Thursday, November 17, 2005

Guided by Pollard

Hey!! I’m more than just issues and agitation about Wal-Mart. I also like music and I dug out the guitar tonight, tuned it up and ran through a handful of tunes.

Speaking of tunes, Robert Pollard, the songwriting genius behind Guided by Voices has signed with Merge and will be releasing the double album he’s been threatening for years. The release date will be January 24, 2006, one day after my own birthday.

Watched an interesting documentary, titled Dig!, last night about Anton Newcombe of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and Courtney Taylor, of Dandy Warhols fame. Newcombe, is a tortured genius in the Roky Erickson school of reality.

It’s a sure bet you won’t find either the Pollard release or that documentary at your local chain store. I would guess that Videoport has the documentary and I’m sure Bullmoose will be carrying Pollard’s disc. For anyone wanting to know more about the genius behind the music, check out the new book, Guided by Voices: Twenty-One Years of Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll (Grove Press, Black Cat 2005). Definitely worth putting on your Christmas shopping list for that fan of the rock.

5 comments:

Joe said...

Hey Jim. Great to hear that you dusted off the guitar. I'm sitting here strumming and surfing myself. I can't run through too many songs yet, however, so I satisfy myself by jamming on what I do know. It's still a lot of fun.

Wisdom Weasel said...

Outstanding stuff- thanks for the tip about Pollard's new release. Was the birthday reference a present hint? :)

One thing though- lest you become the kind of blinkered ideologue you rant against: 'It’s a sure bet you won’t find either the Pollard release or that documentary at your local chain store'.

Wisdom Weasel said...

Although if you are still having a pop at Wal Mart exclusively, you are right- the closest I could find (with a cursory search) was this. Hardly the same. But then again, people who base their entertainment choices on what Ole Sam has on offer are of no consequence and should stick to listening to Toby Keith.

Jim said...

No hint; just pointing out a fact. God forbid that I become a blinkered idealogue.

Joe and I will have to write a song and have it ready to debut at the housewarming. Might I bring some vinyl? You do have a turntable at the manor, don't you?

Wisdom Weasel said...

You know what? I have plenty of vinyl but no turntable. Still, that can always be rectified...