“7th Level Shutdown” is a well arranged song that keeps the listener wanting more and then getting it as the tune comes to a close. Things start strangely, with Robert Pollard singing his lines as if he didn’t realize until it was too late that there is more melody than lyric. As such, “Another day [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Choreographed Man of War category.
She Saw the Shadow
One of Robert Pollard’s strengths is to recognize when he has come up with a melody that needs little adornment. Some songs cry out for a great guitar riff or other flourishes to emphasize the hook. But other songs, like “She Saw the Shadow,” can get by with little more than the hint of backing [...]
Kickboxer Lightning
Aside from being a great song title, “Kickboxer Lightning” sounds like some sort of superhero name, or maybe an American Gladiator. Robert Pollard brings that notion down to Earth very quickly, however, opening the song by singing the name over a roaring garage quartet blast, followed by this: “Kid bites the big one though, he [...]
Aeriel
“Aeriel” seems like a strange little solo instrumental for much of its running time, with Robert Pollard strumming a heavily echoing guitar, almost seeming to hit upon a chord structure as he bangs away experimenting with the effects pedal. Then, two minutes into this three-minute song, he begins to sing. “Aeriel, I, I took two [...]
Bally Hoo
Two things set this nice little tune apart from the others on the Soft Rock Renegades’ disc Choreographed Man of War. For starters, the music echoes that of disc-opener “I Drove a Tank.” That song’s mighty hook is slowed down here, easing into the song unsuspectingly. In that song Robert Pollard sings: I drove a [...]
I Drove a Tank
Time for some wild speculation. Given the timing of the release of Choreographed Men of War and the things that were going on in Robert Pollard’s life around that time, I’m guessing that “I Drove a Tank” has something to do with his crumbling marriage. The disc came out in late summer 2001, a few [...]