Waved Out

[lester1/2jr]

Make Use - A typical gbv opener. it has four parts and one basic beat. like "man called aurodynamics". showcases some fat sythesizer and clean direct-y guitar. somewhat industrial and early 80's sounding. lyrically theme of borrowing energy from others comes up again in "artificial light"

Vibrations In The Woods - a simple silly song. probably written in 2 seconds, but better than the best of many, if only because it's kept brief. Anyone remember the Minutemen?

Just Say The Word - Solid buiding block that doesn't stand out, but the depressed, quiet, and metalic (clean, but not acoustic) typifies the tone of the album

Subspace Biographies -a great opening lyric "Has there been a break today, stoned comedian Ringo?" . This has a nice trumpet (or something) part too. It's a high point, quality and especially energy-wise. It's straight up pop punk.

Caught Waves Again (R.Pollard,Gillard) - I can't remember this one right now

Waved Out ''

Whiskey Ships ''

Wrinkled Ghost '' similar to old tobin era very poppy gbv. again the lyrics alude to lack of energy on the singers part "this trip is a task to long I insist you take the driving"

Artificial Light - "artificial light I'm clinging artificial light, and praying they don't burn out, artificial light" a great sad melody

People Are Leaving (R.Pollard,Sayers) - this reminds me alot of that old suicidal dirge "Send in the clowns". I'm guessing it was unconscious, but there's something very intersting here. Pollard records a vocal and then re records a different and much more direct one over it.
PEOPLE ARE LEAVING

People are leaving
In total frustration
The throw up their hands
People are leaving
As I stomp into spring
(that don’t mean a thing)

So:
The angels are making circles
A gift to every naked fat baby
But everyone’s leaving
To look for a new place to dance

And drilling the heart with sparrows
We’ll try to get up from the ages
And re-write the book of the pharaohs
At least add a couple of pages
And dance
Before everyone leaves

The servants are making a promise

We’ll all rise above the depression
The angels are making new circles
A gift to every naked fat baby


It's almost like he's saying he'll never be this sort of Bruce Springsteen type guy, who the working class can rally around and sing the big cathartic chorus (even though he really is I think). alot of lyrics on waved out seem to apologize for his lyrical obtuseness, yet he celebrates it later on "second step"


Steeples Of Knives -

Rumbling Joker - kind of like "just say the word", this is solid and the mood fits the album. it doesn't explode the way alot of the classics do, but it has a nice minor key melody.

Showbiz Opera Walrus - alot of people don't like this one. It's very overtly ridiculous. I like it. It's just goofy and the oompah beat is ridiculous

Pick Seeds From My Skull - an all time favorite of mine. it uses that chipmonk vocal accompanyment like in "bigmouth strikes again" and has a interstellar star gazing melody. I used to sing it to myself from the top of the Hancock tower, during my shift of course. Don't ever become a temp!! Just about the joy of thinking and working on stuff in your head

Second Step Next Language - this seems to explain his use of surrealistic lyrics. It's appeal "I think it's challenging" and proudly "I'm a pro at it!" then he says "next language" and the guitars do a preposterous version of some Dead C type avant garde feedback, as if he can call out orders of inovation.

this is my first attempt

[R.Wilder]

I love "Waved Out." Listened to it last night, in fact, have listened to it about a dozen times in the past two or three weeks.
"Subspace Biographies" is my current Uncle Bob gem.

[johansen smith]

"Subspace Biographies" is one of the best songs by anyone ever.

[evil_speakers]

Caught Waves Again has some really beautiful guitar work by Doug. The vocal style and melody sometimes betreays the beauty of the song, but parts of it really, really work well. I especially love the lyric "went up north to where the city lights shine like strobes of aurora on bottles of wine". Magnificent.

[johansen smith]

the thing about this album is that it has one of the strongest first sides in memory, but also one of the worst second sides.

[James Riot]

After Subspace Biographies, I'd have to say that the other great Sir Robert composition on there is Rumbling Joker

[captain]

Originally posted by johansen smith
the thing about this album is that it has one of the strongest first sides in memory, but also one of the worst second sides.

I strongly disagree. The second side may be a bit more understated and not as bombastic, but the quality of songs like "Picking Seeds From My Skull," "Rumbling Joker," and "Steeple of Knives" alone make the second side worth much more than price of admission. The whole album is a fine one top to bottom (as is Not In My Airforce). Do I ever love the Matador solo records.

[Ladt]

Wrinkled ghost is indeed brilliant, I always loved the line "Do you call your boyfriend little john do you call his father weird? "
Bob also has the power of writing seemingly nonsensical lyrics and then chucking in one brilliant line that makes the rest of it make sense, like Artificial Light, the "Tell my foes I'm captain tonight, tell my folks I'm dead" line. There're my thoughts.

[Jason]

"Artificial Light" sounds like it was inspired by a favorite bar or club closing down ("sign of coming events flickers with missing words"... "city where my friends have played").

And "Make Use" might be a comment on the end of GbV's Cobra Verde era.

Waved Out is great. My favorite track is "Rumbling Joker".

[lester1/2jr]

I like the transistion from people are leaving to steeple of knives. at the begining of steeple he goes "I'm tired of you!" which seems almost like a response to the sad, depressed tone of the last track.