Pollard was up for a change. Pollard recruited members of Cleveland glam-rockers Cobra Verde, a band he had been grooming since he saw its first show on a Scat Records tour three years ago. After only six practices, Cobra Verde was ready to hit the stage with 40 of Pollard's songs. Learning the tunes was easy for the members of the seasoned, tightknit CV, who share Pollard's sensibilities and understand his vision. There's no ego.
Songs are longer, the static has cleared, and production is more polished.
But the album is still nicely GBV-ish, with plenty of quirky, cosmic recipes for synthesizer. In a characteristic feast of creativity, previous members and guest players contribute and everyone plays a variety of instruments. The result is a diverse and wild patchwork of sounds made cohesive by a driving new energy fans should come to welcome. Apparently, people are adjusting. Guided by Voices ' energetic shows, which include several selections from Bee Thousand and random picks from Pollard's vast attic, are garnering multiple encores.