Not in My Airforce

by Robert Pollard

Overview

It always seems to happen. As soon as you start seeing solo LPs, expect the band in question to split up soon. Sure enough, just as this LP and Tobin Sprout's simultaneously released Carnival Boy appeared, there came the news that Sprout was departing the ultra-prolific, Robert Pollard-led Guided by Voices to pursue his own projects. (Pollard never let him compose and sing more than a couple of pop gems per GBV album.) While this development really stinks, the good news is that Not in My Airforce (and Carnival Boy as well) suggests that the sound, style, and spirit of this uniquely talented outfit will continue unmolested. Pollard's first solo LP, which includes Kevin Fennell on drums, is the equal of the previous few GBV LPs. The tracks are as consistently enjoyable as those on Under the Bushes Under the Stars. In addition, Pollard ushers back in the little snippets that enlivened Bee Thousand, yet he keeps the LP from seeming too hodgepodge and incoherent, as was the case with the otherwise brilliant but spotty Alien Lanes. The opening "Maggie Turns to Flies" goes to the head of the class as the most exciting, killer Pollard track ever (just ahead of Alien Lanes' "My Son Cool" and Propeller's epic "Under the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox"). And so many others, such as "Girl Named Captain," "I've Owned You for Centuries," the reverse-field "King of Arthur Avenue," the spry "Get Under It," and the ringing, acoustic numbers "The Ash Gray Proclamation" and "Roofer's Union Fight Song," immediately satisfy. Pollard has clearly penned a GBV LP -- and a minor classic, at that! ~ Jack Rabid

Product Details

Release Date:	09/09/2016
Label:	Guided By Voices, Inc.
UPC:	0655035086712
Rank:	51011

Tracks

1. Maggie Turns to Flies
2. Quicksilver
3. A Girl Named Captain
4. Get Under It
5. Release the Sunbird
6. John Strange School
7. Parakeet Troopers
8. One Clear Minute
9. Chance to Buy an Island
10. I've Owned You for Centuries
11. The Ash Gray Proclamation
12. Flat Beauty
13. King of Arthur Avenue
14. Roofer's Union Fight Song
15. Psychic Pilot Clocks Out
16. Prom Is Coming
17. Party
18. Did It Play?
19. Double Standards Inc.
20. Punk Rock Gods
21. Meet My Team
22. Good Luck Sailor

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Robert Pollard   Primary Artist,Bass,Organ,Guitar,Vocals
Steve Wilbur   Guest Artist,Slide Guitar
Dan Toohey   Guest Artist,Bass
Matt Sweeney   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Jim Shepard   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Tobin Sprout   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Mitch Mitchell   Guest Artist,Percussion
Jim Pollard   Guest Artist,Percussion
Kevin Fennell   Guest Artist,Drums
Johnny Strange   Bass,Organ

Technical Credits

Mitch Mitchell   Engineer
John Shough   Engineer
Robert Pollard   Composer,Engineer
Matt Sweeney   Engineer
Jim Shepard   Engineer
Tobin Sprout   Engineer
Jim Sheppard   Composer
Steve Wilbur   Engineer
Mark Ohe   Cover Design
Bob Ohe   Cover Design