Love Hate Relationship with the Human Race

Any garage band could offer a decent cover of "Love Hate Relationship with the Human Race." Musically, that is. Vocally? Well, that's another story. Todd Tobias offers a nice three-chord rocker with bite, and Robert Pollard, seemingly inspired, cranks out some modestly controlled misanthropy. Some young shouter could get the job done, but it takes a world-weary voice to fully inhabit these lyrics, and Pollard is just the man for the job.

Movie makers
Drag racers
and cocksuckers on the go
Ride a red bus
and take it real slow

When he follows that with a bellowing declaration that "I got a love hate relationship with the human race," the last four words of the line double-tracked for emphasis, you believe him, on the latter point, anyway. The love part? We'll take him at his word.

Love people
Hate people
Can't live with people
Can't live without people

Anyone honest lives somewhere in the intersection of those words, and Pollard's vocal might as well be our national anthem.