Customer Reviews

Coast to Coast Carpet of Love (Dig)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of only a few Pollard-records which failed to connect with me. The songs are a bit too anonymous and the sound is too "kind". The album does have a coherent feeling but gives the impression of Pollard trying to make a laidback album.

Only on the underrated Miles Under The Skin we get a sense of the intensity and greatness of Pollards songwriting.

Starters into Pollards solo-career should check out Normal happiness or From A Compound Eye.

My favorite tracks on here are the simplest ones, "Miles Under The Skin" and "Slow Hamilton". "Our Gaze" is a fine opener, but honestly, I think he's trying to make complicated progressive rock/pop, and some of the best pop, and this applies to GBV too, is the simplest stuff. That's what resonates with me anyway. There's no need, in my opinion, to over-arrange songs that would work better if they had 25 less chords/changes in them. You know? Ultimately, it seems like music from the head rather than the heart. Not much memorable here.

This is definitely not the Bob album to start with. It's not bad, just not representative of the world's greatest artist compared to his other albums. I really like some of the songs like Youth Leagues and I clap for Strangers Now but feel that they're missing a certain edge that is present in most of his music. I blame this mainly on the production. In the same way that the song "Hold on Hope" didn't work many of these songs suffer, (but are not completely lost). This kind of album from Bob is ok every now and then. I just hope he's not being hijacked by that crowd where every guy in the bar is scrawny and has a haircut that says "I rock, but I don't rock too hard".

C'mon! Sure, I understand. I wish Mr. Pollard would find someone else to collaborate with other than the awesome Todd Tobias (nothing against him at all) and muck it up abit. Sure--some of his solo albums are starting to sound alike--but its the songs that count. If you listen to this album a few times (if you are already a Robert Pollard fan) I could not see why one would not appreciate it. This album deserves a much better fate. From first second to last there is no filler--no weakness. I implore you if you are even remotely interested -- pick it up. If you don't like it at first, well, listen to it again.

I love Robert Pollard and have almost everything he has done. I did not like this album at all at first but it has grown on me quite a bit. The opener on the album may be one of my favorite Pollard songs of his solo career. This record is a good listen especially for a Bob fan but Standard Gargoyle descisions is the better of the two.

But whatever's what you've got. Since records cost money (right?), presumably you'd want to save your money for the best of them. Pollard is his usual oozing self, but these performances are flat, neither crappy enough to be charming nor punchy enough to rock you. Listened to it three times hoping to be tugged in, but I'm bored. Back to 'Alien Lanes.'

Diss me now ye faithful.

yo this 16-track jam is yet ANOTHER new album from the Guided By Voices singer and absolutely irreplaceable songwriter UNCLE BOB. this is the poppy, Beatles-esque record that exists in contrast to the simultaneously released "standard gargoyle decisions" album that is a little more rockin' in the free world.

overall, i find this record to be very accessible and catchy. not a lame song on this whole damn album. it might not be a great place for new fans to start but overall its not inaccessible by ANY means and both GBV and Bob fans will NOT be disappointed at all. DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why doesn't Sidekick Astronomy (as Robs' fans call him) just release one or two cds evey few years?? Because he chose 2007 to release two cds on the smae day just like bruce springsteen and guns n roses did and noone said they shouldnt! This is wierd rock and roll. I actually stumbled on this looking for a nother Rob, Rob Thomas who I think is great, but not wierd like this. My friend Jazzy Sandwich bought these two cds and sid not to disturb him. I only did that when i bought LOVE by the beatles!!