Welshpool Frillies

Conventional wisdom has long had it that Guided by Voices are Robert Pollard and whoever else he decides is in the band, a notion that certainly has evidence to back it up (just ask Kevin Fennell sometime). That said, though Pollard is clearly the man with the grand vision and the songwriting chops, having a band capable of executing his ideas makes an enormous difference, and one of the biggest reasons GbV have been on an unprecedented hot streak since 2017s August by Cake is hes assembled the strongest group of players hes had to date -- guitarists Doug Gillard and Bobby Bare Jr., bassist Mark Shue, and drummer Kevin March, who can mix Pollards leanings towards skewed vintage pop, prog rock esoterica, and gut-punching rock & roll with strength and aplomb. Welshpool Frillies, their second album of 2023, is an especially impressive example of the strength of Guided by Voices as a band rather than another Pollard project. After recording several albums piecemeal due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, these sessions were recorded live to tape, and one can hear the interaction between the players and the muscle and sense of excitement it brings to the music. Gillards lead guitar work has been one of the best reasons to listen to this edition of GbV, and he gives these performances a soaring crunch that gives the bands rock moves a rock-solid foundation without showboating or excess, and the charge of the rhythm section has a kick thats artfully visceral. (The band clearly doesnt mind working at Pollards prolific pace, either; this is their 15th album since 2017.) Pollards melodies typify the ambitious approach thats dominated his work of the 21st century, as numbers like "Dont Blow Your Dream Job" and "Why Dont You Kiss Me" turn through several shifts in tone and tempo during their running time, and there are judicious string overdubs on several tracks. Yet even when Pollard is indulging his artier side, this music isnt afraid to be loud and proud: "Romeo Surgeon," "Meet the Star," and "Rust Belt Boogie" kick out the jams with lots of sweaty abandon. And if youre afraid this will be short on fun-size pop masterpieces, "Seeding" and "Better Odds" are here for you, as are two lo-fi acoustic tracks, "Chain Dance" and "Mother Mirth." Guided by Voices has never had so long a streak of consistently fine albums as theyve had since this edition came to be, and Welshpool Frillies shows this band (and their indefatigable leader) arent about to let us down now. ~ Mark Deming