Brown Submarine

Boston Spaceships | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Guided By Voices
• ASIN: B001DBQB4E
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,405 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Though one will notice some subtle prog flourishes and acoustic strums, Brown Submarines is a pop punk album, made by and for kids who've worn out the grooves on their Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Wire, and dBs records. While Robert Pollard has stretched out post-GBV, experimenting on each of his diverse and unique solo records, Boston Spaceships rock hard, have fun, and drink Miller Lite. Without undue hyperbole, Pollard is penning fantastic pop songs in a style no longer fashionable--perhaps never fashionable. Makes no difference; on Brown Submarine, Pollard's charged up and sings his ass off. He was so enthusiastic about this album that he's decided to play his first proper club tour in two years. This from a guy who hates flying, goes bananas sitting in the van, and has turned down tours with Radiohead and The Strokes. Give Brown Submarine a spin or two--it'll make you feel like a kid again, too.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for all GBV fans *, December 11, 2008

By 

Hoagie Mike (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brown Submarine (Audio CD)

This first Boston Spaceships cd is the most "classic era GBV" sounding record Robert Pollard has done in a long time. Almost every song is instantly catchy, and the few that aren't, will grow on you. The first 3 songs are so sharp and melodic, and it's also refreshing to hear Bob with a real live band again. Chris Slusarenko and John Moen are tight, and well rehearsed, with good rock and roll chops, and this record has a real rock band vibe to it. Every song is arranged perfectly for it's style or mood, and Bob's vocals are very strong. Favorite tracks are "You Satisfy Me", "Ready To Pop", "Still In Rome", "Psych Threat", the super-catchy "Winston's Atomic Bird", and the remake of an old gbv song, "Go For The Exit". This album has something for everyone who's ever loved the "Propeller" thru the "Do the Collapse" (and beyond) era of Guided By Voices, and also for the hardcore fan, who must buy every single challenging side-project, or solo excursion of Robert Pollard.

Bravo Bob, "Brown Submarine" is fantastic. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Captain Fades to Brown, November 8, 2008

By 

McSpunkle (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brown Submarine (Audio CD)

Destined to be a Robert Pollard classic, I'm surprised this album isn't getting more attention. Probably because of the ungodly amount of material this man releases. It's easy to lose track, but this new band Bob's put together is incredible.

Brown Submarine kicks off with "Winston's Atomic Bird", a quirky piece of oddball pop perfection, but as soon as you get your head bobbing, it's over and the mood shifts to the dark, stripped acoustic title track. Well, this barely lasts a minute and in comes that very familiar GbV style guitar riff, similar to the intros to "I Am a Scientist" and "Queen of Cans and Jars". One of the longest songs on the album at three minutes, "You Satisfy Me" is pure melodic bliss. From here it just keeps getting better.

Acoustic guitar is very prominent throughout, but it still rocks hard. Kind of similar to Half Smiles of the Decomposed in that way. One of my favorites, "Rat Trap" ("Oh no, not Rat Trap!") is acoustic power glam-punk with a wigged out Pollard singing a laugh (Ha-ah-ah-Ha Ha HA!) over reverbed electric piano for the songs climax. And you know Bob can't help but experiment a little, and "Still in Rome" let's him prog out with some as always intriguing, dark yet humorous lyrics, asking "Shall I show them thumbs down?" and "I was hopin' that the dead would rise by themselves". It could've easily been a Circus Devils track. The album closes with a reworking of an old Guided by Voices demo, "Go For The Exit". It starts off as a gentle acoustic ditty, dripping with melodic goodness, then the band kicks in, turning it into a full on rocker, still dripping with melodic goodness.

The whole thing's over before you know it, and you'll find yourself playing the entire album again. It also had me wanting to hear Normal Happiness, it seems to have a similar pace and feel to that album, also recommended. Apparently the next record is already in the can and slated for an early '09 release, and Bob's finishing the demos for the third. Can't wait.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The operative word is fun, February 15, 2009

By 

Garry Messick (Boynton Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brown Submarine (Audio CD)

For longtime Robert Pollard/GBV fans, I'd describe this debut Boston Spaceships album as reminiscent of the classic "Alien Lanes," but with slightly longer songs and better sound. It's also a bit more consistent than "Alien Lanes," maybe because there are only 14 tracks here. The most light-hearted thing Pollard has released in some time, the album is varied, spirited, absurd, irreverent, very tuneful and imbued with a punky energy that makes it sound like the work of inspired 20-year-olds rather than a middle-aged goofball and his like-minded cohorts. Nobody can write like Pollard at his best. "You Satisfy Me," "Winston's Atomic Bird," "2 Girl Area," "Andy Playboy," "Psych Threat" and several others here are straight from skewed pop heaven -- inspired melodies and sharp, funny lyrics that are more comprehensible than is usually the case with Pollard. "Ate it Twice" and "Zero Fix" rock with abandon. Even the two songs that probably won't grab you immediately, "North 11 A.M." and "Still in Rome," will grow on you with repeated listenings. This album and Pollard's new solo disc, "The Crawling Distance," (which is very different but just as great) rank with his best-ever work.