Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department

1. Frequent Weaver Who Burns

2. Soul Train College Policeman

3. Pop Zeus

4. Slick as Snails

5. Do Something Real

6. Port Authority

7. Soft Smoke

8. Same Things

9. And I Don't (So Now I Do)

10. Tight Globes

11. I Get Rid of You

12. Life Is Beautiful

13. Messiahs

14. Larger Massachusetts

15. And My Unit Moves

Tracks:

Frequent Weaver Who Burns
Soul Train College Policeman
Pop Zeus
Slick as Snails
Do Something Real
Port Authority
Soft Smoke
Same Things
And I Don't (So Now I Do)
Tight Globes
I Get Rid of You
Life Is Beautiful
Messiahs
Larger Massachusetts
And My Unit Moves

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly Good!.......2006-11-23

WOW! I can't believe how good this record is! Recorded between Guided By Voices two worst albums, ("Do The Collapse" and "Isolation Drills") "Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department" is a shocking near-masterpiece. Why this album wasn't released as a Guided By Voices record is baffling, most of the songs on this record tower above anything on "Do The Collapse" and some of them even rival the best songs from GBV's 90's matador records.

The syrupy synthesizers and multitracked guitars featured on "Do The Collapse" are thankfully absent here. The production on this record most reminds me of the highest fidelity moments of "Propller". In other words, it has a "classic" GBV sound and style.

While the sound of the record is great, it is of course the songs that make it shine. "Pop Zeus" "And I Don't (So Now I Do)", and "Tight Globes" are as good as anything GBV has ever done, and stand head and shoulders above the best of Pollards material outside this album (with the exception of the wonderful "Subspace Biographies"). The rest of the record is also great. Opener "Frequent Weaver Who Burns" shows Pollard returning to his nonsensical, endlessly optmistic vocal stylings that are largely missing from "Do The Collapse" and "Isolation Drills". "Larger Massachussetts" is one of Pollard's best slow songs, and "Slick As Snails" with it's terrific guitar solo rocks harder than any GBV song since "Mute Superstar".

Yes there are a couple throwaways, "Soft Smoke" and "Messiahs" are typical Pollard duds, but on the whole "Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department" is as good or better than any record Pollard has released that isn't named "Alien Lanes", "Bee Thousand" or "Under The Bushes, Under The Stars".

one of a kind.......2006-07-22

there will never be a record like this again. every song is great. the production is simple and relaxed. doug's musicianship is utilized here better than on anything he's ever been on (with the possible exception of do the collapse, on which he dominates.) pop zeus. that was my ex-wife's favorite pollard song. god, i miss her. there will never be a record like this again.

Electric newspaper boy!!.......2005-08-26

"Speak Kindly" may not quite rival the very best GBV albums, but it certainly stands alongside "Not in My Airforce" and "Choreographed Man of War" as the cream of Robert Pollard's solo work. Lots of great songs and very little filler here. Doug Gillard's outstanding work on all instruments proves what an asset he is as a sideman for Pollard. Highly recommended. Soul train college policeman!

Too Good.......2004-11-08

I truly am sick of hearing of "indie purists" whining. I dig all phases of GBV but you know what? I would rather this (if forced) than anything in Guided By Voices vast catalog.
The guitar solo in Slick as Snails--where the hell did that come from? "Life Is Beautiful" is something else... I saw them live the night before this album came out--Bee Thousand? Pah. This album is beyond belief. Gillard (Death of Samantha, Cobra Verde, solo) recorded the basic tracks and Pollard laid some vocals from what I understand. The result? One of the best albums ever made. It is that inspired, that good. Move over, Whos Next, Pet Sounds, Loveless, Nevermind, Daydream Nation....If you are even reading this please do yourself a favor. I have a life to live too besides posting crap on Amazon--I just want to tell you that this album just needs to be heard. No hype, not opinion, just fact.

He is a Pop Zeus.......2004-05-20

This album still gets high rotation in my cd player. Doug Gillard shines on all instruments and Bob Pollard's lyrics excel without question. This is my favorite non-GBV Bob solo project. So many of these songs have been featured by GBV live they're all old hat to GBV fans by now:

Frequent Weaver Who Burns- Steals the descending riff from "Gold Heart Mtn. Top Queen Directory" to new effect. Great playing by Doug Gillard on all instruments here. Check out his drums on the fade out! ****

Soul Train College Policeman- Always a live favorite! ****

"Pop Zeus" rocks like vintage Mag Earwig material. What the hell does "Electric Newspaper Boy" mean? And how does he make it sound as rocking as anything the Who did? *****

Slick as Snails- This mid-tempo anthem seems to fit the mold for a lot of the Isolation Drills material. My favorite line: "The imprint where you sat, dig the ripples caused by that, I can ride them out." This is some of the finest solo guitar work Gillard has ever done. Gives me chills and a smile every time. *****

Port Authority- An introspective piece with liquid keyboards and a feel that might be borrowed from Bob's love of early Genesis? Good song nonetheless. ****

Soft Smoke/Same Things- Nice short pieces. ***

And I Don't (So Now I Do)- Great piece of pop that probably would have been a 30 second song in the days before Do the Collapse and Ric Ocasek. ****

Tight Globes- Lyrics obscurely tell a tale of a young blonde woman cutting off Bob on the Freeway. Rocks like a classic Who song. A song that gets a shot in the arm live. *****

I Get Rid of You- Dark and mysterious. *** (Can you tell I like the "up" material better?)

Life is Beautiful- I love how this one sounds like they're playing guitar in a small room. Bob touts the wonders of living and it ends with some nice atmospheric baubles and backing vocals. *****

Messiahs- A rocker in 5/4 reminiscent of Camper Van Beethoven with those space cowboy guitars.***

And My Unit Moves- Okay, what "Unit" Bob speaks of. But this stately piano and vocal dirge works surprisingly well. ****

Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department
Average customer rating:
Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department
Robert Pollard
Manufacturer: Luna/Recordhead
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00003GO09
Release Date: 1999-12-07

Tracks:

Frequent Weaver Who Burns
Soul Train College Policeman
Pep Zeus
Slick As Snails
Do Something Real
Port Authority
Soft Smoke
Same Things
And I Don't (So Now I Do)
Tight Globes
I Get Rid Of You
Life Is Beautiful
X Messiahs
Larger Massachusetts
And My Unit Moves

Rock Music:

Rock Music