Few artists besides ever prolific Robert Pollard could pull off releasing a 160-minute, 50-plus-song “best of” CD without including any of their best-known work. That’s the case for Pollard, former frontman for alt-rock favorite Guided By Voices, and next month’s eagerly awaited (by Pollard fanatics like me, at least) release of “Crickets.”
For now, Pollard is offering up “Silverfish Trivia,” a mini-album out now. Clocking in at less than 30 minutes, the album plays like a soundtrack to an as of yet unmade movie. A string instrumental leads into acoustic ballads and harder rock songs, held together as always by Pollard’s abstract lyrics.
The high point: the epic “Cats Love a Parade” at eight minutes and sounding like five songs in one. A quick description of Pollard’s music is to call him America’s updated, quirkier version of The Who. If that’s the case, then “Cats” might be his “A Quick One While He’s Away.”
“Silverfish Trivia” is Pollard’s first release from his newly created Prom is Coming record label. None of these songs were considered for the upcoming “Crickets” compilation, which culls tracks from a different label. But based on quality, just about any of the songs here would make the cut.
,Mark Mueller
