Guided by Voices
fans who embraced them as the saviors of
lo-fi pop
after discovering such four-track-in-a-basement masterpieces as
Bee Thousand
and
Alien Lanes
had better learn to live with the fact those days are gone for good -- the high-gloss production of 1999's
Do the Collapse
made it clear that
GBV
topkick
Robert Pollard
wanted his band to compete in
rock
's big leagues, and
Isolation Drills
only confirms that notion, sounding even more polished and precise than its precursor. However, if you loved
for their songs rather than their sometimes-charming sloppiness, then you'll be glad to hear that
Pollard
and Company have never used professionalism to better advantage than they do here. While
Ric Ocasek
's production on
was sympathetic, he clearly favored the
pop
side of the band's personality at the expense of their muscle (most clearly evidenced by the pseudo-
new wave
keyboard patches). But with
Rob Schnapf
behind the controls,
sounds like the real
album
have always wanted to make;
's hooky-but-rollicking melodies pay audible tribute to his great love for mid-'70s rock throughout, while
Doug Gillard
Nate Farley
's guitars finally crunch as much as they chime, making the band's
moves as credible as their
gestures (
"Glad Girls"
"Chasing Heather Crazy"
even finding them managing both at the same time, to superb effect). And
has never made an album this consistently strong from start to finish; with the possible exception of
"Frostman"
(which appears to have been processed to sound like it was recorded on four track), every song here matters, with
's vocals at the top of their form (it helps that most of his lyrics actually make sense for a change -- sounds like
Bob
's been having relationship problems again) and the band sounds tight, forceful, and emphatic throughout. God knows if the
indie rock
audience will ever forgive him for such obvious craft, but the side of
's personality that thought touring with
Cheap Trick
was a great idea finally gets the album he's been waiting for with
. ~ Mark Deming