by Anthony V. Fraccalvieri
photo by Tony Nelson
Robert Pollard is nothing if not prolific. The Guided By Voices founder has led an ever-evolving lineup through 35 years and a ridiculous number of albums, two of which were released this year. It wouldn’t surprise most that a third album, titled Sweating the Plague, is ready to drop this fall. The lead single “Heavy Like the World” delivers another helping of the sound Pollard is now synonymous with: big, loose, anthemic guitar pop. To quote the press release, the LP was “constructed as a classic 12-song album experience, meant to be played loud.” An efficient offering, given the double length of the last two records, Travis Harrison’s production sits nicely on the precipice of lo-fi while not sacrificing too much luster. The current lineup featuring guitarist Doug Gillard, drummer Kevin March, guitarist Bobby Bare Jr., and bassist Mark Shue promises to bring forth a marathon set spanning their entire catalog. Pack plenty of beer.
