“Lightninghead to Coffeepot” continued Pollard’s somewhat low profile releases after Guided By Voices’ final tour. This EP has the distinction of having former GBV members Greg Demos on bass and Jim MacPherson on drums, and Tony Conley on guitar. Tony was formerly in Anacrusis, which was known as Pollard's pre-GBV metal band. Again, as with the “Zoom” EP, this feels like a get together by old friends on an afternoon, jamming out some songs that Bob wrote that afternoon. “Beaten by the Target” is slammin’ power-pop that shames the best Cheap Trick or Big Star ever offered. “Shame Me No Further” gives you a good idea of Mr. Conley’s guitar talents, which some nice psych-induced lead lines, and some truly metal-styled chord changes. “The Moping Swans Are Home” seemingly inhabits post-punk and prog rock stylings within it’s just under 4:00 minute mark. “Look at Your Life” endlessly repeats it’s chorus until it will never be removed from your brain, but has a bitter sweet melody that carries its charms. “Keep the Gutters Fresh” is one of those Pollard gems that you would hope to hear performed one day, but you know you never will – a deep cut that will never surface again, but is musically and melodically fantastic. The title cut is a monstrous prog rock behemoth, unswerving in its determination to steamroll your consciousness. Again, as with many of Pollard’s side projects and EP’s, his many styles are distilled into one smart, catchy, and utterly creative EP. This is a hidden gem in his catalog.
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