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Psycho & the Birds

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2008)
• Original Release Date: February 26, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Happy Jack Rock
• ASIN: B0011U50HQ
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,502 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2008 release, the third from this project from former Guided By Voices mainman Robert Pollard. Waaaaay back in mid-2006 (we're talking "Bob years" here), Robert Pollard released two Psycho And The Birds albums. The first, the full-length All That Is Holy, was followed by the EP Check Your Zoo. The concept surrounding Psycho And The Birds is that Pollard writes songs and records them on his infamous boombox (into which every song he has written since the early '90s has been sung), and sends them off to producer/multi-instrumentalist/visionary Todd Tobias, who adds the rest of the band's music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great post-GBV album from Pollard, April 25, 2009

By	a concerned citizen (pa) - See all my reviews

This is one of Pollard's most interesting releases since the dissolution of GBV, mainly in the nice balance it strikes between lo and mid-fi production. The recording method -- adding full-band instrumentation over acoustic performances recorded live into a boombox -- really captures the energy and spontaneity of Pollard's playing, while also fleshing out the songs with intricate and awesome arrangements. Unlike the first Psycho & the Birds album, most of the songs here sound like some planning went into them, and it's a strong set with a lot of "hits."

I like to think of this album as something GBV could've put out in an alternate universe where they never took a shot at big time production and faded back into the obscurity of their basements.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Did Too, March 9, 2008

By	Glenn L. Hornbeek "wayved" (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am glad I didn't give up on Pollard and his partner in musical crime, Tobias.
I was amazed by how well these songs are put together--the previous Psycho and the Birds (what a cool band name) offerings were in the "20 listens and it still escapes me" category--this one is a different story.

Music like this is one of the reasons I am grateful to be alive.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars bob is good, April 10, 2008

By	scott walker (sonoma county) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

absolutely adored the first psycho record, as it had some killer melodies hidden under the muddy production and low-volumed vocals. bob can still write beautiful songs in his sleep--see "jesus the clockwork"--for one of the absolutely most gorgeous songs ever recorded. i haven't gotten this record yet, but from everything i've heard it's a knockout.
go bob! hi pb!
s.w.