Make no mistake about it, Robert Pollard is a musical genius. The leader and prolific visionary behind Guided by Voices, Pollard has been consistently putting out music for so long that last year’s release, August By Cake, marked the 100th album of his career, including his 22 albums as a solo artist. Despite the rotating cast of musicians that have come and gone over the years, Guided by Voices has cemented its status as the indie rock icon that nobody knows about.
One might think that a group that has been making and releasing music for four consecutive decades might sound tired or sapped of their lively creative forces, but the band’s newest lineup iteration shows that they will not be stopping anytime soon. Guided by Voices’ latest album, Space Gun, does not come off sounding like it was written and produced by a bunch of 60-year-old men. Layered guitars and synths envelope Space Gun in a newly awakened sound that is inviting while still reminiscent of the legendary lo-fi aesthetic that has captivated listeners since before the 90’s. Unique and familiar all at the same time, every single last track on Space Gun is delightfully catchy.
The record is kicked off with the title track, “Space Gun”, and it starts off strong from there. “Ark Technician” has semi-autobiographical lyrics, which present the feeling that the hardships and difficulties of life do not get any easier to deal with when you’re older. “Daily Get-Ups”, a peppy wakeup jam, veils a double-meaning that represents the metaphorical façade one wears to veil inner turmoil. My favorite song of this album, “I Love Kangaroos”, is a peaceful track about the joy of travelling and getting to see the world. It borders on being nonsensical, but the track has distinct value for being harmoniously entertaining.
Every song on this record can be appreciated for adding something to charismatic mystique of Guided by Voices. Each track is charming on its own, but as a whole, this album is not quite perfect. If you are familiar with the band’s previous releases, Space Gun is not so markedly different than August By Cake, or much of the rest of Guided by Voices’ discography. For some that is a comforting notion, but others that were hoping to hear an imaginative revolution may be disappointed to some extent. Overall, Space Gun is nonetheless a solidly enjoyable album that choses to exist simply and without taking itself too seriously.
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