This is the first of a bunch they recorded remotely during covid instead of getting into a studio together which might well be the reason for the lack of energy
ah yeah of course, that makes a lot of sense. Iâd guess there are more slow songs than usual too though (not that Iâve counted! - and I actually like them)
STYLES WE PAID FOR (2020) a moodier and altogether slower collection for the final album of 2020. Itâs a little better (than the last one) by virtue of Pollard focusing on mood rather than melody and the band finding a nice feel and exploring it a little more rather than trying to write these 150 second pop symphonies. The recording is a bit more rounded and intimate, the songs seem finished and mostly decent-to-pretty good, Pollard sounds more weathered than wobbly, and nothing jumped out as being Of Shit. 6
I really like âThey Donât Play The Drums Anymoreâ!
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Just gave this one a spin, and yeah I enjoyed it quite a bit overall. Comfortably a better listening experience than Mirrored Aztec IMO. Takes it time to get going, in fact I think this is probably a rare instance of me preferring Side B to Side A, but plenty of interesting tunes throughout.
âElectronic Windows to Nowhereâ and âCrash at Lake Placeboâ were the biggest standouts for me, but Iâll get round to picking out my faves later in the week after a couple more plays 
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Shouldâve been a single!
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Yeah thatâs good shit
Another listen, much more positive. I think Slaughterhouse being so long and so early (and not very good) put me in a negative mindset. Thought weâd got away from the 4 min sludge! Megaphone Riley is solid especially when it explodes, but itâs also a very downbeat opener so put me off a bit maybe
But beyond that no stinkers and a lot of fun or odd ones, some production choices that stand out positively. Maybe too mid paced and donât think even the best tracks hit the endorphin peaks that Jane/Area did last time round - so a better album even if I wonât remember single tracks as well
Drums is real good, mid pace chug but melodic enough to work, and that bongo section is so fun and unexpected. Endless Seafood is lovely and bright, though maybe a little overlong? Strong sweeping ending anyway
The hooky little riff of Mr Child is good, as are the tom heavy sections, but maybe another that feels slightly longer than needed. Few tracks here could be a bit tighter. Stops is lovely sighing melancholy, with the acoustic+drums thing I always enjoy. Full on lighters in the sky ballad
Devils is a solid moody rocker, but great fun with that sped up ending out of nowhere. Electronic Windows is a cool easy pop singalong, but the ending guitars are what elevates it, floating off into the distance. Love the lead guitars break in Never Abandon Ship, so cool even though they barely last 5 seconds
The run from In Calculus to When Growing Was Simple is what really makes the album, just a bunch of strong tracks in a row - which really isnât that common after Bears for Lunch. Weirdly backloaded album for me then but nice to finish well
Calculus is more gorgeous restraint, sounds so simple but really is beautiful, Doug sparkling away. Think the verse groove on Placebo is just fun, very easy and insistent, and again more acoustic is good for variety sake. Liquid Kid is a slow starter but really feels like two diff tracks - the last 90 seconds are excellent, just takes off. Such funny crappy horn sounds.
Time is more of the melancholic balladry that feels like the strongest parts of this album for me - reflective and pretty. And find Growing such an interesting closer, those huge echoing background toms and so much space in the track. Barely goes anywhere but really worms itâs way in, feels like some 80s post punk ballad almost
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So, Iâve given this a couple more listens and my opinion still holds - not a classic, but pretty enjoyable and a definite step up after the previous effort. Much of the album harks back to the gloomier atmospheres of Zeppelin and Plague, but generally seems to have a more varied (and stronger) set of songs to keep things interesting.
My album highlights:
Stops - a beautifully melancholy, soaring short ballad. The closing section is especially effective, and wraps things up inside barely a couple of minutes. Not a single moment wasted.
War of the Devils - another one of Bobâs multi-sectioned prog rockers, but this one benefits from real injections of energy when needed. Love the dramatic, ominous vocals from Bob, plus the finale where the whole thing explodes into life.
Electronic Windows To Nowhere - as @myyada has already said, this wouldâve made for a great single! Just an incredibly bright, catchy fun little tune which just about avoids veering into annoying. Judging by the lyrics, I think itâs safe to say Bob isnât much of a fan of modern technology.
Crash At Lake Placebo - a much more interesting preview track than âMr Childâ IMO. Bouncy acouctic pop sprinkled with shimmering power-chords from Doug. One of the biggest earworms on the album.
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sheâs slowly catching up
Enjoying Heavy Like the World
Liking Queen Parking Lot and Cul de Sac Kids. Bob sings much flatter in these later albums, I think thatâs why I didnât enjoy Warp and Woof so much
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Styles We Paid For!
My main thoughts with this one pretty much since it came out is that itâs a strong collection of songs presented in a weird order with awful artwork. Been rinsing it this week. Good to dive back into it!
Megaphone Riley is a cool tune. But to have such a minimal slow lurching tune with a resigned-sounding Bob as the opening cut here seems really odd. Dig the lyrics â already a strong, thought-out idea and a hook. They Donât Play Drums Anymore is also a decent song. But another minimal slow burner. Funny and quirky subject for a song â especially for an artist whoâs relied on drum machines/electronic drums more than a few times over the years (to great effect â and on this record!). Track 3: give us a rocker eh Bob? Oh no. Weâve got the longest, slowest track on the album. Haha! Thankfully itâs a cool brooding tune â with some decent lyrical imagery.
Endless Seafood has a bit more pep. But as a tune itâs a bit throwaway. The production on this thing is excellent so far though â and the synth strings on the end of this with the chiming guitars are very pleasant. Mr Child, next, and this is a decent rockinâ tune. Great Doug-riff that really anchors it all. The middle-eight to the outro part arguably makes the whole thing a bit overlong but itâs a good choice as a single.
Stops is a beautiful ballad. Classic late era poignant Bob excellently delivered. War of the Devils changes things up again with what sounds like a harpsichord moving into a post-punk Wire riff, into something more proggy and sonically wild as it builds satisfyingly towards the crescendo. An odd tune that seems out of place on this record really. But good. Electronic Windows To Nowhere is an effortless power pop tune ala The Cars. And it rules. Great outro. This run of tracks is all over the place â but the quality is there!
Never Abandon Ship has a really cool riff going on and some further excellent guitar. Itâs a quintessential album track but itâs pretty great. Roll Me To Heaven is in-keeping with the initial vibe of the record. It starts out pretty heavy but then goes into this lovely psychy section, then sort of melds the two vibes for the outro. Itâs alright.
In Calculus Stratagem is, again, another near perfect ballad. Incredible emotive guitar work and some frail sounding Bob singing (in a good way). Crash At Lake Placebo is great too. Another good choice for a single. Weird how itâs buried in the back end here when it seems to me to be a decent candidate as album opener or track 2. Liquid Kid is a bit of a mood piece. One of those rather pointless prog things. Kind of a proto Alex Bell. The synth brass at the end is a choice.
Time Without Looking is the third fantastic ballad on here. Beautiful track with, again, lovely lyrics and delivery from Bob. When Growing Was Simple is a real atmospheric closer too with some cool lyrics and good clanging guitars. I like when Bob is dealing with nostalgia/memory and perhaps if that theme was brought out more in the record (even with just putting Time Without Looking on Side A) itâd work better all in.
So, yeah. I really like this album. I think the tracks are great for the most part. Itâs heavy on the slow cuts, but with some better ordering I donât think that would be so noticeable. As it stands, though, Styles is probably one of the most overlooked records in the GBV canon. Which is a bit of a shame.
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Found this out in the wild at a record store in Cincinnati at regular record price. Couldnât believe my luck when I found it as I like collecting signed albums and Bob doesnât actually sign that much stuff.
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Just done this, using five songs from Mirrored Aztec and seven from Styles (the stronger album). I reckon twelve songs is around the sweet spot for current lineup, so here it goes:
SPIDER WEB SOUL*
- Crash At Lake Placebo
- Bunco Men
- Megaphone Riley
- To Keep An Area
- Mr. Child
- Stops
- Please Donât Be Honest
- Thank You Jane
- Electronic Windows To Nowhere
- A Whale Is Top Notch
- In Calculous Stratagem
- War of the Devils
*(itâs a lyric from Slaughterhouse & it sounds cooler than âMirrored Stylesâ 
)
I was a bit stuck for an album opener so I went with Lake Placebo to get things off to a lively start. I included Thank You Jane because it seemed quite popular last week. The first half is rockier & more lively overall, whereas the second half is more on the poppier/whimsical side musically.
I reckon thatâs wouldâve made for a very strong album overall. Any obvious omissions?
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Reckon Iâd keep Citizens Blitz and Time Without Looking but yeah, this looks good. Reckon Crash⊠is a good option for an alternative opener too!
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Yeah, Citizens Blitz nearly made the cut, wouldâve been a decent inclusion to inject a bit more energy into Side B maybe.
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voters
- Megaphone Riley
- They Donât Play The Drums Anymore
- Slaughterhouse
- Endless Sea Food
- Mr. Child
- Stops
- War Of The Devils
- Electronic Windows To Nowhere
- Never Abandon Ship
- Roll Me To Heaven
- In Calculus Stratagem
- Crash At Lake Placebo
- Liquid Kid
- Time Without Looking
- When Growing Was Simple
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voters
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12 votes across 10 songs so far 
Just about to hit their greatest run of albums since earthquake glue 
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just about to add at least one more; Iâd like to add two but Iâm listening now and not sure Iâll manage it
Edit: it was possible, without even having to stretch from my actual opinions once I realised I liked some equally!
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Really need to catch up
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Yer slacking
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