Game of Pricks (Original compared to 7" version)

Original: Alien Lanes

Remake: Tigerbomb EP, 1995

Since the last entry mentioned Vampire on Titus, an album where Polards lo-fi mode did him few favors, I wanted to highlight a song where the lo-fi treatment unequivically works.

In 1995, Bob Pollard recorded the Tigerbomb EP, which includes more produced versions of songs from THE BEST GUIDED BY VOICES ALBUM Alien Lanes. The first is "My Valuable Hunting Knife," which is a great song to be sure, though the re-recording does it no favors. The second, and more offensive, is this re-recording of perhaps the best song on Alien Lanes (and I'm more than willing to admit that's debatable) Game of Pricks. Game of Pricks is a masterpiece, catchier than anything has a right to be, with emotive lyrics. The chorus, the latter half full of repeated vocal triplets (Nev/er/asked for/the/truth/ but/you/owe/ that to me/) falls down a few steps before triumphantly climbing back up, an appealing reversal of a classic melodic arc, like a reverse "Yesterday". The verses are dynamic, there's a lot of space between these chords and the song breathes very well as a result. Lyrically, Robert Pollard has a way of making things that should sound cliche sound totally fresh. Lines like, "You can never be strong but you can only be free" and "I never asked for the truth by you owe that to me" become almost like proverbs in the hands of Pollard. There is no denying the quality of the song. However...

However, this version doesn't do the song much justice. What's different? Well, there's a totally new intro that sounds a lot like "I am a Tree" from Mag Earwhig! Theres some totally unnecessary vocal harmonies and polish. The drums keep double time, giving the song a much more driving rock feel. Mostly though, the entire affair is cleaned up. This, frankly, kind of sucks. There is a lot of character in the lo-fi tones of classic GBV. It's softer, it's less precise, more relaxed. This version sounds like he recorded it with Cobra Verde, his latter day back up band. I'm not one of those guys who only likes a bands early albums or feels a band has some how sold out by choosing to clean up their sound. They're all just artistic choices. I feel that Pollards song writing shines through no matter what. Case in point, I love songs from much maligned albums such as Universal Truths and Cycles and Do the Collapse. In this case, however, the song already existed and was already perfect. What was the motivation? The only thing I can think of is a bid for radio play and that is a little dissapointing. I won't begrudge anyone the desire to make some money from their art, or give that art wider exposure, but if you listen to both versions back to back, I think it's clear that the original is supperior.

C+ (For the remake)
A+ (For the original)

Favorite line: Ill climb up on the house/ Weep to water the trees/And when you come calling me down/ Ill put on my disease