Acorns & Orioles
"Acorns & Orioles," along with being one of the many standout tracks on a disc that I'm increasingly seeing as one of Guided by Voices' two or three best, is one of the most successful marriages of lyric and atmosphere in Robert Pollard's catalog.
The song is a delicate bit of acoustic guitar and taped effects that perfectly convey the verse:
Over the summer
somehow waiting, sometimes craving.
And I gave it all away,
left my mind stripped away
kept everyone away.
While it's an ambiguous statement, it's hard not to think of how another summer has passed us by with the long to-do list of promise left largely unfulfilled.
Then comes one of Pollard's most passionate choruses, as he repeats the line "I can't tell you anything you don't already know." The song builds almost imperceptibly through another verse and chorus, the atmospheric sounds rising to equal, and then supersede, the acoustic guitar, while simple drums drive things to a conclusion. It's a pretty song made all the more so by the subtle shift into minor chord in the chorus.
The song is a delicate bit of acoustic guitar and taped effects that perfectly convey the verse:
Over the summer
somehow waiting, sometimes craving.
And I gave it all away,
left my mind stripped away
kept everyone away.
While it's an ambiguous statement, it's hard not to think of how another summer has passed us by with the long to-do list of promise left largely unfulfilled.
Then comes one of Pollard's most passionate choruses, as he repeats the line "I can't tell you anything you don't already know." The song builds almost imperceptibly through another verse and chorus, the atmospheric sounds rising to equal, and then supersede, the acoustic guitar, while simple drums drive things to a conclusion. It's a pretty song made all the more so by the subtle shift into minor chord in the chorus.
Labels: Under the Bushes Under the Stars
posted by John Kenyon at 6:48 AM
1 Comments:
This song has always created "seasonal" imagery for me.. like you mentioned about summer, and the title makes me think of fall.
I remember reading a user comment somewhere a million years ago that they walked by a bar and heard "Acorns and Orioles" blasting out of it. I wish that would happen to me, I'd find my new favorite bar.
Cheers,
Robert
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