Robert Pollard - Superman Was a Rocker

This album spans a 20+ year period. Robert Pollard's Superman Was a Rocker is a return to old ways. This mini-album (13 songs, 30 minutes) finds Pollard using recording methods he hasn't engaged in since his time in Guided By Voices (GBV). Pollard poured through a bunch of old cassette tapes and found some great, never-used instrumentals that he either wrote or co-wrote and decided to go into the studio and put vocals (and melodies!) over them, just like he 'used to back in the old GBVs days'. Many of the classic GBV alumni appear on this album: Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, Doug Gillard, Nate Farley. It plays like an old-time radio show with recurring song lead-ins by two 'guest DJs'. 'Love Your Spaceman', co-written by Pollard and ex-GBV drummer Kevin March, is one of those instant Bob classics that will surely wind up on various Best of Bob comps down the line. 'Peacock' has a bluesy, Stones-like feel to it that recalls early GBV live basement recordings. The album's closer, 'More Hot Dogs Please', is flat-out screaming punk rock that includes the original vocal track by Pollard recorded on the song back in the '80s. This is the most fun Pollard album in years. 13 tracks. Happy Jack Rock Records. 2008.