Welshpool Frillies (2023)
Six months after
La La Land, Robert Pollard and crew return with their second album of 2023, and fifteenth since joining forces in 2017. As has been the case on all fifteen of those albums, Travis Harrison is back as producer. What makes
Welshpool Frillies different from many of its predecessors is the manner it was recorded. On the previous eight records, due to COVID-19, each musician would record his parts in a studio of his choosing and mail the recording to Harrison. Travis would cobble the recordings together and bring them to Pollard to add the vocals. This time around, the band got back together in Harrison's Brooklyn basement studio and recorded live to tape. The 4 Ps (Pop, Punk, Psych & Prog) shape the sound on
Welshpool Frillies, with the Pop and Punk components dialed up a bit more than the other two. The press release for the album notes that much of the album was also influenced by the
Scalping the Guru compilation, released in 2022, that features select tracks from four Guided By Voices EPs released in 1993-94. Even though this lineup came together in 2017,
Welshpool Frillies most certainly has a throwback 90s vibe to it. There are even a pair of tracks that were recorded using Pollard’s legendary four-track cassette machine. Fans of albums like
Mag Earwhig!,
Universal Truths and Cycles,
Earthquake Glue and
Half Smiles of the Decomposed will find much to like about
Welshpool Frillies. The latest lineup continues to pump out a high quantity of albums that maintains an equally high level of quality. After a recent string of records that more heavily explored the Prog component of the 4 Ps, Guided by Voices returns with an album that fans of his off-center brand of punk-infused, garage power pop will enjoy.
1.
Meet the Star – Quick Circus Devilsesque intro before morphing into a chugging, Wire-tinged rocker. Another addition to the ever-expanding list of great album openers. “Long yellow fingers, dust-colored stash, the blundering good men, their stone bones now ash.” (9)
2.
Cruisers’ Cross – Archetypal, mid-tempo Guided by Voices track. Bob has penned another melancholic anthem. Fists raised, clenching a beer with Miller Lite tears trickling down the face. When the documentary of this version of the band is released, it would be a lost opportunity if this song wasn’t featured in the trailers. “Trike rider really knows everything.” (8)
3.
Romeo Surgeon – This one explodes out of the speakers. The rhythm section is just pummeling while Gillard’s guitar roars loud. I imagine this will be a staple of the live show in the years to come. “The Romeo surgeon carries the heart’s message in his sterilized sleeve.” (10)
4.
Chain Dance – Pollard dusts off the four-track recorder and reconnects with his lo-fi roots on this acoustic track. An uninitiated listener might be thrown off here, but those that know will cherish this nod to the past. Would’ve fit right in on his debut solo record,
Not in My Airforce. “Witch flew off the handle. Vampire lighting a candle.” (7)
5.
Why Won’t You Kiss Me – Starts out sounding like your typical poppy GBV track, before a Gillard string arrangement reminds you, this is not the typical GBV lineup. While the track barely surpassed the two-minute mark there are several stylistic shifts throughout, not to mention those trademark GBV tempo changes. “I’m wondering why hotels no longer provide ink pens.” (7)
6.
Animal Concentrate – Kevin March’s thunderous drumming has this song charging hard out of the gate before the rhythm section settles into a nice groove. “You boil the island water. Out came the ancient daughter.” (7)
7.
Cats on Heat – Closer to a snippet than a song, Gillard unleashes some great licks and Bob dispenses some clever word play. March and Shue provide some excellent bounce. “Zebra-stripe pistol, swallows her whistle.” (7)
8.
Mother Mirth – Bob breaks out the four-track recorder for a second time on the Side 1 closer. Another
NiMA-sounding, lo-fi track featuring Bob on acoustic guitar. “On the morning of the aftermath, out goal was to have everything.” (6)
9.
Don’t Blow Your Dream Job – Side 2 opens with the most obvious example of the prog influence that has populated a number of this lineup’s albums. It’s a longer, stretched out song, featuring several abrupt stylistic shifts. I love how it eventually settles into an anthemic chorus to close things out. I’ve said it many times before in these write-ups, but this is a prime example of the type of song Bob can record with this version of Guided by Voices. This belief is further buoyed by the fact that the track is a recycled version of “Mustard Man” from
Suitcase 2. “Solemn salutations ride on every single play, every phrase exaggerated slightly.” (8)
10.
Awake Man – Fist-pumping, celebratory song punctuated perfectly with several Gillard guitar blasts. The way the band melds together after the interplay of Gillard’s guitar fireworks and March’s drum poundings are some of my favorite moments on this album. One of Bob’s best vocal performances on the record. “I want to be like a priest with all the cool things they wear.” (8)
11.
Rust Belt Boogie – There aren’t many GBV songs that start out with nearly a one-and-a-half-minute musical interlude. In many cases, that’s the length of the actual song. This band has a way of breaking all the Bob norms. Another track that I imagine will be part of the live setlist for years to come. Lots of influences in here, with Wire once again leading the charge. “Leave your skin at the border. Enjoy our brief northern summer.” (8.5)
12.
Seedling – The album’s lead single, ironically enough, carries a strong resemblance to many of the great anthems the so-called “classic lineup” used to churn out. Then again, although Gillard isn’t necessarily part of that lineup, he has been around since 1997’s
Mag Earwhig!. Either way, Bob has gifted us with, yet another, classic GBV fist-pumping anthem. “Formed in a groovy maze, those were the days.” (8.5)
13.
Better Odds – My personal favorite is another stunning, melancholic anthem from the master of them. Gillard’s string arrangement works wonders here. Bob’s vocal delivery is perfect. The Fading Captain works his magic during the outro. “Would you kiss a snake if I held it?” (10)
14.
Radioactive Pigeons – Another inductee into the Pollard song name hall of fame. This peppy slice of power pop one hums along and then abruptly cuts out. “May you always know yourself.” (7)
15.
Welshpool Frillies – Strong
Sweating the Plague vibe to the album closer. There’s slight dip in fidelity on this track. It doesn’t go as low as “Chain Dance" or “Mother Mirth,” but is certainly dips into that mid-range. Feels like it’s about to fall apart and fade out, before it is rescued with another Wire-like burst during the outro. Works very well as the closer. “Plan if you can to follow your number. Plan if you can to follow your heart.” (8)
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
- DPM
