Similar feel to Z
eppelin Over China’s “Questions of the Test.” Starts out relatively slow for the first twenty seconds before kicking into high gear. “She's a fertile sexagenarian with her new age aquarian.” (6.5)
9.
Math Rock – This one has received some props amongst both critics and fans, but I’m not crazy about it. Some toy instruments utilized along with a children’s choir who are students at drummer Kevin March’s Montclair, NJ School of Rock. “Math rock… designed to drive Doug crazy.” (5)
10.
Transfusion – I had this song months before the official album release. A no-nonsense, workhorse chugger of a track for these uncertain times. “Too much confusion, need a transfusion.” (6)
11.
Biker’s Nest – The beginning of a stretch where four of the next five tracks do not reach the two-minute mark. This track represents the punk component of the 4 P formula more than any other track on
Mirrored Aztec. Pollard’s love of Wire shines brightly here. “I'm drinking instant gratified animal and it goes down nice.” (7)
12.
A Whale Is Top Notch – From punk to a 1:04 shot of power pop energy. The perfect audio example of short but sweet. “I got pigeons and bees. Come on, why don't we flip for a rabbit hole?” (8)
13.
I Touch Down – As a former high school star quarterback, Pollard loves to incorporate sporting or football references into several of his songs. Despite the sledgehammer rhythm, Harrison adds some light atmospheric production, creating an interesting dichotomy. “I'm seeking low ground. That's what I have found.” (6)
14.
Haircut Sphinx – The album return to some of the punk energy previously mined on “Biker’s Nest.” The rhythm section of Shue and March continue to deliver pummeling body blows. Gillard weaves in and out with some agile guitar lines. “Everywhere you blow the winds of change.” (7)
15.
Screaming the Night Away – This track sort of spins in place. It lacks hooks and it’s not one of Bob’s better vocal performances. It just kind of blends into the background, never really distinguishing itself. “Place a bet. What you get, wishing your life away.” (4)
16.
Thank You Jane – Starts out with a similar feel as “Math Rock” before Bob injects some creamy pop sweetness with that trademark melody. The band wisely takes a restrained approach allowing for Bob’s fantastic vocal performance to carry the day. Goes down smooth on the first or fortieth listen. One of the strongest tracks on the record. “You're on a roll again. You'll get us going again. You got us rolling again.” (9)
17.
The Best Foot Forward – A dash of prog on what has a strong Genesis flavor to it with Bob throwing some basketball post moves references in there. “Are the best foot forwards running out of patience with us all?” (6)
18.
Party Rages On – On
Sweating the Plague we had a “Street Party” where the heat was insane. To close out
Mirrored Aztec we discover that the party rages on. The signature sound of this version of GBV on full display. More football references with Lombardi and touchdowns. “The chairman was so dead, they called in his other wife.” (8)
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
- DPM