POLIFEMO II (Condor's Cave) cd 21.00
Hard-rockin' and sometimes jazzy progressive rock from Argentina, recorded in Buenos Aires in 1977. A four piece, guitar/bass/drums and the requisite assortment of keyboard instruments, including mellotron. Includes bonus tracks not on original LP. Lots of emotion and instrumental flash: psych-style guitar heroics, piano jammin', latin percussion, etc.

POLLARD, BOB, WITH DOUG GILLARD Speak Kindly... (Recordhead) cd 15.98

POLLARD, ROBERT Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love (Merge) cd 14.98
Hey, here's a new pop album from Uncle Bob!
He may have laid his Fading Captain label series to rest, but Robert Pollard ain't shutting down any time soon! He can't be stopped, and Merge Records is helping to ensure that with not one but two new albums at once! The label has suggested the age-old Beatles vs Stones debate as a fitting differentiation point between the two faces of Pollard's current double whammy -- that is, a poppy one and a harder edged rock one. Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love is the former, and the one we favor of the two (psst, the other is Standard Gargoyle Decisions). Lots of jangly guitars, lots of peppy energy. Pollard's releases are seldom so clearly sorted and defined. We can usually count on some element of bee-in-his-bonnet randomness, but not so this time. And you know what? As much as we've always loved and appreciated his devil may care approach, it's really a pleasure to hear a relatively even keeled sixteen songs in a row. That's the case with this here album.
MPEG Stream: "Our Gaze"
MPEG Stream: "Slow Hamilton"

POLLARD, ROBERT Fiction Man (Fading Captain Series) cd 14.98
Ack, the word "CAMELTOE" surfaces without warning in the song "It's Only Natural" But wait! Please don't let that dissuade you from checking out this new Robert Pollard solo release. Yup, GBV / Pollard completists you probably already knew... he's gone and done it again! Cranked out another full length to add to his already bulging body of work. Geez, you'll soon be needing a dedicated shelving unit (if you don't already!). With such profuse musical output, you can imagine there might be some hits and some misses in the bunch, and there certainly have been. That said though, we're happy to report that this falls in the former category. Perhaps his most cohesive collection of songs in recent memory, this album alone is pretty darn jam-packed unto itself with a total of fourteen songs. It's an even balance between his more rambunctious obtuse tunes and what are perhaps his most wistfully reflective jangly numbers. His Fiction Man partner in crime was Todd Tobias who handled the lion's share of the instrument playin' as well as recordin' and producin'. For those keeping track, this is #30 in the Fading Captain Series.
MPEG Stream: "Run Son Run"
MPEG Stream: "Built To Improve"

POLLARD, ROBERT From A Compound Eye (Merge) cd 14.98
In his first post GBV solo record Mr. Pollard shows no signs of letting up..at all! 26 new songs that run the range of the legacy of song writing that Pollard has displayed over the years. What's really nice is the timelessness that continues to be displayed in his songs. If you heard this playing you could think that maybe some of this was really early GBV songs that you never heard before. The cd starts on fire with 3 of the best Pollard penned songs we've heard in a while. If you've been feeling overwhelmed the onslaught of his releases this is one to jump back in with for sure. You get the raw lo-fi side of him as well as the more made for stadium fist in the air rockers as well. While we think that maybe folks like Ryan Adams don't need to be releasing as many records as they are, Robert Pollard can keep churning out the releases as long as he'd like and chances are we're gonna like what he comes out with.
MPEG Stream: "Field Jacket Blues"
MPEG Stream: "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men"
MPEG Stream: "I'm A Widow"

POLLARD, ROBERT From A Compound Eye (Merge) 2lp 17.98
In his first post GBV solo record Mr. Pollard shows no signs of letting up..at all! 26 new songs that run the range of the legacy of song writing that Pollard has displayed over the years. What's really nice is the timelessness that continues to be displayed in his songs. If you heard this playing you could think that maybe some of this was really early GBV songs that you never heard before. The cd starts on fire with 3 of the best Pollard penned songs we've heard in a while. If you've been feeling overwhelmed the onslaught of his releases this is one to jump back in with for sure. You get the raw lo-fi side of him as well as the more made for stadium fist in the air rockers as well. While we think that maybe folks like Ryan Adams don't need to be releasing as many records as they are, Robert Pollard can keep churning out the releases as long as he'd like and chances are we're gonna like what he comes out with. For vinyl enthusiasts you win both ways as you get a nice gatefold double-lp as well as a coupon enclosed for a free digital download so you can hear Mr. Pollard in the comfort of you living room on your nice turntable or for when you are on the go.
MPEG Stream: "Field Jacket Blues"
MPEG Stream: "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men"
MPEG Stream: "I'm A Widow"

POLLARD, ROBERT Kid Marine (Rockathon) cd 14.98
Singer for Guided By Voices unleashes a full length that's as good or maybe better than recent work he's done.

POLLARD, ROBERT Motel of Fools (Fading Captain Series) cd 14.98
Hmmm, has Robert Pollard been compared to the Energizer bunny yet? Goodness! When does this man ever rest? Perhaps he's aiming for a spot in the Guinness Book for most cds released? Yet another solo offering of his distinct, lo-fi (relative to later, not earlier, efforts), unadorned psych pop that jumps from cloudy, tripped-out guitar fuzz with vocal fits, to threadbare folkiness with piano and acoustic six-string in the blink of an eye (particularly on the four sectioned "The Spanish Hammer"). As is typically the case with any of his release, there's one or two songs that shine brighter than the rest. Motel of Fools is no exception, it's graced with the wistful "Captain Black". However there'll also be the one or two less... er, pleasing moments present also. On this cd, it's the beginning of the third song "Red Ink Superman" in which the vocal recordings are slowed down to a crawling sludge. Once he's done with that though the rest of the song - and album - for that matter - bounce back to fine Pollardness.
RealAudio clip: "Captain Black"
RealAudio clip: "The Spanish Hammer"

POLLARD, ROBERT Music For 'Bubble' (Fading Captain Series) cd 5.98
A week without a new Robert Pollard and/or Guided By Voices release is like a week without sunshine... errr, well, almost. Fortunately it seems we've got nothing to worry about 'cause the well sure isn't showing any signs of drying up. This week we not only received GBV's Suitcase 2 (a gigantinormous 4cd boxset to be reviewed soon), but also this new solo Pollard release. It's a six song collection of music he did for Steven Soderbergh's murder mystery 'Bubble'. Ah, one great musicmaker and one great moviemaker. What's not to love about that? Absolutely nuttin'! Pollard released both the boxset and this ep on his Fading Captain Series label (volumes #37 and 36 respectively).
MPEG Stream: "All Men Are Freezing"
MPEG Stream: "I'm No Child"

POLLARD, ROBERT Music For 'Bubble' (Fading Captain Series) 7" 4.50
A week without a new Robert Pollard and/or Guided By Voices release is like a week without sunshine... errr, well, almost. Fortunately it seems we've got nothing to worry about 'cause the well sure isn't showing any signs of drying up. This week we not only received GBV's Suitcase 2 (a gigantinormous 4cd boxset to be reviewed soon), but also this new solo Pollard release. It's a six song collection of music he did for Steven Soderbergh's murder mystery 'Bubble'. Ah, one great musicmaker and one great moviemaker. What's not to love about that? Absolutely nuttin'! Pollard released both the boxset and this ep on his Fading Captain Series label (volumes #37 and 36 respectively).
MPEG Stream: "All Men Are Freezing"
MPEG Stream: "I'm No Child"

POLLARD, ROBERT Normal Happiness (Merge) cd 14.98
You'll have to excuse us if we seem to have found ourselves at a loss for things to say about Mr. Pollard and his innumerable projects and releases. We've totally lost count. C'mon, cut us some slack! His songs may be utterly human and personal, but the man behind it is an almost inhuman music-making dynamo. While there are plenty of GBV and Pollard supporters around aQ, we're pooped. There's barely enough time to digest the last release before a new one lands in our lap, and there's always a few numbers that get their hooks into us. That said, this is pretty darn classic Pollard in indie rock mode... meaning there's very few of his weirdo wacko noisy detours. Normal Happiness = sixteen engaging, endearing poppy nuggets, the kind he does so well! Whew, looks like we weren't at such a writer's block after all!
Maybe not the place to start for GBV/Pollard neophytes, but will surely more than please his legions of devoted fans.
MPEG Stream: "Supernatural Car Lover"
MPEG Stream: "Pegasus Glue Factory"

POLLARD, ROBERT Normal Happiness (Merge) lp 14.98
You'll have to excuse us if we seem to have found ourselves at a loss for things to say about Mr. Pollard and his innumerable projects and releases. We've totally lost count. C'mon, cut us some slack! His songs may be utterly human and personal, but the man behind it is an almost inhuman music-making dynamo. While there are plenty of GBV and Pollard supporters around aQ, we're pooped. There's barely enough time to digest the last release before a new one lands in our lap, and there's always a few numbers that get their hooks into us. That said, this is pretty darn classic Pollard in indie rock mode... meaning there's very few of his weirdo wacko noisy detours. Normal Happiness = sixteen engaging, endearing poppy nuggets, the kind he does so well! Whew, looks like we weren't at such a writer's block after all!
Maybe not the place to start for GBV/Pollard neophytes, but will surely more than please his legions of devoted fans.
MPEG Stream: "Supernatural Car Lover"
MPEG Stream: "Pegasus Glue Factory"

POLLARD, ROBERT Robert Pollard Is Off To Business (GBV) cd 14.98
Another week, another Robert Pollard release! Had enough yet? If so, we (and probably he too) would understand. Many of his solo outings can be a bit haphazard, but allow is to reassure you that this album is actually remarkably solidly packed with Pollard pop gems and quite light on the overt weirdness. Maybe he should have titled it "Robert Pollard Gets Down To Business"? Diehard fans should certainly give this one a spin!
If you happen to somehow be new to this musical gent, this probably isn't the place to start. Figuring out the best introduction can be a daunting task. At last count we had about 59 Pollard and Guided By Voices entries in our database, and that's not even including his alter egos and side projects. There's so many that a few times we ran out of words with which to review them! Nonetheless we can advise you to head first and immediately to Guided By Voices' Bee Thousand.
MPEG Stream: "The Original Heart"
MPEG Stream: "Western Centipede"

POLLARD, ROBERT Robert Pollard Is Off To Business (GBV) lp 15.98
Another week, another Robert Pollard release! Had enough yet? If so, we (and probably he too) would understand. Many of his solo outings can be a bit haphazard, but allow is to reassure you that this album is actually remarkably solidly packed with Pollard pop gems and quite light on the overt weirdness. Maybe he should have titled it "Robert Pollard Gets Down To Business"? Diehard fans should certainly give this one a spin!
If you happen to somehow be new to this musical gent, this probably isn't the place to start. Figuring out the best introduction can be a daunting task. At last count we had about 59 Pollard and Guided By Voices entries in our database, and that's not even including his alter egos and side projects. There's so many that a few times we ran out of words with which to review them! Nonetheless we can advise you to head first and immediately to Guided By Voices' Bee Thousand.
MPEG Stream: "The Original Heart"
MPEG Stream: "Western Centipede"

POLLARD, ROBERT Silverfish Trivia (Prom Is Coming) cd 10.98
As if he wasn't busy enough, Mr. Robert Pollard now adds "record label exec" to his curriculum vitae. Silverfish Trivia is the first release on his new label Prom Is Coming. Seven songs = twenty two minutes... most of the tunes are captivatingly short'n'sweet under-three-minute nuggets in true Pollard fashion, but one "Cats Love A Parade" stretches out longer and psych-ier than the rest reaching almost the eight minute mark... which is also in true Pollard fashion.
MPEG Stream: "Circle Saw Boys Club"
MPEG Stream: "Cats Love A Parade"

POLLARD, ROBERT Standard Gargoyle Decisions (Merge) cd 14.98
Hey, here's a new rock album from Uncle Bob!
He may have laid his Fading Captain label series to rest, but Robert Pollard ain't shutting down any time soon! He can't be stopped, and Merge Records is helping to ensure that with not one but two new albums at once! The label has suggested the age-old Beatles vs Stones debate as a fitting differentiation point between the two faces of Pollard's current double whammy -- that is, a poppy one and a harder edged rock one. Standard Gargoyle Decisions is the latter. It's grittier and more distorted with more electric guitar dissonance. We personally favor the brighter, sweeter sunbeam that is the former (Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love), but perhaps you'll see things differently.
Pollard's releases are seldom so clearly sorted and defined. We can usually count on some element of bee-in-his-bonnet randomness, but not so this time. And you know what? As much as we've always loved and appreciated his devil may care approach, it's really a pleasure to hear a relatively even keeled seventeen songs in a row. That's the case with this here album.
MPEG Stream: "The Killers"
MPEG Stream: "Psycho-Inertia"

POLLARD, ROBERT Superman Was A Rocker (Needmore Songs) cd 10.98
Mister Pollard keeps on keepin' on... and on and on! Is there a word beyond "prolific"? His musical output is ceaseless! It's a neverending string of lo-lo-fi pop meanderings and dishevelled bizarre noisy shambles that's been peppered with some absolute winners as well as some stinkers. We've got two new ones in this month, Superman Was A Rocker (under his own name) and We've Moved (under the moniker Psycho And The Birds). Right now, we're leaning in favor of the latter because this one is a bit too wacky with its radio clips and other random tidbits of mischief interspersed with the songs. Might be your cup of tea though! If you're gonna get your feet wet with this or any other Pollard release, you've gotta be prepared to accept the wheat with the chaff, the dreamily tuneful with the discordantly tuneless. Of course if you're already a Robert Pollard fan, you probably already own this! Heck, we often wonder why he doesn't just set up an Uncle Bob's cd of the month subscription club.
MPEG Stream: "Another Man's Blood"
MPEG Stream: "Love Your Spaceman"

POLLARD, ROBERT Waved Out (Matador) cd 13.98
Second solo album from Guided By Voices singer and songwriter.

POLLARD, ROBERT Zoom (It Happens All Over The World) (Fading Captain) cd ep 5.98
Robert Pollard may have closed the book on his band Guided By Voices, but he sure as heck ain't stopping the music makin'! For that we're very happy, but having said that, we're much less happy about this new ep. Simply put, these four songs seem uninspired and hurriedly dashed off. Sure one of Pollard's particular talents has always been nailing the hooks and the hearts with alarming brevity, but such is not the case with Zoom. There's only a couple of fleeting glimpses of that dear Pollard pop magic, and taking the eight minute long running time into consideration that's a rather poor ratio. Disappointing.
MPEG Stream: "Dr. Fuji And Henry Charleston (Zoom Variation)"
MPEG Stream: "Zoom (It Happens All Over The World"

POLLARD, ROBERT AND HIS SOFT ROCK RENEGADES Choreographed Man of War (Luna Music) cd 15.98
This record contains sweet, sad rock songs from 3 Guided By Voices alumni fronted by the seemingly inexhaustible Mr. Robert Pollard. Any fan of these gentlemen will be impressed and pleased with this record. It is very much in the same vein as previous endeavors; the successful alternation of rockin' and sad and slow songs keeps it fresh and engaging.
RealAudio clip: "7the Level Shutdown"
RealAudio clip: "She Saw The Shadow"

POLLOCK, EMMA Watch The Fireworks (4AD) cd 13.98
Many pop fans were severely saddened when those Scottish dreamboats The Delgados sailed off into the sunset in 2005 after ten years and five albums. Well, we can all dry our tears... at least a little bit because Ms Emma Pollock (who was one of the charmingest voices from that band) has emerged with an album that respectfully carries on in her former band's wonderfully sumptuous and poignant pop tradition. On the surface Watch The Fireworks reflects the sound of lemon meringue, dew drops, crushes, and snugglin', but there's more to it than simple sweetness. After you get swept up immediately in the opening number's carousel waltz tempo and Pollock's voice, you'll find songs with a bit more burly energy than that of the Delgados. The backdrop of electric guitar crunch, sturdy bassy organ lines, solidly struck piano keys and insistent drums make for a pleasing counterpart to her sweet singing. It propels each song up-up-up into the super pop stratosphere, burning off any grey clouds and leaving nothing but warm golden sunlight. It's easy to see why it was such a good idea for her to open for the new Pornographers on their latest tour for their album Challengers. if you get a chance to see her, don't miss it! Otherwise, buy this now!
MPEG Stream: "New Land "
MPEG Stream: "Acid Test"
MPEG Stream: "Paper And Glue"

POLLOCK, JACKSON, & LEE KRASNER Two Dialogues (Soo) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Pollock and Krasner were a couple, they lived in a house on Long Island and made paintings we hang in museums. This is a recording of them talking with William Wright (1950) and Marc Miller (1982), respectively. And you know it's got a nice cover.

POLMO POLPO Like Hearts Swelling (Constellation) cd 14.98
The previous outing for Polmo Polpo (aka the Toronto based musician Sandro Perri) was a collection of very hard to find 12" singles, encapsulating a sound that merged hazy organic melodies from slide guitar and cello with the minimalist techno archetypal of Chain Reaction. It was, quite simply, a gorgeous sound. Here on "Like Hearts Swelling," the rich orchestration remains while the pronounced techno rhythms settle quietly into the background or are completely avoided on most tracks. That said, the undergirdings of techno are still Perri's basis for sound organization. Compact blocks of sound denoted by synthetic bass lines and tightly looped samples repeat themselves in hypnotic phrases, following the same patterns established by Gas on the majestic "Konigsforst" album and its more playful cousin "Pop." The strength of "Like Hearts Swelling" is found in the counterpoints between these subdued structures and the expressive melodies of cello, slide guitar, glockenspiel, accordion, and ambient passages culled from these instruments. The jubilant melodies from the album's second track "Requiem For A Fox" slide up and down the guitar frets, returning to a simple descending melodic fragment that is remarkably similar to the chorus from Blondie's "Dreaming." While this is probably an unintentional appropriation, the timbres and moods of this album reflect many of the sounds proferred by likeminded canucks Godspeed! You Black Emperor and their side projects. In other words, it's beautiful.
MPEG Stream: "Romeo Heart"
MPEG Stream: "Requiem For A Fox"

POLMO POLPO Like Hearts Swelling (Constellation) lp 14.98
The previous outing for Polmo Polpo (aka the Toronto based musician Sandro Perri) was a collection of very hard to find 12" singles, encapsulating a sound that merged hazy organic melodies from slide guitar and cello with the minimalist techno archetypal of Chain Reaction. It was, quite simply, a gorgeous sound. Here on "Like Hearts Swelling," the rich orchestration remains while the pronounced techno rhythms settle quietly into the background or are completely avoided on most tracks. That said, the undergirdings of techno are still Perri's basis for sound organization. Compact blocks of sound denoted by synthetic bass lines and tightly looped samples repeat themselves in hypnotic phrases, following the same patterns established by Gas on the majestic "Konigsforst" album and its more playful cousin "Pop." The strength of "Like Hearts Swelling" is found in the counterpoints between these subdued structures and the expressive melodies of cello, slide guitar, glockenspeil, accordion, and ambient passages culled from these instruments. The jubilant melodies from the album's second track "Requiem For A Fox" slide up and down the guitar frets, returning to a simple descending melodic fragment that is remarkably similar to the chorus from Blondie's "Dreaming." While this is probably an unintentional appropriation, the timbres and moods of this album reflect many of the sounds proferred by likeminded canucks Godspeed! You Black Emperor and their side projects. In other words, it's beautiful.

POLVO Cor-Crane Secret (Merge) cd 14.98

POLVO Exploded Drawing (Touch & Go) cd 14.98

POLVO Exploded Drawing (Touch & Go) 2lp 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

POLVO This Eclipse (Merge) cdep 10.98
5 songs.

POLYPHONIC SPREE The Fragile Army (TVT Records) cd 16.98
If you're swayed by enthusiastic, nickname-droppin' soundbytes on shrinkwrap from the likes of David Bowie, then you've probably already snuggling up to this new Polyphonic Spree cd. He says it is "probably The Poly's best and deepest album yet!" We say "the first track sounds like they're ripping off Blondie's "Dreaming"." Well, doesn't it?! Don't worry, we're not getting all down on this band, we love 'em! Anyways, as per the album's title, Polyphonic Spree sure has grown into an army, a deliriously glorious pop orchestral choral one. Their lineup isn't so fragile though, numbering twenty, and they're a mighty force of uplifting and sugary jubilation. If you dig Langley School Music Project, you're gonna luv this... and vice versa!
MPEG Stream: "Running Away"
MPEG Stream: "Watch Us Explode (Justify)"

POLYPHONIC SPREE The Fragile Army (TVT Records) 2lp 22.00
If you're swayed by enthusiastic, nickname-droppin' soundbytes on shrinkwrap from the likes of David Bowie, then you've probably already snuggling up to this new Polyphonic Spree cd. He says it is "probably The Poly's best and deepest album yet!" We say "the first track sounds like they're ripping off Blondie's "Dreaming"." Well, doesn't it?! Don't worry, we're not getting all down on this band, we love 'em! Anyways, as per the album's title, Polyphonic Spree sure has grown into an army, a deliriously glorious pop orchestral choral one. Their lineup isn't so fragile though, numbering twenty, and they're a mighty force of uplifting and sugary jubilation. If you dig Langley School Music Project, you're gonna luv this... and vice versa!
MPEG Stream: "Running Away"
MPEG Stream: "Watch Us Explode (Justify)"

POLYPHONIC SPREE, THE The Beginning Stages of... (Good) cd 13.98
This comes with a fervent endorsement from AQ pal and man-of-many-hats Kevin Clarke, a man with pop smarts you can certainly trust. Following the break-up of Tripping Daisy, TD mainman Tim DeLaughter shifted his attention to assembling The Polyphonic Spree, quite an unusual musical group from Dallas, TX. What's so odd about them? Well, there's over two dozen members for one thing! And they're all clothed in long flowing white robes for another. Their music is a supremely uplifting gospel pop complete with vocal chorus a la Up With People backed by a pit orchestra of sorts (with woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, and theremin). Very out of step with the times. There's so little these days that exhibits such a mass vocal outpouring, and it's all lushly and trippily composed in grand Brian Wilson and Flaming Lips-y fashion. Actually the latter is reinforced by Delaughter's ultra-sensitive lead vocals which closely resemble Wayne Coyne's. Just imagine an enormous musical embrace, and you'll be close.
MPEG Stream: "Track 2"
MPEG Stream: "Track 4"

POLYPHONIC SPREE, THE Together We're Heavy (Hollywood) cd + dvd 14.98
Hop aboard this new Polyphonic Spree album -- imagine a souped-up It's A Small World ride at Disneyland! Although the musicians come bursting out of the gate on this album's lead-off song, the Polyphonic Spree keep you waitin' for their beloved glorious en-masse vocals to come in -- only making their entrance very briefly late in the song. The group's grand orchestrations and frontman Tim DeLaughter's lead vocals are even more 'Flaming Lips' than before. The resemblance is truly unbelievable. Full of swelling heart lyrics, spring shower piano tinkling, butterfly flutes, lofty filigree'd horns and rainbow smiles, Together We're Heavy is sure to please the 'Spree's legions of loyal followers. On a side note, in the liner notes along with mentions of the expected woodwinds, brass, strings, keyboards, voices, toys and percussion, a number of "The Cast" are credited with "teeth"! Rather odd!
Bonus: Includes a dvd filled with a DeLaughter interview, videos, a game and footage of the group performing live in Chicago and Tokyo.
MPEG Stream: "Section 13 (Diamonds / Mild Devotion To Majesty)"
MPEG Stream: "Section 16 (One Man Show)"

POLYPHONIC SPREE, THE Wait (Good) cd ep 6.98
Here's a little teaser while we wait (see the clever title) for the next Polyphonic Spree album. Two new songs which will be on the forthcoming full length, and three covers of The Psychedelic Furs, Nirvana and front man Tim Delaughter's old band Tripping Daisy. Bright eyed pop for the white robe brigade.
MPEG Stream: "Mental Cabaret"
MPEG Stream: "Lithium"

POLYSICS Now Is The Time (Tofu Records) cd 14.98
Until we live in the perfect world where frantic Japanese 'kids' shows such as Kure Kure Takora, Booska and Domokun ran non-stop on the telly, we'll have to make do with the aural equivalent... which is this new Polysics cd. As suggested in the album's title, there's an air of insistent immediacy, but for what we're not quite sure. Curses, you language barriers! We'll just say, Now Is The Time is a manically hyper Japanese collision of no wave and new wave. Lots of tweaked synthesizers and chunky guitars, but with more singing, spazzy shrieks and hollerin' too. With the exception of the second to last song the sugar-shocked "Baby BIAS", this is a heavier, noisier and more darkly dissonant Polysics than the band we remember from their last album, 2001's Hey! Bob! My Friend! This domestic release includes two bonus tracks not on the import! Recommended.
We like! Ears find super fun! Polysics!
MPEG Stream: "Ah-Yeah!!"
MPEG Stream: "Mr. Psycho Psycho"

PONY BOY Stay Out Of Trouble (self-released) cd ep 9.98

PONY CLUB The Tower Of Lint (Wiggley Tapes) cd-r 7.98

PONYS, THE Celebration Castle (In the Red) cd 9.98
The Ponys nuance up the post-punk here on a follow-up to their debut album. Celebration Castle, recorded by Steve Albini, smooths over some of the rawness from their first album. This might disappoint some of their fans while others may see past its production to the songs themselves. And they'll love em!

PONYS, THE Turn The Lights Out (Matador) cd 13.98
They may not be very good at spelling, but they've sure studied their rock history books. The Ponys are revivalists of a sound that never really went away. They fuse together all the many flavors of nineties college rock which in turn drew influence from the lanky rockers of the seventies. Turn The Lights Out is packed with big wall o' effects dissonance, sinewy picked guitar melodies, trippy space rock noodlin' and more straight ahead rock'n'roll bombast. Easily conjures up references to rock heroes Sonic Youth, Television, Jesus & Mary Chain, Pixies, Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr. Oh and did we mention that they even have a song titled "Exile On My Street"? Uh huh, check.
MPEG Stream: "Double Vision"
MPEG Stream: "Everyday Weapon"

POOBAH Steamroller (Monster) cd 12.98

POP GROUP, THE Y (WEA Japan) cd 29.00
Ever since the release of that great Soul Jazz "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" compilation on which The Pop Group appear, and also with the rise of current artists like San Francisco's Erase Errata whose work shares and reflects the spirit and energy of The Pop Group, there has been a huge amount of interest in this band's output, especially around these parts. The Pop Group's debut album "Y" isn't available on cd domestically, but thankfully the Japanese know better, and now through one of our distributors we've finally been able to stock an import version this highly sought after (but, alas, expensive) classic. Hopefully there will be more to come!
Formed in 1978 by four young men from Bristol, The Pop Group unleashed itself from the frigid political environment of their native England and its narrowing punk scene. Lyrically and visually committed to leftist political ideals (much like their peers in Crass and some time later, The Ex), and sonically more "out" and dissonant than any other "punk" act of their time, The Pop Group abandoned the "no future" stereotypes for more serious and thought provoking ideas both ideological and musical.
Produced by veteran reggae/dub producer and musician Dennis Bovell, who was also responsible for "Cut" by The Slits, another post-punk outfit with whom The Pop Group happened to share an early single (the fabulous "Where There's A Will" backed by The Slits' "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm"), this explosive 1979 debut kicks off with "Thief Of Fire" in which short blasts of guitar noise fills in the gaps where an aggressive bass funk and a primitive percussive drive weave in and out of each other. From there on, the record just gets more and more angular, outrageous, and weird as it unfolds. "Snowgirl" features crackling guitarwork accompanied by macabre tinkling piano and the odd wail of vocalist Mark Stewart (who would go on to form Tackhead and become an integral part of the On-U Sound collective). And of course there's the "hit" single (and arguably their defining moment), "She Is Beyond Good And Evil", a must-hear (it's also on the "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" comp).
The booklet has lyrics in English and Japanese as well as a nice collage of photos. Highly recommended! While we are sure to soon run out of this hard-to-get import, we've been assured we'll be able to get more of them within a few weeks, never fear.
RealAudio clip: "She is Beyond Good and Evil"
RealAudio clip: "Snowgirl"
RealAudio clip: "We Are Time"
RealAudio clip: "Words Disobey Me"

POP, IGGY Live San Fran 1981 (Target / MVD) dvd 16.98

POP, IGGY Skull Ring (Virgin) cd 16.98
Punk icon Iggy's back for another round. This time, in addition to his own band the Trolls, and celebrity guests including Peaches, Sum41 and Green Day, he's got his old friends The Stooges (!!!) on board for four songs. As you probably have heard, Iggy and the Stooges (with road dog Mike Watt filling the shoes of Dave Alexander, the bass player who passed away way back in 1975) have done a few, wildly successful reunion shows in recent months. I, Allan, just came back from the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in LA this past weekend, where Iggy and the Stooges headlined the second night (that's basically why I went)...and I can tell you that it was 'real cool time' getting to see 'em, even if they didn't utterly blow my mind or anything. Iggy's like 56, twenty-two years older than me, but I sure couldn't jump around for more than three minutes like he did for the duration of the entire show! And maybe I've led a sheltered existence, but I've never seen a performer jump *onto* a crowd surfer and surf *them* before. They did songs from the first two Stooges albums only, EXCEPT for two of the four new ones found here on Skull Ring. And sad to say, these songs aren't that great, largely 'cause of the inane lyrics. Back in 1970 the Stooges never woulda done a song called "Dead Rock Star" would they? Anyway, I must admit I actually prefer Iggy's collaboration with Peaches on here over the Stooges tracks, maybe 'cause there's less room for disappointment. Still, worth checking out if you love Iggy.
MPEG Stream: "Little Electric Chair (w/ Stooges)"
MPEG Stream: "Rock Show (w/ Peaches)"

POP-O-PIES Pop-O-Anthology: 1984-1993 (Pop-O-Pies) cd 14.98
"Hardcore is a place where upper-middle-class white kids take all the good pan handling spots away from the bums who really need them". So said the irreverent punk rock sage that is Joe Pop-O-Pie in his classic "The Words of Jamal -- The Rainbow Bridge Version". Along with the Butthole Surfers, the Pop-O-Pies were the perfect antidote for punks who were tiring of a stale, formulaic genre and a scene that took itself way too seriously. Started in 1981, the Pop-O-Pies were the brain child of New Jersey raised, 'Frisco' transplant Joe Callahan (A.K.A. Joe Pop-O-Pie). And for those who weren't there for the legendary first two years of its existence, the rumor is true, the Pop-O-Pies really did play only one song: "Truckin'". According to Joe the reason was because the band's lineup changed so often, there really wasn't much time to learn anything more. The end result however, was a band tailor made to piss off punks and hippies (or pseudo-radical youth culture) alike. Joe eventually found a competent, and consistent backing band in the form of none other than Faith No More and recorded the now out of print (and master tapes lost forever, sigh) "White EP" on 415 Records. But that, due to its nonexistent nature, is not the subject of this anthology. The bulk of the material here are the complete Joe's Second (also featuring Faith No More) and Joe's Third Records released in 1984 and 1986 on Subterranean Records -- at the height of punk rock's uber-hip, uber-tough, uber-serious "hardcore" era. If there's one thing that self righteous punks needed at that time, it was a good satirical slap in the face and Joe Pop-O-Pie was there to administer it. And administer he did, replete with well played, overindulgent Hendrix-esque guitar parts market tested to irritate the minimalist punk rock purists. To be fair (to the punks and Joe), that isn't all that the Pop-O-Pies satirize. Joe takes on the music industry ("Industrial Rap"), New York City ("I Love New York"), the Beatles ("I Am the Walrus"), bummed out guys ("Bummed-Out-Guy"), morons ("World-O-Morons"), the Grateful Dead ("Truckin' Slow Version" and "Sugar Magnolia") and much more and all throughout peppered with the unique punk rock salt-of-the-earth wisdom of Joe Pop-O-Pie. Not only does this anthology contain the Second and Third Records in their entirety, but also includes four additional tracks: two from Joe's 1993 comeback "The In Frisco Single" released on Amarillo and two previously unreleased tracks from the same recording session (featuring Mr. Bungle alumni Trey Spruance, Danny Heifetz and Dieselhed bassist Atom Ellis). Included with the disc is a three panel fold out featuring historical notes on the Pop-O-Pies, photos new and old and a brief account of an actual conversation overheard by Robert Mailer Anderson. And what's best is that, buying this, you don't have to worry about the artist getting screwed. Yes, that's right, Joe has come out of hiding himself to put this collection together in 100% true D.I.Y. fashion. So every dollar goes to Joe and not some A&R clown in some office building somewhere.
MPEG Stream: "Truckin' - Slow Version"
MPEG Stream: "The Words of Jamal"

POP-OFF TUESDAY (Pickled Egg) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Dramatic arty rock from this Japanese female duo. Unpredictably dynamic in the best way -- they can do ethereal tension-building quietness, then follow it with crashing guitars a la Godspeed You Black Emperor. And they wouldn't have been out of place on the Too Pure roster, only Pickled Egg got to them first! Highly, highly recommended!

POP-OFF TUESDAY (Pickled Egg) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Dramatic arty rock from this Japanese female duo. Unpredictably dynamic in the best way -- they can do ethereal tension-building quietness, then follow it with crashing guitars a la Godspeed You Black Emperor. And they wouldn't have been out of place on the Too Pure roster, only Pickled Egg got to them first! Highly, highly recommended!

POP-OFF TUESDAY (Pickled Egg) 7" 3.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Female Japanese duo who play an epic sort of cinematic trip-pop. Builds like Barry Adamson, vocals similar to Lamb, sounds like it oughta come from the UK. We like Pickled Egg's releases so much we imported these straight from the UK.

POPOL VUH Affenstunde (SPV) cd 16.98
Along with composing the scores for some of Werner Herzog's greatest films, Florian Fricke was as much a musical pioneer as were his contemporaries Faust, Neu and Cluster. Unlike his contemporaries, Fricke's music is informed as much by music from arounds the world as it was rock and classical composition (in which he was schooled). Sitars, pan flutes and assorted ethnic percussion have as much a place in any given Popol Vuh album as moog synths, guitars, bass and drums. One only need look at his choice of a band name, taken from the title of a sacred Mayan text, to see where Fricke's affinities lay.
Affenstunde, recorded in 1970, was Popol Vuh's first album. The four original album tracks are a combination of dark, droning synth soundscapes, hippy drum circle-ish drum james and improvised moog keyboard workouts. Imagine if you could crunch the bubbly synth era of Tangerine Dream into their dark, early days circa Electronic Meditation and Alpha Centari. In contrast to his later works for film, Affenstunde is much more textural, intentionally devoid of any melody. As a bonus this remastered edition, like the others in this series, comes with an additional -- previously unreleased -- track from the same period. And that cover picture! Hard to resist.
MPEG Stream: "Ich Mache Einen Spiegel - Dream Part 4"
MPEG Stream: "Train Through Time"

POPOL VUH Aguirre (SPV) cd 16.98
Along with composing the scores for some of Werner Herzog's greatest films, Florian Fricke was as much a musical pioneer as were his contemporaries Faust, Neu and Cluster. Unlike his contemporaries, Fricke's music is informed as much by music from arounds the world as it was rock and classical composition (in which he was schooled). Sitars, pan flutes and assorted ethnic percussion have as much a place in any given Popol Vuh album as moog synths, guitars, bass and drums. One only need look at his choice of a band name, taken from the title of a sacred Mayan text, to see where Fricke's affinities lay.
Popol Vuh's 1975 soundtrack to Herzog's Aguirre The Wrath Of God is a prime example of Fricke's multi-faceted musical aesthetic. At times the score is suitably bleak for the film's content. Most notably the main theme "Aguirre", which weaves in and out through the disc, is about as lonesome sounding as a tune -- which almost completely lacks melody -- can get. Around a slowly pulsing, sustained two notes played on guitar is a grainy mixed chorus. This is the music that's played during the long shot of people snaking their way down a mountain side and later on with the camera fixed on a turgid brown river. In striking contrast to this bleak theme are several pretty & mellow hippy guitar jams, a la Grateful Dead meets Mike Oldfield. As a bonus for this remastered edition SPV has included another mix of the theme "Aguirre" with additional throbbing ethnic percussion by Fricke and Co.
MPEG Stream: "Aguirre I (L'acrime di rei)"
MPEG Stream: "Vergegenwartigung"

POPOL VUH Fitzcarraldo (Spalax) cd 14.98

POPOL VUH Nosferatu (OST) (SPV) cd 16.98
Along with composing the scores for some of Werner Herzog's greatest films, Florian Fricke was as much a musical pioneer as were his contemporaries Faust, Neu and Cluster. Unlike his contemporaries, Fricke's music is informed as much by music from arounds the world as it was rock and classical composition (in which he was schooled). Sitars, pan flutes and assorted ethnic percussion have as much a place in any given Popol Vuh album as moog synths, guitars, bass and drums. One only need look at his choice of a band name, taken from the title of a sacred Mayan text, to see where Fricke's affinities lay.
Certainly Popol Vuh's most popular recording and certainly one of the greatest film scores by any measure, Nosferatu is a brilliant soundtrack. Bringing together elements from plainsong and renaissance music, with Indian sitar and tabla, piano, synth drones, mellow psychedelic rock jams, and folky acoustic guitar. As well, much of the music is suitably lonely and dark enough to accompany the movements of a 500 year old vampire. Like his theme for Aguirre, the opening tune here -- Bruder des Schattens -- features a pulsing two note drone, here sung by a male chorus that sounds distinctly Eastern European, that steadily builds to include wind instruments before inexplicably fading into a pleasant guitar tune. The killer though, has to be the recurring theme "Mantra", a beautiful and haunting piece that references the Dies Irae played on sitar and electric guitar, with progressing versions on the disc adding chorus. Spooky. Highly recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Bruder des Schattens"
MPEG Stream: "Mantra 1"