The point of forming a band is to capture an alchemy that’s greater than the individual elements, but ex–Guided by Voices singer Robert Pollard’s latest “group” — featuring guitarist-bassist Chris Slusarenko and Elliott Smith drummer John Moen — stirs up no such magic. Instead, their second album is a limp, loose affiliation of trebly guitar riffs, independently minded drums, and Pollard’s echoing stream-of-conscious- ness vocals. “Catherine From Mid October” hits on a sweet melody, but Pollard desperately needs a producer who can flesh out and orchestrate his (very) rough sketches.
Listen: Boston Spaceships, “Big O Gets An Earful” (DOWNLOAD MP3)
