Various Artists
Collapse The Collectors
Silly Moo Records [2024]
Album Overview: I will be the first to admit that I have traditionally been a tough critic of cover records. I always appreciate the glimpse into the reinterpretation of songs, but so many times I feel compilations like this fall a bit short when it comes to delivering the perfect balance that showcases the selected artists’ own style while paying homage to the source material. Collapse The Collectors is a Guided By Voices tribute album, and it achieves that balance on almost every song! The album takes its track selection from the band’s 1999 record Do The Collapse and various B-sides from that era, so it comes off very focused. It also has an artist lineup that may not be super familiar to everyone, but if you follow TFN, then Ex Pilots, Smug Brothers, and Wussy Duo should stand out. Dressy Bessy is arguably the biggest name on the list as they kick things off with their take on “Teenage FBI.” Collapse The Collectors is now the fourth record in this series of Pollard project cover albums from Silly Moo, and I would vote it the strongest release yet in the collection!
Musical Style: The tracks on Collapse The Collectors stick to an indie rock style that has a very DIY approach. All the tracks are unique to the artist, but they collectively maintain the album’s cohesive sound which I really appreciate for this specific record.
Pivotal Tracks: Dayton, Ohio’s Jesse Remnant injects “Dragon’s Awake” with his indie folk magic. Pittsburgh’s Ex Pilots rip a distorted guitar version of “Underground Initiations,” while other favorites come from St. Louis with Pleasure Center’s take on “Fly Into Ashes” and Soft Crisis’ “Surgical Focus.” Ohio’s Smug Brothers deliver a spot-on rendition of “Perfect This Time,” while the early Beck-sounding “A Crick Uphill” from Iowa City’s Samuel Locke Ward is a great take. “Hold On Hope” from Wussy Duo closes the record, and Lisa Walker’s vocals gorgeously cut through you while Chuck Cleaver’s gruff backing harmonies deliver an excellent depth of sincerity. It really showcases how a well-penned track can live on forever!
COLLAPSE THE COLLECTORS LINK
Bandcamp
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