Album Review: Guided By Voices - ‘Crawlspace of The Pantheon’

Dayton, OH indie rock legends Guided By Voices are back with their latest album ‘Crawlspace of The Pantheon’ this Friday! By our count, this release represents the band’s 44th studio release since they formed in 1983. The album comes less than a year since their last record, ‘Thick, Rich, & Delicious’ which was met with critical acclaim.

Led by singer/songwriter Robert Pollard, Guided By Voices have been a mainstay in the alt scene for their dynamic songwriting abilities as well as their prolific ability to release new music and tour. ‘Crawlspace of The Pantheon’ is headed by lead single “We Outlast Them”, a fitting title for a band that has been on top of their game since Ronald Reagan was president. On “We Outlast Them All”, Pollard stated that the track was “We Are The Champions" [but] "it's not necessarily about us. It’s about anyone who perseveres over a long period of time” in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Guided By Voices continue their signature style featuring biting guitar and understated vocal work of Pollard. The album comes out the gate quick with tracks “Lost in the Sun” and “Out with a Theory”. ‘Crawlspace of The Pantheon’ continues to pick up with aforementioned single “We Outlast Them All”. We particularly enjoyed “Advance Without Dropping”, which featured some dynamic percussion, accompanied by driving rhythm guitars, and Pollard at the helm vocally. “Dagon’s Plunger” is also a real winner here.

One thing we have to say about this one, is that it is incredibly consistent and even-keeled. That is, it’s a record best enjoyed from front-to-back. It has strong tracks throughout, but it is really more of a complete record, a rarity in a world dominated by singles and soundbites. On the band’s performance on the album, Pollard has stated that he found it to be “Tight and energetic” and that description from the legendary frontman hits the nail on the head. While we enjoyed all the tracks on the record, we would be remiss if we didn’t point out our favorite on the record, the understated “Landscaping”, which comes near the end of the album. The guitar work on this one pushes the melody appropriately and dynamically, but never feels overbearing. This is perfect when accompanied by Pollard’s subdued vocal performance. “Landscaping” draws you in with its subtlety and when it has you, it doesn’t let go.

‘Crawlspace of The Pantheon’ represents a continued evolution of the indie rock legends that have consistently put out great work for decades. This record is a real winner and we sincerely hope you’ll give it a listen when it drops on Friday. This is yet another contender to be included on end of the year best record lists for sure.

Rating - 4.25/5