This compilation of tracks yet unreleased between 1988 and 1993 was included in the Box box set, and it included a good part of what was supposed to be the Back to Saturn X album. My enthusiasm for the very earliest GBV has diminished in the past 15 years since originally reviewing this, and can also be seen in my re:scores for other early era albums....
First off, I didn't realize Crocker's Favorite Song is basically Class Clown Spots a UFO, and with so much Pollard music, there are probably tons of things like this I continue to miss.
The 1.95 rating doesn't really do King Shit justice though. There are a lot of nice songs here, but I can totally also get why these didn't find themselves being released on albums versus other songs in the era that did. I can see myself listening to this on its own from time to time, but I find there is a general blandness on King Shit that keeps the songs from being rated higher. Even something like Squirmish Frontal Room; check out some of the videos of that song being played live and it totally gets bumped up to "gem" status, however here it is too contained. Better versions of Postal Blowfish and Don't Stop Now can be found elsewhere, and the snippet of At Odds With Dr. Genesis tacked on to Ester's Day is somehow a better take than on its own on King Shit. Here is the updated ranking:
Among Bob's Best
-- none
Gems
-- none
Almost Gems
09 Indian Was an Angel
They're Good
They're OK
03 Squirmish Frontal Room
05 Crutch Came Slinking
18 Postal Blowfish
They're OK
01 We've Got Airplanes
02 Dust Devil
04 Tricyclic Looper
06 Fantasy Creeps
10 Don't Stop Now
12 Greenface
13 Deathtrot and Warlock Riding a Rooster
14 2nd Moves to Twin
16 Please Freeze Me
17 Scissors
19 Crocker's Favorite Song
Could Live Without
07 Sopor Joe
08 Crunch Pillow
11 Bite
15 At Odds With Dr. Genesis
Toss-Offs & Throwaways
-- none
-- none
Given the scoring above, the album would get 37 points total (and an average of 1.95).
2 comments:
Indian was an angel is one of bob's finest songs
Indian Was an Angel is a good one for sure.
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