You may have noticed that Sound Mind went through a roughly six-year period of dormancy beginning in the mid-2010's. This coincided with Robert Pollard overhauling the lineup of Guided by Voices and establishing the group's personnel that continues to the present. To celebrate the fact that this iteration of Guided by Voices will be releasing its 16th album, King of Struts, next month, and that I will be seeing them again at the Grog Shop in July, I'm planning to post about each album and come up with a top songs list at the end.
I was kind of at ground zero for the events that lead to the current lineup of Guided by Voices. In the early 2010's, there was a revival of Guided by Voices classic lineup with Tobin Sprout and Mitch Mitchell. I had tickets to see them again in 2014, when Pollard abruptly disbanded the group and cancelled the remaining tour dates. I still have my ticket as a souvenir. Then in 2016, Pollard put together a lineup consisting of Nick Mitchell, Bobby Bare Jr., Mark Shue and former Guided by Voices drummer Kevin March. I went to the Grog Shop show on that tour. At that show, the band didn't come out for an encore. We were all waiting and confused. Eventually, Kevin March, came out with a bemused look on his face and said that was it for the show. Turns out, Pollard fired Nick Mitchell in the dressing, room and he was replaced later that month by long-time Pollard guitarist, Doug Gillard. Now the current lineup was set.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you August by Cake!" This announcement by Robert Pollard begins their first album; a double album where everyone in the band contributes songs. The first thing you notice on the opening track, "5 Degrees on the Inside" (Baby, that's cold), is this lineup is a tight, hi-fi rock and roll outfit. The addition of Mark Shue's active bass playing to the veterans Gillard and March gives Guided by voices a new, fresh sound. Shue is easily the best bassist Pollard has ever worked with. These guys can play all of Robert Pollard's "P's" of Rock; Pop, Prog, Psych and Punk. However, there is still plenty of Pollard brand weirdness, as on the second song, "Generox Gray", and "Fever Pitch", which sounds like an outtake from Bee Thousand. Doug Gillard contributes two tracks, a fantastic straight-up rocker "Goodbye Note" and an angular, indie rock tune "Deflect/Project". Mark Shue contributes three amazing songs; "Sudden Fiction", "Chew the Sand" and the standout track "Absent the Man", which features a fantastic, 60's psych influenced guitar solo by Gillard. Kevin March's songs "Overloaded" and "Sentimental Wars" are solid, but he's not as strong a vocalist as Gillard or Shue. Bobby Bare Jr.'s songs, "High Five Hall of Famers" and "Upon the Circus Bus" are delightfully lo-fi and Pollard-esque.
August by Cake seems like an album where Pollard is feeling out his new band to see what he has to work with. His contributions are standard fare. I do like the lyrics for "Cheap Buttons". "10 billion Ringo fans can't be wrong. Target your audience then write them a song". For a 32 song, Guided by Voices double album, August by Cake is very consistent and doesn't overstay its welcome. I would rate it as 4 stars out of 5. Peace.
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