Class Clown Spots a UFO - Guided by Voices
Class Clown Spots a UFO Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: The second release in 2012 for the Ohio indie rock band led by Robert Pollard is 21 tracks long.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Jun 12, 2012
    83
    As 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.
  2. Jul 19, 2012
    80
    The former [true gems] are plenty, the latter [filler are] few. [Aug 2012, p.91]
  3. Jul 26, 2012
    80
    A worthy and wonderful addition to [their] cannon. [Aug 2012, p.98]
  4. Jun 20, 2012
    60
    In among these sporadic highlights, however, are numerous slices of tossed-off nonsense.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Any new Guided by Voices album is cause for celebration. Class Clown Spots a UFO is a nice combination of folky meandering, raucous rock, and the usual Bob and the boys weirdness. Tobin Sprout is back in the band and has more influence on this one than on Lets Go Eat the Factory. That's a good thing, and these old cats just keep getting better. Saw them twice last year live, and it's amazing the power and exuberance and beer and sweat these guys consume and generate. They outpunk all the punks, outprog all the progs, and outdrink all the drunks. One more brilliant album from the best American rock band. Expand
  2. A welcome return to form for Pollard, who is writing his best songs in 10 years. There's not a lot of studio polish here, which of course was never the point; this is messy, glorious rock and roll that barely slows down before it heads for the skies again. Expand
  3. Robert Pollard is terrifying. How can one man be such an elegant and seemingly effortless songwriter? He
  4. Admittedly the latest Guided By Voices' album may initially scare by a surprising number of songs contained on it - because very scarcely someone put up 21 different - and more importantly - memorable songs on one disc. "Class Clown Spots A UFO" is however a very interesting compilation of short, little more than minute compositions in various musical genres, and what's more importantly - you can not say that the band did not achieved their established goals. Haunting are even songs like the classic-rock "Blue Babbleships Bay" or hard rock, kept in lo-fi "Tyson's High School". Expand

See all 7 User Reviews