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From A Compound Eye

Robert Pollard

Released: 01/24/2006
Format: CD
Label: Merge Records
Catalog #: MRG272
Country: U.S.A.
Discs: 1
# Tracks: 26
Images
Front Cover
Back Cover
CD
Inside Cover
Inside Cover Closeup
Comments
Merge Records release info:

From A Compound Eye, due out on January 24th, 2006 on Merge Records will be Robert Pollard's first solo album since dissolving Guided By Voices in 2004. When things came to an end for GBV, Pollard promised that this would not mean the end of his songwriting and recording career. It actually provided a fresh start. In leaving his band behind, Pollard was able to free himself from the expectations of "the next Guided By Voices record", allowing him to record when he wanted and what he wanted, with whomever he wanted.

With From A Compound Eye's 26 songs clocking in at over 70 minutes, Pollard has finally made good on his threats of releasing a double album. And the wealth of new material is astounding. Highlights include some of the best of the Pollard / GBV canon ("Dancing Girls and Dancing Men", "I'm a Widow" and "Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft"), as well as other nuggets that find Pollard tweaking his style and experimenting with new sounds. "A Flowering Orphan" has an elegant, if somewhat skewed, chamber pop feel, while "U.S. Mustard Company" and "I'm a Strong Lion" are buoyant and shimmering pop tunes. "Kensington Cradle" features a noisy sound collage that works perfectly, while "Conqueror of the Moon" is epic and daunting in its prog-rock grandeur. And that's just scratching the surface of the bredth and depth of the songwriting here. From A Compound Eye proves once again Robert Pollard's gift as a songwriter of remarkable talent and amazing vision.

From A Compound Eye will be released on Must Destroy Music in the UK/Europe. Look for Robert Pollard on tour in support of From A Compound Eye in early 2006.


Original Album info:

Pollard has already recorded a monumental solo album "From A Compound Eye", the double LP is tentatively to be released in Fall 2005. Pollard says the 26-song, 70 minute epic includes all 4 Ps - pop, punk, prog & psychedelic.

The album is tentatively timed to coincide with the release of an authorized GBV book; Hunting Accidents: A Brief History Of Guided By Voices (written by James Greer, former GBV bassist/former Spin magazine senior editor). Published by Grove/Atlantic.
From A Compound Eye
1.   Gold 3:02
2.   Field Jacket Blues 1:49
3.   Dancing Girls And Dancing Men 2:38
4.   A Flowering Orphan 1:50
5.   The Right Thing 4:36
6.   U.S. Mustard Company 2:52
7.   The Numbered Head 5:10
8.   I'm A Widow 3:37
9.   Fresh Threats, Salad Shooters And Zip Guns 1:51
10.  Kick Me And Cancel 2:08
11.  Other Dogs Remain 2:41
12.  Kensington Cradle 1:52
13.  Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft 4:12
14.  Hammer In Your Eyes 1:42
15.  50 Year Old Baby 2:13
16.  I Surround You Naked 2:41
17.  Cock Of The Rainbow 1:43
18.  Conqueror Of The Moon 5:04
19.  Blessed In An Open Head 2:55
20.  A Boy In Motion 1:37
21.  Denied 2:39
22.  Lightshow 2:29
23.  I'm A Strong Lion 1:08
24.  Payment For The Babies 2:03
25.  Kingdom Without 2:29
26.  Recovering 3:28
Total Length: 01:10:29
Other Formats
Label - Catalog [Format] (Country) # Tracks
Guided By Voices Inc. - GBVI-105 [2 LP, Reissue] (U.S.A.) 26
Merge Records - MRG272 [2 LP] (U.S.A.) 26
Must Destroy Music - MUSTY017CD [CD] (United Kingdom) 26

Album Credits
Artwork/Design
Role Name
Art Design Maggie Fost
Cover Robert Pollard
Layout Maggie Fost
Photography Andy Pearson
Photography Sarah Zade-Pollard
Photography Scott Bennett
Musician
Role Name
Bass Guitar Todd Tobias
Dobro Robert Pollard
Drums And Percussion Todd Tobias
Guitar Robert Pollard
Guitar Todd Tobias
Keyboards Todd Tobias
Steel Whistle Robert Pollard
Vocals Robert Pollard
Production
Role Name
Mastering Chris Keffer
Producer Todd Tobias
Studio
Role Name
Mastering Location Magnetic North - Cleveland, OH
Mixing Location Waterloo Sound - Kent, OH
Recording Location Waterloo Sound - Kent, OH
Management/Business
Role Name
Booking Jim Romeo
Business Management Eric Weiss
Legal Richard Grabel
Management David Newgarden
Management Joe Goldberg