Takeovers - Bad Football

Title: Bad Football Artist: Takeovers Release Date: 6/12/2007 Label: Off Records Duration: 34:16 Album Type(s): lyrics/libretto UPC: 656605809328 Genre: Rock Styles: Alternative Pop/Rock, Lo-Fi, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Pop Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. You're at It
2. Little Green Onion Man
3. Father's Favorite Temperature
4. Molly & Zack
5. Pretty Not Bad
6. Smokestack Bellowing Stars
7. I Can See My Dog
8. The Jester of Helpmeat
9. Kicks at the Gym
10. Music for Us
11. The Year Nobody Died
12. My Will

Year Type Label Catalog # 2007 CD Off Records 993

No other editions were found for this album.

Although Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices, etc., etc.) rarely displays a clear comical side in his musical endeavors (though as of 2007 he had released two albums of his hysterical drunken stage banter), his sense of humor is evident on Bad Football, the second alliance with Chris Slusarenko (also of the departed GBV). There are numerous self-referential and self-deprecating lyrics here, including "I got a fake British accent" from the catchy "Pretty Not Bad" (which contains this amusing backhanded complement of a chorus: "I've got a girl and I like her/'Cus she's pretty not bad") and the uproarious faux-fitness anthem "Kicks at the Gym." Even the throwaway "The Jester of Helpmeat" is more entertaining in this context. Pollard is also more visibly affectionate, such as on the heartfelt "I Can See My Dog" and the life-affirming "Father's Favorite Temperature." His critical contempt of "new rock" is obvious on those comedy records, and here he makes that disdain apparent in the sardonic ode "Music for Us." For those looking for a nod to his past, there are a couple of tunes that resemble mid-period GBV, a case in point being the fist-pumping finale, "My Will," which could be an Alien Lanes outtake. The first few post-Guided by Voices releases found Pollard indulging in one of his favorite genres, prog rock, but there's a whole lot more psych here, with Slusarenko's steady foundation of post-punk and psychedelic indie rock paving the way for Pollard's most rocking album since Isolation Drills (2001). The former GBV principal is more flippant than usual here (though his prose can still be mysterious and there are a couple of references to suicide), contributing to a record that is both laid-back and exciting while somehow remaining consistent throughout. ~ Bart Bealmear, All Music Guide

Name Credits Brian Berg Producer, Drums, Performer, Audio Production, Engineer Charlie Campbell Engineer Chris George Performer, Cello Chris Slusarenko Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Group Member, Audio Production, Cover Art Concept, Bass, Keyboards, Producer, Drums, Engineer Dan Peters Drums, Performer DJ Turiel Vocals Jim Talstra Bass, Guitar (Bass), Performer John Moen Drums Rich Turiel Layout Design Robert Pollard Vocal Producer, Audio Production, Cover Art Concept, Guitar, Cover Collage, Group Member, Vocals, Producer, Vocal Engineer Stephen Malkmus Vocals Tad Doyle Soloist, Vocals, Performer Todd Tobias Audio Production