It's Better Than Confusion: A Review Of 'Surrender Your Poppy Field', The New Album From Guided By Voices

The degree to which 'Surrender Your Poppy Field', the new Guided By Voices album, seems like a success to you is dependent upon how willing you are to hear this long-running outfit take some colossal chances with their formula. If your first reaction is one of bafflement, you can remind yourself that with a band this prolific, it's only a matter of months, really, before Robert Pollard and crew crank out another, perhaps more routine long-player. But what to make of 'Surrender Your Poppy Field' when played on its own right now?

Opener "Year of the Hard Hitter" kicks into gear like something off of Under The Bushes, Under the Stars, even as "Volcano", the first single from 'Surrender Your Poppy Field', feels catchy and familiar. The near-ballad builds like an old Oasis number, and one's half-tempted to hold a lighter aloft as this track gradually cranks into overdrive. I make that allusion to classic rock tropes because lots of this record owes a huge debt to that sort of stuff. "Steely Dodger", a Who-like number, rocks considerably even if the hook is not exactly an easy one to embrace, while the far better "Cul-De-Sac Kids", a hard charger here, seems the sort of anthem this band haven't offered up in at least an album or two.

But, look, 'Surrender Your Poppy Field' is, frankly, all over the place. And even in a number that seems straightforward (like the affecting "Physician"), Robert Pollard is intent on forcing these musicians to scurry in lots of different directions. For fans of these players -- Doug Gillard (guitar), Kevin March (drums), Bobby Bare Jr. (guitar), Mark Shue (bass) -- this album is essential as a showcase of their talents. In that sense, it's refreshing to hear something truly different issue forth from the mighty Guided by Voices fortress. Still, one marvels at the time changes in selections like "Stone Cold Moron" and "Windjammer" even as one mourns the lack of more numbers like "Queen Parking Lot", one of Pollard's more lovable compositions on this 2020 album.

For a group that puts out an extraordinary amount of material, it seems churlish to begrudge these players their chance to truly take some chances. But, really, what kind of music writer (and GBV devotee) would I be if I didn't explain just how different this one is? 'Surrender Your Poppy Field' is likely not going to make any fan jump ship, even if lots of us may be scratching our heads throughout this one's running time.

'Surrender Your Poppy Field' is out this week via Rockathon Records.

More details on Guided by Voices via the official website.

[Photo: me, 2019]