Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. Magnet
    Apr 17, 2018
    85
    Even second-tier tunes (by comparison)--like the silly "I Love Kangaroos"--are indelible. [No. 150, p.54]
  2. 83
    Space Gun is one of Pollard’s best. ... Unlike almost all the rest, there is virtually no filler here.
  3. May 8, 2018
    80
    With its powerfully cohesive sonic topography and motley cast of rat smashers, ill-fated squires and cigarette eaters, Space Gun is a robust marriage between the band’s rugged past and more polished present. Further, it’s a reminder that, ultimately, Bob Pollard’s best character is himself.
  4. Mar 23, 2018
    80
    Space Gun doesn't quite match that underappreciated masterpiece, it comes close enough to confirm that Guided by Voices are quietly in the midst of a late-career renaissance.
  5. Mojo
    Mar 16, 2018
    80
    It's a generous and potent fix of Pollard eccentricity. [Apr 2018, p.94]
  6. Mar 23, 2018
    75
    It’s the the musical equivalent of eggs and toast at your favorite diner, perhaps not the group’s most distinctive release, but warm and nourishing nonetheless.
  7. Mar 27, 2018
    70
    Throughout Space Gun, the guitars clang and jangle, the rhythm section goes "boom" and the lyrics are the usual charming gibberish. "Space Gun" and "See My Field" are both great examples of what they do best--tight, concise, melodic pop rock that manages to be simultaneously mainstream and alternative.
  8. Mar 23, 2018
    70
    Space Gun to be about two-thirds great. Those great moments are what keeps people coming back for more, to continue digging and to find that perfect Robert Pollard song.
  9. Mar 19, 2018
    70
    [Space Gun] is a little more what you would expect from a GBV album. You have some sing-along mainstays, including the title track and "Blink Blank"; it's slightly different, while comfortingly the same. It already fills you with nostalgia, with the album not yet attached to any specific memories.
  10. Uncut
    Mar 16, 2018
    70
    Space Gun fizzes with an energy and seamless melody that recalls the band at their mid-'90s peak, and there's an intriguing assortment of songs to be found. [Apr 2018, p.27]
  11. Mar 20, 2018
    60
    Overall, Space Gun gives hope for the continuing future of a band that’s already died twice. While there’s a few bumps here and there, this is the sound of a group drunk off its own energy and excited to be alive.
  12. Q Magazine
    Mar 16, 2018
    60
    While Space Gun has its moments of off-kilter brilliance, they are cancelled out by more earthbound, laboured-sounding fare. [May 2018, p.108]
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Apr 6, 2018
    8
    Space Gun is easily best album of the bands second reunion (2016-present) and virtually every song on this album is at the least good. TracksSpace Gun is easily best album of the bands second reunion (2016-present) and virtually every song on this album is at the least good. Tracks such as: Blink Blank, That's Good, I Love Kangaroos, Sport Component National and Flight Advantage being the greatest on this album. With this being the only release this year, could this mark a new quality over quantity rule Pollard has so long neglected. Full Review »