English Little League

• Track Listing

2013 release, the fourth album from the reunited classic Guided by Voices lineup of Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Greg Demos, Mitch Mitchell and Kevin Fennell. English Little League hums like angry birds along the full spectrum of Rock's highways and byways (especially the byways), from Rock to Roll and back again. Pollard's rebus system of songwriting (sounds made visible, abstract concepts symbolized) strung like fairy lights from the opening song to the galvanic closer kettles along at full steam throughout, punctuated by the airier constructs of Sprout. You never know what the future will bring, only what the past has brought, and the past has now brought you the fourth Guided by Voices album in little more than a year. You should probably buy someone a drink to celebrate. You should definitely celebrate. Life is short. Guided by Voices is long.