by Eric Foreman (@ericforemanDPT)
Led by the compulsively prolific Robert Pollard, Dayton indie rock titans Guided By Voices have become a well-oiled machine. Now on their second reunion since the group’s formation in 1983, they have amassed a larger catalog than most musicians could create in several careers. Their 35th full length record Crystal Nuns Cathedral relies on their modern brand of rock and roll with some added quirks as a nod towards their more experimental history.
In the 80’s and 90’s GBV were an anomaly. They released several albums of short, poorly recorded tracks that starkly stood out compared to popular rock music at the time. Thus, their melodic but eccentric compositions did not travel far beyond their suburban Ohio surroundings. As they were intending to call it quits with their fifth album Propeller, they found a bit of serendipity. With the rise of Nirvana and the public’s appetite for “alternative rock,” smaller more unusual artists such as Sonic Youth and R.E.M began to find some mainstream success. Fortunately for Pollard and the gang, this spilled over to GBV and they decided to continue their journey. Now, thirty years later, the band has a consistent diet of club shows around the country – peddling their modern rock tunes with sets that are often more than 30-50 songs at a time.
Early on, their production techniques often overshadowed the quality of their music. Interestingly, these same lo-fi self-recording techniques that they struggled to find an audience for initially have found new life in the modern bedroom indie/pop of the later 2010’s. On Crystal Nuns Cathedral, much like many of their recent albums, the instrumental quality is clearer and more fleshed out. Pollard’s sugary melodies are the centerpoint of each track but these more recent recordings flesh out the rhythm section giving the songs a fuller feel. Opening tracks “Eye City” and “Climbing a Ramp” nod towards their more eccentric side with the inclusion of string sections arranged by guitarist Doug Gillard. The former stomps through its run time stopping only to let the aforementioned strings have their moment, ending with a bristling guitar solo. First half highlight and aptly titled “Climbing a Ramp” uses the additional strings to crescendo progressively until guitars take over in the outro. The strings are accompanied by a simple hi hat pattern, inching the track forward until its climactic finale. Oddball “Birds in the Pipe” throws back to their early 2010’s output with its lumbering bass and fantastical lyrics.
The changes they present in the first half of the record ring welcome by well worn fans of the quintet, however the straightforward rock jams truly stand out. “Come North Together” is a head bobbing, foot tapping ode to togetherness. Pollard croons over top of the pulsing distorted guitars and driving drums. Album single “Excited Ones” peppers in frilly bass and drum fills with claps and a memorable chorus hedging the track to be the record’s live favorite. “Eyes of Your Doctor” begins with a groovy guitar lick and mixes in bouncy verse patterns with a driving, anthemic chorus section.
Guided By Voices history reads like an endlessly fascinating underdog story. Their understandably loyal fanbase is still with them all these years and albums later, creating a sense of camaraderie in the listening experience. Their throwbacks are nostalgic and their current rock standards are consistent. On what feels like an extended victory lap, Crystal Nuns Cathedral feeds deeper into their emerging legacy.