Be Thankful Every Day

We all know that Robert Pollard is the god of Rock 'n' Roll. No person has understood what it's all about and is the second most prolific songwriter in the genre after R. Stevie Moore. Admittedly, he has not lived up to the work he has done with GbV as a solo artist, but this record is the closest he has come to it. That's a lot to say considering this is a double LP (one CD, but whatever, dead format.). Also, this is the first thing he put out after the demise of the greatest band of all time.

Synths are more prevalent than on any GbV release making his New Wave/postpunk and prog influences more apparent than ever. The lyrics never falter and stand up to the stuff he was writing even on Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes. The biggest difference is the song lengths. There is nothing like "Cigarette Tricks" on here with no song clocking in at under one minute. More epics. It is clear that Pollard's songwriter has gotten to the transcendent level here. He is re-inventing song structure rather than simply mastering it. He produces swirling arrangements that slowly build and build while going through complex changes, ultimately building to an orgasmic peak. This kind of structure is possible only with the unworldly understand of rock music that Pollard has. What comes to mind is Built to Spill's Keep It Like A Secret which showed that you could be epic in a mere four minutes. Pollard can get a bona fide epic into a mere 2 1/2 minutes. Any GbV fan would know he is capable of that and here it is. The best tracks are "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men." "U.S. Mustard Company," and "Light Show," but let's be serious here, this is Bob Pollard.

I think comedic genius and former member of Superchunk Jon Wurster plays on this, but I am not sure.

For strong lions only.


Robert Pollard - From a Compound Eye (2006)

Here's some pics I took when I saw Bob with Boston Spaceships here (in Boston) at the Paradise Rock Club this fall with my buds Alex Halatsis and Brock Ginther. Needless to say that was a great show. I still have the empty bottle of Miller Lite that Pollard handed me during the all-GbV encore. I also got a swig or two of his tequila.:


Bob in top form


The Keene Brothers as they are known.

I have more, but why overload? That night Pollard put it all best when he said, "This is how you have a great rock band - you gotta be drunk and tight! It's really hard. Drunk and tight. Now I'm not advocating the abuse of alcohol...

...but yes I am!"

If This Were In "17 Again" Not Only Would I See It, I Would Swear By It

Just this afternoon my friend Sheldon linked me to this.


I highly recommend that everyone check out this blog and download the Toms. It is very reminiscent of Todd Rundgren and Emitt Rhodes and like them is a one-man band as well.

I am pretty sure he is from New Jersey as he as collaborated and recorded with Richie Sambora and the Smithereens recorded at his studeio, and we all know that matters a lot to me here at The Monument. It's is pre-digital home recording, and that's really all that matters, right?

This title, is in reference to the song "(I Wanna Be A) Teen Again," just one of the amazing cuts.

Back Again...

I've been meaning to post this for a while, but didn't wanna go too overboard with LA and girl groups, but now I give you the Bangles. This is a great pop record. According to Tom Scharpling, the Bangles were the only Paisley Underground group to really make pop records. I disagree with the man this time, though they definitely are way more on the pop side than The Dream Syndicate and Rain Parade, though I would argue not quite as much as The Three O'Clock. What distinguishes the Bangles so much amongst their contemporaries isn't just that they are all female, but they are definitely the best vocalists. The group's harmonies, which I beleive often, if not always involved all members are the tightest and best realized, especially compared to the constant solo vocals of The Dream Syndicate, and Rain Parade's loose amateurism.

This debut was made before people (*cough* Prince aka "Christopher") designated Susanna Hoffs as the focal point, so the other members' vocals, especially those of Vicki Peterson are more prevailant than on later records. However, I would argue Hoffs steals the show every time she opens her mouth even when merely harmonizing. The songwriting is tight, but it's undeniable that a lot of the best songs are not originals... However the whole thing is really solid and the band really shows off their talents in a unique way even if the songs are not their own. Standout tracks: "Hero Takes a Fall," "Dover Beach," "Going Down To Liverpool."


The Bangles - All Over The Place (1984)

If you wish, feel free to include a Bangles 1-4 in the style of Scharpling and Wurster's "Kid eBay", therefor including a then and now. Mine is: (then) Susanna, Michael, Vicki, Debbi (now) Susanna, Vicki, Michael, Debbi