Guided by Voices
– Alien Lanes
Alien Lanes is a messy masterpiece, a quintessential record that captures the essence of indie rock in the ’90s without ever trying to sound like it’s anything but itself. Guided by Voices, led by the enigmatic Robert Pollard, offers an album full of brevity, wit, and experimentation, compressed into 28 tracks that span just under 40 minutes. It’s a testament to the power of lo-fi, often raw and imperfect, but so full of ideas that you can’t help but get sucked in. Each track is a snapshot of something bigger, a tiny moment caught in time that could’ve been abandoned in a home studio or tossed out in a forgotten pile of demo tapes. Yet, in the hands of Pollard and his band, Alien Lanes becomes a thrilling, kaleidoscopic journey through a warped musical landscape.
The record opens with the energetic “A Salty Salute,” a quick and infectious burst of punk-meets-pop that showcases Pollard’s ability to turn any fragment of an idea into something irresistible. From there, the album darts from one idea to the next, never staying in one place for too long. “Motor Away” offers a swirling, distorted version of a pop anthem. It’s clear that Guided by Voices thrives on the joy of not knowing what comes next. This isn’t a band concerned with making sense; they’re interested in creating energy, in finding new ways to present old ideas, and in celebrating the freedom that comes with lo-fi recording techniques.
What Alien Lanes captures best is the tension between the rawness of its sound and the sheer inventiveness behind it. Pollard’s songwriting is as quirky as it is elusive. Some songs are catchy little indie anthems, while others feel like half-formed sketches—songs that could be expanded into something bigger or discarded as fleeting thoughts. There’s an immediacy to the album, a sense that it could fall apart at any moment but instead remains firmly glued together by Pollard’s punk spirit and willingness to experiment. Alien Lanes feels like a product of necessity—a bunch of ideas thrown together in a frantic effort to make something that sticks. And somehow, it all sticks. This is one of those albums where the sum of its parts is greater than any individual track, yet every song stands as a perfect piece of the puzzle.
Choice Tracks
A Salty Salute
A perfect opener, “A Salty Salute” is short, sweet, and direct. It’s a punchy slice of rock that grabs you immediately, mixing up elements of punk with Pollard’s wobbly, lo-fi vocals. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to jump right into the album without hesitation, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. The combination of distorted guitar, catchy rhythm, and infectious chorus makes it an instant classic.
Motor Away
“Motor Away” feels like a push-and-pull between something polished and something scrappy. There’s an anthemic quality to the song, but it’s been stripped down to its essence, with the raw production giving it a scrappy charm. The repeated refrain of “Motor away” takes on a hypnotic quality, turning what could have been a conventional rock tune into something uniquely Guided by Voices. The song’s loose energy is contagious and proves how much power a simple idea can have when delivered with passion.
Game of Pricks
With “Game of Pricks,” Guided by Voices offer a more structured but no less irresistible tune. The track is sharp and concise, with a melody that feels like an instant earworm. The song is filled with Pollard’s signature cryptic lyrics, and the guitar riffs here are slightly more polished than the usual lo-fi fuzz. It’s one of the more anthemic tracks on the album and a prime example of how Pollard can craft something both raw and immediately appealing.
Alien Lanes remains a defining album in the world of indie rock, a record that encapsulates the raw energy and endless creativity of Guided by Voices. It’s not perfect, nor is it trying to be, but it is absolutely vital. The beauty of this album lies in its imperfections and the joy found in the chaotic mix of lo-fi production, catchy tunes, and unpredictable energy. It’s a celebration of imperfection, a sonic collage that feels like a snapshot of something much bigger, much messier, and much more exciting.