MagnetMagazine.com
Patrick Bekery

Circus Devils
Rinworm Interiors
#15 in the Fading Captain Series

(also includes review of GEM Sunglare Serenades)

Somewhere in a Dayton, Ohio, backyard (presumably on the wrong side of the tracks and surrounded by empty Budweiser cans) stands the Guided By Voices family tree, a little worse for wear, but sturdy enough that you can carve “I Am A Tree” in it and the thing won’t buckle. Its branches foster the innumerable rock ‘n’ roll fantasies of ringleader Robert Pollard, be they of the alter ego, solo or GBV variety. But a few humble twigs host the moonlighting efforts of other GBV brethren, like Tim Tobias and Doug Gillard’s Gem and Tobias’ Circus Devils. Gem’s second proper LP, Sunglare Serenades, is bring-your-lunch-pail-get-the-job-done-crack-open-a-cold-one-when-the-day-is-done indie pop/rock; little in the way of frills and fuss, lots in the way straightforward guitar hammering and sprightly hooks. Tobias and Gillard split songwriting and vocal duties. Gillard’s compositions lean on succinctly strummed riffs and fascinatingly vague wordplay that smacks of pre-marital-woes Pollard. Tobias’ contributions offer more in the way of jangle and a wistful demeanor, particularly on the Big Star-styled charmer “A Slow Crawl.” There’s nothing fancy here, but plenty to savor.

Those longing for the daze of the 28-song GBV/Pollard outings with song titles like “Straps Hold Up The Jaw” and “Star Peppered Wheat Germ” will wet themselves over the debut from the Circus Devils, which includes Tobias’ brother Todd (also in Gem) and lyrics and vocals by Pollard. Ringworm Interiors is rampant with the scattershot blasts of guitar hiss, four-track fuckery and non-sequitur lyrical fragments that a long night of drinking, jamming and coming up with fake band names in the basement can give birth to. The occasional flourish of anglo-centric melody like “Apparent The Red Angus” makes the whole mess more palatable for those who aren’t GBV completists or Pollard obsessives. If you don’t fall into either of these categories, it could be a long night in the basement.