Class Clown Spots a UFO
- Guided by Voices
- Band Name: Guided by Voices
- Record Label: Guided by Voices
- Release Date: Jun 12, 2012
- Critic Score
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Jun 12, 201283As with Factory, the strength of UFO is that it sounds like a true GBV record, rather than simply a clandestine avenue for Pollard's solo material.
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Jul 26, 201280A worthy and wonderful addition to [their] cannon. [Aug 2012, p.98]
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Jul 19, 201280The former [true gems] are plenty, the latter [filler are] few. [Aug 2012, p.91]
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Jun 29, 201280Perfect imperfection.
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Jun 14, 201280One of the strongest LPs that Guided By Voices have ever released.
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Jun 13, 201280The title track ... and the unstoppably melodic "Billy Wire" are two of the catchiest tunes Pollard has ever penned. [No.88 p.56]
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Oct 11, 201276For any fans of the group's 90s material, Class Clown is a highly recommended listen, especially for those put off by Factory.
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Jun 25, 201275Class Clown gives us what is most best and most constant about the band--their sonic restlessness, shambolic hooks, broken glory--and nothing less.
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Jun 27, 201270Class Clown's odd-angled pop and jittery arena rock keeps the weirdness on par with its predecessor.
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Jun 25, 201270Whilst there are a few archetypal GBV misfires inside Class Clown Spots A UFO – brought about by scattershot recording fidelity and a small imbalance in the quantity over quality ratio – overall it is still a solidly-carved collection.
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Jun 13, 201270This LP has a distinct retro feel to it, with elements of blues, psychedelia and an earthiness that results in the band's best album of the year so far.
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Jun 12, 201270Another 21 songs of baffling titles, ingenuous melodies and charming amateurism. [Jul 2012, p.73]
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Jun 12, 201270The album's spottiness becomes just another part of the Guided by Voices experience, and in a strange way it eventually works as a positive attribute.
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Jun 12, 201270While Class Clown doesn't come close to the highs of Alien Lanes or the vastly underrated Universal Truths and Cycles, it still riffs and rolls enough.
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Jun 14, 201265Class Clown Spots a UFO is a fine record, but now two records into their return, it feels like this "classic" version of Guided By Voices is following too closely to a script.
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Jun 20, 201260In among these sporadic highlights, however, are numerous slices of tossed-off nonsense.
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Jun 13, 201260Most of this record isn't the kind of total genius that can be found elsewhere in their canon but it's a fine album that shows what can be done if bands just relaxed a bit.
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Jun 12, 201260It's better than your average album, but by the standard of Let's Go Eat the Factory, it leaves a bit to be desired.
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Jun 13, 201256[Class Clown is] like all GBV releases, a mishmash of melodic, A-side-worthy compositions and half-formed snippets.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 7
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Mixed: 0 out of 7
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Negative: 0 out of 7
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Robert Pollard is terrifying. How can one man be such an elegant and seemingly effortless songwriter? He