[Spycouple]

i certainly have no problems with gbv, and like the poster gbv, have trouble seeing the annoying/juvenile thing...yeah, i don't see it, unless you see them as annoyingly low-fi.

There's the lo-fi thing, yes, but i think it's more the numerous times when Pollard just flat out doesn't hit the notes in what would otherwise be beautiful melodies. There's a point where that switches from being endearing, refreshing, and gutsy in an "i don't give a (king) shit whether I hit these notes or not" kinda way to being just plain frustrating. "Land of Danger" off of Forever Since Breakfast is a pretty good example of this, I think. Or even "Echoes Myron".

As far as the "juvenile" aspect of Pollard's lyrics, that's not meant in a Blink-182 kind of juvenile, but the whymisical fairytale word play that characterizes much of GBV's stuff (and I use the term "much" loosely, since I only have a fraction of what's out there... beware the GBV box sets!). Completely understandable though, as Pollard the grade school teacher probably had to learn how to pique the imaginations of kids who were probably much more insterested in hobbits than math. But it's like Zeppelin's "Ramble On". Great tune, but why the hell is Gollum making a guest appearance in the darkest depths of Mord.. I mean, Robert Plant's lyrics?

Again, juvenile or not, some find the GBV approach appealing (I'm one of 'em), but my wife doesn't have the patience for too much of it before I have to relinquish the iPod. Built to Spill, however, is one of her favorite bands, and "Else" one of her favorite songs. Me, I'll take "Everywhere with Helicopter"!

-jf

[lilbones]

Everywhere With Helicopter!

If we all can't agree on that...well, we all can't agree on anything.

[GBV]

i certainly have no problems with gbv, and like the poster gbv, have trouble seeing the annoying/juvenile thing...yeah, i don't see it, unless you see them as annoyingly low-fi.

There's the lo-fi thing, yes, but i think it's more the numerous times when Pollard just flat out doesn't hit the notes in what would otherwise be beautiful melodies. There's a point where that switches from being endearing, refreshing, and gutsy in an "i don't give a (king) shit whether I hit these notes or not" kinda way to being just plain frustrating. "Land of Danger" off of Forever Since Breakfast is a pretty good example of this, I think. Or even "Echoes Myron".

As far as the "juvenile" aspect of Pollard's lyrics, that's not meant in a Blink-182 kind of juvenile, but the whymisical fairytale word play that characterizes much of GBV's stuff (and I use the term "much" loosely, since I only have a fraction of what's out there... beware the GBV box sets!). Completely understandable though, as Pollard the grade school teacher probably had to learn how to pique the imaginations of kids who were probably much more insterested in hobbits than math. But it's like Zeppelin's "Ramble On". Great tune, but why the hell is Gollum making a guest appearance in the darkest depths of Mord.. I mean, Robert Plant's lyrics?

Again, juvenile or not, some find the GBV approach appealing (I'm one of 'em), but my wife doesn't have the patience for too much of it before I have to relinquish the iPod. Built to Spill, however, is one of her favorite bands, and "Else" one of her favorite songs. Me, I'll take "Everywhere with Helicopter"!

-jf

strange, for most people say pollard is all about the "melodies."
the criticisms i hear/read have to do with "releasing too much stuff," or "drinking too much" etcetcetc.
but delivery/melody i've never heard a beef with. whether they love him or not, most people seem to appreciate his effort and delivery.
i know people complain about malkmus/pavement etc in that his delivery is of an i-don't-give-a-shit tone, but i've never got that from pollard. in fact most say the sincerity of delivery is appealing.
perplexed here . . . . hock:

[GBV]

Everywhere With Helicopter!

If we all can't agree on that...well, we all can't agree on anything.

great tune but not even top five . . . on that album!

[Spycouple]

[strange, for most people say pollard is all about the "melodies."
the criticisms i hear/read have to do with "releasing too much stuff," or "drinking too much" etcetcetc.
but delivery/melody i've never heard a beef with. whether they love him or not, most people seem to appreciate his effort and delivery.
i know people complain about malkmus/pavement etc in that his delivery is of an i-don't-give-a-shit tone, but i've never got that from pollard. in fact most say the sincerity of delivery is appealing.
perplexed here . . . . hock:

It's not a lack of sincerity or effort that's the issue. It think it's more to do with the recording/releasing too much stuff when stopping to polish up some of the really excellent stuff would be a better idea. I think he certainly gives a shit about singing a song, and even about recording it, but just not RE-recording it.

But that's the thing with Pollard/GBV: If he didn't record and release as much as he has, it might not be as interesting to him or fans. Who knows.

[GBV]

[strange, for most people say pollard is all about the "melodies."
the criticisms i hear/read have to do with "releasing too much stuff," or "drinking too much" etcetcetc.
but delivery/melody i've never heard a beef with. whether they love him or not, most people seem to appreciate his effort and delivery.
i know people complain about malkmus/pavement etc in that his delivery is of an i-don't-give-a-shit tone, but i've never got that from pollard. in fact most say the sincerity of delivery is appealing.
perplexed here . . . . hock:

It's not a lack of sincerity or effort that's the issue. It think it's more to do with the recording/releasing too much stuff when stopping to polish up some of the really excellent stuff would be a better idea. I think he certainly gives a shit about singing a song, and even about recording it, but just not RE-recording it.

But that's the thing with Pollard/GBV: If he didn't record and release as much as he has, it might not be as interesting to him or fans. Who knows.

yah . . . i think he's got an indie-rock M.O., though.
as in, it's about the songs being songs, not about the polishing, recording, re-recording, re-working, fixing of them etc.
(though stuff like do the collapse sound "smudged and fiddled with!" and for the most part gbv fans aren't fond of that album.)
lord knows if he did that he'd only get to release, like, four albums a year or something. :lol:

[Zenith]

Okay, I just heard these guys and they kick some ass. Well actually alot of ass. I was just wondering if anyone is a die hard fan of these guys and can recommend one of their albums to me.

Peace

Here's a link to thier myspace if anyone wants to take a listen.
They kind of remind me of Modest Mouse :thumb:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://myspace.com/builttospill">http://myspace.com/builttospill</a><!-- m -->

These guys sound great! 'Conventional Wisdom' is very catchy. :thumb:

[Spycouple]

These guys sound great! 'Conventional Wisdom' is very catchy. :thumb:

What a riff eh? Soooo good. I was hoping for more of that on the album, but it didn't happen. Here's the video to the song. It's odd.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shafeilevitz.com/btsfinal/">http://www.shafeilevitz.com/btsfinal/</a><!-- m -->

[daaave]

finally!

july 10 & 11 at lee's palace. $26.50 on sale april 19. see ya there.

[sherpahigh]

finally!

july 10 & 11 at lee's palace. $26.50 on sale april 19. see ya there.

c'mon Calgary!!

All I can find online is rumors of a canada tour so far. I hope it pans out though.