Recordhead

Mudkids

Basementality

Recordhead

The first release in five years -- their fourth overall -- from critically acclaimed, Indianapolis-based hip hop act The Mudkids, Basementality features fifteen new songs straight from the basement produced and recorded by Elp-Mass and Dan Metro at Surf Studios, and written by Mudkid Rusty and the crew's newest member, Skittz. The album also features an excellent guest spot from The Cleptoz' Hum Vee.  The Mudkids hit the road in support of the album, touring the East Coast throughout Fall and Winter 2006 and heading West in February '07.  Basementality was recorded for executive producer Ron Miner (Rhymefest) for Crush Entertainment.

Keene Brothers

Blues And Boogie Shoes

Recordhead

When you combine the talents of two artists Rolling Stone considers to be among the top songwriters of their generation, the results can be impressive, and the ultimate power-pop of The Keene Brothers is as good as it gets. A collaboration between Guided By Voices’ Robert Pollard and legendary pop song-smith Tommy Keene, Blues And Boogie Shoes has been in the works for years. The Who-obsessed duo’s debut is perfect-equal parts inventive melody and powerfully-written pop.    “I think there’s a lot of variety on this record,” Keene states, “When we first talked about doing it, Bob told me he wanted straight up “Tommy Keene” music, which I took to mean a typical pop-rock Tommy Keene record.… In the end there are elements of that but also some other interesting musical landscapes such as ‘Death Of The Party’ and the Zepplinesque ‘The Camouflaged Friend.’”  Production on the album is slick, dare we say, hi-fi?  Blues And Boogie Shoes could be the perfect soundtrack for a top-down, summertime freedom cruise —especially if played at the recommended volume: loud as hell.  

Psycho And The Birds

All That Is Holy

Recordhead

Try to stop the Fading Captain. Just try. Sandwiched between two “official” solo albums, Psycho And The Birds is a “sort-of” solo album and yet another point of light in Robert Pollard’s rapidly expanding, post-Guided By Voices universe. Though it was recorded spontaneously, All that is Holy is no mere collection of throw aways. These tunes might emerge again someday.  Pollard recently pulled out the old boom box to lay down some ideas and quickly discovered — surprise! — he had enough material for a complete album. The tracks were then handed over to studio-whiz Todd Tobias, who proves again why he’s Pollard’s producer for life. Adding instrumentation to complement the raw recordings, Tobias beautifully weaves and twists harmonies around Pollard’s guitar and vocals. The result is an album heavy on the four Ps: pop, punk, prog and psych.  Pollard’s gift for writing bigtime hooks and the fact that he created these gems “on the spot” is astounding.  

Takeovers

Turn To Red

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Guided By Voices may be gone, but that doesn’t mean Robert Pollard has severed relations with his former bandmates. On the contrary, The Takeovers feature Pollard and GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko along with an impressive cast of musicians from the great Northwest. Sam Coomes (Quasi), Eric Bennes, Brian Berg, Charlie Campbell, Dan Peters and Jim Talstra all contribute to this diverse yet strangely cohesive album.  Turn To Red is experimental. It’s psychedelic. It’s a mixture of old ideas and new with Pollard’s gift for words and melody bringing the whole thing together. This album of beautifully damaged, psychedelic pop-rock will stick to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter. 

Pollard, Robert

Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft

Recordhead

Second single from the recent From A Compound Eye, Robert Pollard's first post-Guided By Voices solo album. “Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft” is backed by a LIVE version of the Circus Devils classic track “Dolphins of Color”. This live version is taken from the first string of live shows Robert and his all star rock troupe performed in January. The 7" is limited to 500 retail copies.

Downey, Mike

Adventure, Bless, And Don’t Be Sorry

Recordhead

It’s been a crooked road for Mike Downey. In the late 1990s, when Champaign, IL, darlings Wolfie were riding high on a wave of positive press and successful touring, the band landed on Kindercore Records and released an EP that should’ve pushed them to the “next level” that people love to talk about. Before it did, Downey, one of the band’s primary songwriters, slipped out the back door to go solo. “Democracy doesn’t work in rock ’n’ roll,” he explained and dissappeared into his own self-sufficient 4-track heaven. He spent the next few years under the banner The National Splits pillaging the landscapes of pop-sensible bedroom sweetness. Recordhead snatched up Downey after hearing The National Splits’ s/t debut and released the full-length Fontana in 2002 to wide acclaim. And then, with the critics still gushing about his new album and the road ahead open with possibility, he left his solo musings on simmer and put his guitar to work for Chicago pretty boys The New Constitution. For a good three years Downey fought in the trenches with TNC, but after one album the band cashed it in. Which brings us up to date. Adventure, Bless, and Don’t Be Sorry is the debut album from Downey without bandmates or monikers. He takes stock of the past few years steeplechasing the rock ’n’ roll “dream” and assembles the bits and pieces that feel right, letting the emotions and memories of his years as a songwriter come to full bloom. The album features...

Guided By Voices

Suitcase 2 - American Superdream Wow

Recordhead

The kids have been asking for it, and who wants to deny the kids? The second installment of Guided By Voices Suitcase contains another hundred unreleased gems from the mind of Robert Pollard.   Despite the fragmented nature of the recordings and the way they’re assembled, Pollard carves out a solid, cohesive, and intriguing set that showcases all eras of this famed band. Like the previous Suitcase, each song is credited to a different band, depending on the players involved. The recordings date all the way back to the late ‘70s and are as current as Spring 2005. Demos, full band, live in the studio, discarded finished tracks, sketches of ideas - they’re all here. Looking for the germ of the idea behind “Teenage FBI?” How about the original “I Am Decided,” a song that Ms. Kim Deal borrowed for the The Amps record? Here and here. Ben Zing, Modular Dance Units and The Fake Organisms make appearances as well.  Included alongside these four discs of magic is a substantial 36-page book focusing on the imaginary bands. See for the very first time the lost Bug Eyed Mums album cover for Invisible Train To Earth or the discarded artwork for Acid Ranch’s Supersonic Love Funky Love Gun. Ever wondered what The One Too Many looked like? Or Mutts UK? Get ready.

Pollard, Robert

Bubble

Recordhead

A long time fan of the man, music, and myth that is Ohio native Robert Pollard, Steven Soderbergh (Oceans 11, Traffic and Erin Brockovich) didn’t have to look hard for someone to score his new movie, Bubble. Detailed information surrounding the film is still a bit sparse - the theatrical release date not being until 2006 - but we do know that it is a murder mystery that, in part, takes place in a doll factory in the aforementioned mythological state of Ohio.   The songs here were recorded after Pollard visited the film set in April of this year. In the vein of 2004’s solo effort, Fiction Man, Bubble features Pollard naturally handling vocal and guitar duties with recent producer/collaborator Todd Tobias holding down the bass, drums, and keyboard. The six tracks featured here are best described as classic Pollard material (full-on rock songs, two of which are instrumentals ) that prove Pollard has set his sights on many great things post-GBV.  This release marks the second EP-length release from Robert Pollard in 2005. It will precede the much hyped and long-whispered about second installment of Suitcase from the now-defunct Guided By Voices.

Pollard, Robert

Zoom

Recordhead

*** After twenty-one years of fronting Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard dissolved the band in 2004. Mere days after the band’s final two shows in Chicago comes the announcement of his first post-GBV solo release. The opening instrumental immediately signifies that changes are afoot. Off-the-cuff recording techniques and bouncy lyrics harken back to mid-era GBV and conjure offerings from Dan Bejar or Scott Walker. This four-song EP, the thirty-first release in the Fading Captain Series and Pollard’s first ever solo EP (at least since the Everlasting Big Kick) is available this one time in a pressing of 1,000 and hand-numbered by Pollard.  TRACK LISTING 1. Dr Fuji and Henry Charleston (Zoom Variation) 2. Have a Day Mr. Clay 3. Catherine From Mid-October 4. Zoom (It Happens All Over The World)

Sprout, Tobin

Live At The Horseshoe Tavern (plus Demos)

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In the mid-'90s, Tobin Sprout, tired of the hectic touring schedule and press junkets, said adieu to his bandmates in Guided By Voices and relocated to Leland, Mississippi, where he opened his own art gallery and penned his last few records. In mid-April of 2004, Sprout and band had been playing together just long enough to work out some kinks and hit their stride. With songs selected from all across his discography, the Horseshoe Tavern set list reads like a "best of" and sounds like an exclamation point. Each track bursts with energy and excitement. As if the 29 live tracks weren't enough, tacked to the end of disc two are new piano tracks Sprout recorded as recently as September 2004. Consider these songs as demos for Sprout's next recording, slated for late 2005.

Guided By Voices

Static Airplane Jive

Recordhead

First CD issue of GBV's CLASSIC 'Static' EP. Originally released in 1993 on Siltbreeze 7" 

Sprout, Tobin / Fig. 4

S/t & Unreleased

Recordhead

***Reissue of Tobin's first band's debut and only album. Includes entire album, plus a bonus track, plus a collection of Tobin Sprout 7" releases and 2 unreleased solo tracks. 3 total tracks are unreleased.

V/a

Sounds To Soothe A Nervous Robot

Recordhead

*** Compilation from the late 90's containing EXCLUSIVE tracks and tidbits from Japancakes, Dixie Blood Moustache (Elf Power related), Black Swan Network (Olivia Tremor Control related), Nipples for Days, Melted Men, Noisettes, and tons more.

Eyesinweasel

Wrinkled Thoughts

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***Tobin Sprout returns to the world with his new band: eyesinweasel. After 1998's 'Let's Welcome The Circus People' Tobin took some time to write a different kind of song, a song with a little more meat to it. What he came up with are the 14 tracks featured here. But having these songs in his pocket, he felt it needed full representation on album, so the decision was made to step out of the basement and into the studio. Gathered behind him were the rhythm section for his very first band, Fig. 4, from the 1980s in Dayton Ohio. Also thrown into the mix was mega hyper guitar giant Nick Kizirnis, also from Dayton. With the crew immediately falling into their own, the tracks for 'Wrinkled Thought's were laid down over a handful of weekends in the early Winter months of 2000. The results are a blistering mix of high powered pop songs sometimes akin to the Buzzcocks or even the Who, but of course delivered in Tobin's own unassuming and charming way.

Sprout, Tobin

Let's Welcome The Circus People

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Green Pajamas

Essence Of Carol

Recordhead

Essence Of Carol expands upon The Green Pajamas’ stunning catalog of psychedelic pop masterpieces with two new and exclusive songs, three songs originally released on now out-of-print Earworm 7-inch singles, plus a live performance of “Matilda” recorded at KCMU. With numerous albums released over the years and a strong and dedicated worldwide fanbase, the band, led by main songwriter and singer Jeff Kelly, enjoys critical recognition from all corners of music journalism, from The New York Times to Ptolemaic Terrascope.  TRACK LISTING 1. Essence Of Carol 2. Missing Miss MacColl 3. In A Lonely Way 4. Dreams Of Rhonda 5. What We Had 6. Matilda  • Jeff Kelly’s solo record and recent Green PJs Best-Of attracting attention • Tastemakers aplenty are quite vocal in their support • Immediately compelling pop classics

Brando

943 Recluse

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After releasing the textured and complex Single Crown Postcard in 2003, Derek Richey decided a change of approach for Brando was in order, and with 943 Recluse, set out to make a record that recalled the early days of the band, when all their recording took place on a 4-track. With neither the luxuries nor the constraints of a proper recording studio, the goal was to record their songs in their most elementary state, with refreshingly little concern for fancy recording tricks. The songs here, against all odds, shine as bright as the most impeccably produced albums anyone’s ever heard. Richey’s songs have much in common with lo-fi legends Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout. He flashes a deep appreciation of various aspects of ’60s rock, ranging from upbeat, summery pop to wacked-out psychedelic excursions, all tied together by an equally deep fondness for early-’90s indie giants like Sebadoh and Pavement. Ten years into the life of the band, Richey has proven once and for all that he’s quite simply an outstanding songwriter, the kind whose songs exist beautifully regardless of circumstances; they remind those obsessed with rock music why it is they are in the first place.  • “Magnified” feature in Magnet’s Summer ’04 issue, with Brando track on the CD as well • Glowing reviews in Erasing Clouds, Aiding & Abetting, Neumu, and Indianapolismusic.net • Will appeal to fans of Pollard, Sprout and GBV

Pollard, Robert

Fiction Man

Recordhead

Like other releases in The Fading Captain Series, Fiction Man is an effort of collaboration. After writing the Fiction Man’s 14 tracks at his Dayton, Ohio home studio, Robert Pollard sent tapes to recent Guided By Voices and Circus Devils producer Todd Tobias (Earthquake Glue, Universal Truths & Cycles) to flesh them out. On this recording, Tobias builds insanely intricate and beautiful instrumental beds out of Pollard’s acoustic demos. The songs are steeped in echoes; they feature odd timing structures and moments of noise and punk rock previously not evident in a Pollard project. Having these soundscapes in front of him, Pollard then recorded vocals at Waterloo in Kent, Ohio — some of his most inspired and memorable to date. Most of the lyrics (from the recent literary and art book EAT) are delivered with a twisted and fucked-up psychedelic urgency that resonates for moments and hours and days.  • The most recent in The Fading Captain Series from Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices • Pollard’s eighth solo album • Precedes new GBV album on Matador, and 10th anniversary editions of Scat catalog classics • Near constant critical attention in the pages of The New York Times, Magnet Magazine, and British powerhouse Q

Circus Devils

Pinball Mars

Recordhead

The highly prolific, and uber psycho-delic trio known as Circus Devils are prepared to bring you their new mindfuck opus, Pinball Mars. Performed as a two part rock opera, Pinball Mars offers up the cleanest production to date on a Circus Devils release. As was the case with the first two Circus Devils releases, Pinball Mars takes you on a strange journey filled with bizarre characters and equally challenging music. This is not a band to be taken lightly. The Circus Devils open chambers of your mind you didn't know existed, but were afraid they might. Intricate instrumentals provided by the Brothers Tobias (Todd & Tim) intertwined with the mesmerizing vocals and melodies of Robert Pollard. For those who still haven't ventured outside of their pre- new millenium bomb shelters, The Fading Cading Captain Series is the label project of Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices. This label see various releases by various incarnations of various identities fronted by Mr. Pollard. The Circus Devils, as featured here, include Robert twisting his otherworldy lyrics in and around these sharp melodies as played by the brothers Tobias (Tim & Todd). 

National Splits

Fontana

Recordhead

***The fourth NATIONAL SPLITS release from bedroom rock'n'roller and former WOLFIE co-songwriter MIKE DOWNEY. A loose and ready-for-summertime fun blast of glam-flavored rock'n'roll for friends, road trips, soda shops and general hangin' around.

Lifeguards

Mist King Urth

Recordhead

***ROBERT POLLARD and DOUG GILLARD of GUIDED BY VOICES turn out an amazing home recording. Think '70s hard prog. Think latter day Brian Eno. Sprinkle that with some tight, beautiful vocal performances and crazy-ass lyrics and you have LIFEGUARDS.  

Impossible Shapes

Bless The Headless

Recordhead

***The fourth proper full-length recording from psych-pop heads the IMPOSSIBLE SHAPES. Leaving the home-recording style of their previous efforts, the band has enlisted producers BILL DOSS (SUNSHINE FIX, OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL) and PAUL MAHERN (SUPERCHUNK, ZERO BOYS) for some beautifully powerful and vividly imaginative rock and psychedelia in the vein of Pearls Before Swine, Love, Soft Machine, and Television.

Sprout, Tobin

Lost Planets & Phantom Voices

Recordhead

***The first solo outing since 1999's Let's Welcome the Circus People from former GUIDED BY VOICES and current AIRPORT 5 and EYESINWEASEL member TOBIN SPROUT. A blend of blissed-out pop, psychedelia and atmospherics recorded at home with Sprout tackling most of the instrumental duties—though he did call upon friends NICK KIZIRNIS (MUCHMEN), JIM MACPHERSON (GBV, BREEDERS), DAN O'CONNOR (MINK) and the IMPOSSIBLE SHAPES for occasional assistance.

Pollard, Robert

Motel Of Fools

Recordhead

***Heading into 2003 in a completely different direction GUIDED BY VOICES mainman ROBERT POLLARD delivers a new album unlike anything he’s done before. A seven-track goodtime of catchy pop gems and experimental sound collages featuring contributions from JOHNNY STRANGE, JIM MACPHERSON, JOHN SHOUGH, NICK KIZIRNIS, GREG DEMOS, DON THRASHER, CHRIS SLUSARENKO, and the ORIGIALANACRUSI.

Circus Devils

Harold Pig Memorial

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***GUIDED BY VOICES chairman, ROBERT POLLARD returns with TODD and TIM TOBIAS under their CIRCUS DEVILS moniker for another full-length psychedelic stunner. Twenty-two songs and snippets filled with bizarre characters, strange journeys, intricate music, and POLLARD's signature vocals.

Sprout, Tobin

Sentimental

Recordhead

***The latest solo release from former GUIDED BY VOICES and current EYESINWEASEL and AIRPORT 5 songsmith TOBIN SPROUT. A teaser EP to an upcoming new full-length, loaded with Sprout's beautiful melodies, lovely wordplay, and knack for turning a tune.

V/a

Single Wish

Recordhead

***A benefit release compiled and organized by the CAFFEINATED ROBOTS—TODD and JASON at Luna—to provide funds for the Martha Millard Robinson Scholarship Foundation, which helps underprivileged children learn and appreciate the arts. Features exclusive tracks from ROBERT POLLARD, GREEN PAJAMAS, TOBIN SPROUT, RED HOUSE PAINTERS, RON SEXSMITH, KINGSBURY MANX, BRANDO, CANDY BUTCHERS, DAVID GARZA, IMPOSSIBLE SHAPES, and more.

Green Pajamas

If She Only Knew

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***The latest offering from psychedelic pop explorers GREEN PAJAMAS. Three brand new exclusive tracks, along with a live cover of "Autum Leaves" originally recorded by GREEN PAJAMAS leaders JEFF KELLY and LAURA WELLER's other group, THE GOBLIN MARKET.

Impossible Shapes

Laughter Fills Our Hollow Dome

Recordhead

***The second full-length release from Bloomington, Indiana's brightest pop constructors. Ten tracks of straight-up pop and musical experimentation with a touch of 1960s psychedelia. Having shared the stage with Tobin Sprout and US Maple, the IMPOSSIBLE SHAPES have slowly developed into fine songwriters in their own right.

Brando

Single Crown Postcard

Recordhead

***The second CD release from Bloomington, Indiana's psychedelic stalwarts lands somewhere between Dukes of Stratosphere and Galaxy 500. The band certainly knows how to squeeze out every last bit from their 4-track recorder. Features members of SATELLITE 66 and MARMOSET.

Go Back Snowball

Calling Zero

Recordhead

***GUIDED BY VOICES mainman ROBERT POLLARD teams up with SUPERCHUNK head-honcho MAC McCAUGHAN for some top-shelf pure pop bliss. Twelve glorious tracks of cohesive and well-crafted pop goodness featuring music by Mac and vocals by Robert.

Airport 5

Life Starts Here

Recordhead

***The second album from the re-united musical team of GUIDED BY VOICES founders ROBERT POLLARD and TOBIN SPROUT. A tremendous collection of new tracks that have a "heavier" feel than their previous recordings, once again delivered with Mr. Sprout taking care of all the instrumentation, while Mr. Pollard handles the vocals.

Circus Devils

Ringworm Interiors

Recordhead

***A brain-numbing twenty-eight-song new album from the prolific mind of GUIDED BY VOICES chairman, ROBERT POLLARD. A driving blend of psycho-delics, freak-outs, and killer leftfield pop. Unpolished, ugly, and wonderful.

Impossible Shapes

Go Somewhere Beautiful Pt. 2

Recordhead

***The latest from Bloomington, Indiana's skewed-pop constructors. Five tracks of off-kilter pop and musical experimentation with a touch of 1960s psychedelia. Limited edition of 500 copies.

Airport 5

Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks

Recordhead

***A collection of brand new material from GUIDED BY VOICES frontman ROBERT POLLARD and former GBV partner in crime TOBIN SPROUT. The duo's first collaborative material since GBV's 1996 'Tonics and Twisted Chasers album, Tower in the Fountain of Sparks features fifteen songs with vocals by Pollard on all but one.

Sprout, Tobin

Demos & Outtakes

Recordhead

***A first-time-on-CD reissue of the double-album collection from former GUIDED BY VOICES co-leader TOBIN SPROUT. Twenty songs including songs from his Wrinkled Thoughts project, some early solo material, and GBV-era songs done in their original form. Limited edition of 1,000 copies.

Eyesinweasel

Live In The Middle East

Recordhead

***Former GUIDED BY VOICES co-leader TOBIN SPROUT returns to the forefront with a brand new live album recorded October 28, 2000 at the Middle East Restaurant and Bar in Cambridge, MA, while Tobin was on tour supporting his Wrinkled Thoughts album. Twenty-five tracks—including a handful of GBV hits—released in a very limited edition of 1,000 copies (with only 600 available for distribution).

Guided By Voices

Suitcase - Failed Experiments Box Set

Recordhead

***Number six in Recordhead's Fading Captain series goes all-out and overboard with a mad-ass collection of unreleased GBV tracks recorded over the entire course of their twenty-five year history. Check it out, one-hundred songs and over four hours of music spread out over four jewel-case packaged CDs, packaged in a full-color card box with a 34-page perfect bound book containing rare photos, original lyric sheets, set lists, and quotes from GBV fans and critics alike. Each song is credited to a different band name depending on the era in which the material was written. Hot freaks.

Lexo & The Leepers

Ask Them

Recordhead

***Number two in the Fading Captain series from the Recordhead/Rockathon alliance gets you six new songs from ROBERT POLLARD. Recorded in April of '99, and backed by Dayton, Ohio's TASTIES.

Pollard, Bob & Doug Gillard

Speak Kindly...

Recordhead

***Number four in GUIDED BY VOICES chairman ROBERT POLLARD's Fading Captain Series. Fifteen pop classics in the tradition of GBV's Bee Thousand, written and sung by Pollard with cohort DOUG GILLARD playing all the instruments and handling the recording process.