Doug Gillard Makes It Look Easy on “Yes She Loves Me”

Doug Gillard has earned his stripes many times over — as the lead guitarist who helped define Guided by Voices’ classic-era crunch, as a member of Nada Surf, and as someone who landed on Rolling Stone’s 250 Best Guitarists list in 2023. But sometimes the best songs just show up, and “Yes She Loves Me” is proof of that.

The track is the latest preview of Parallel Stride, Gillard’s fourth solo album, due April 24 on Dromedary Records. By his own account, the music came together in about thirty minutes one evening, with the lyrics following close behind — which, for a guy who doesn’t usually work that fast, is worth flagging. Sometimes a song arrives ready.

It’s a love song, plain and simple — and that directness suits him. Parallel Stride has already shown off Gillard’s knack for melodic punch on earlier singles “Face Of Smiles” and “Lost Alarmists,” and “Yes She Loves Me” fits right alongside them. Think Wire producing a McCartney session and you’re in the neighborhood.

The album was tracked in New York with co-producers Tom Beaujour at Nuthouse Recording and Travis Harrison at Serious Business Recording. Eleven songs, no filler, from one of indie rock’s most quietly essential guitarists. Pre-order it below.

Pre-order Parallel Stride ↗

1“Face of Smiles”

2“Parallel Stride”

3“Yes She Loves Me”

4“Until I See You Again”

5“Lost Alarmists”

6“New Vista”

7“My Friends”

8“Saving My Life Every Day”

9“Western or Larabee”

10“Cannons”

11“She Showed Me the Earth”