CD Review

Bob Pollard is Guided by Voices. He is the main and only constant in the lineup from Dayton, Ohio that churned out 17 full length albums in their nearly 20 year tenure on the indie scene. If you don’t know who Guide By Voices, then you probably have little to no interest in this solo release from the former elementary school teacher. However, if you are a fan you probably jumped on From a Compound Eye quickly.

Over the years, live shows put on by Guided by Voices turned semi interested fans into rabid nuts over nearly everything Pollard and company released. And if this could be called a solo debut (Pollard has done plenty of solo and side projects in the past), it could just as easily be seen by the next generation of GBV diehards. Pollard has covered his musical career with this effort, (songs he had written from as far back as the mid seventies are included). And it appears ole Bob has a lot to say. This very well could have been a double disc with the 26 songs, but instead was released as a single disc. Still, there is a distinction and it plays like a double vinyl more than anything.

From a Compound Eye ranges from stripped down basement type recordings, to intimate pop (I’m a Widow), to complex rock mini operas (Conqueror of the Moon). The album was recorded mostly by Pollard himself with the assistance of longtime multi talented producer and musician Todd Tobias. And all the while Pollard himself, quirky and poignant with shades of eccentricity throughout, is still Guided by Voices. Die-hard fans will notice some strong differences from the GBV catalog on From a Compound Eye, however Pollard is reinventing himself as a solo artist, and leaning on his early influences to do so.