Guv’ner, “Almond Roca” (From Hard For Measy For You)

There’s a fine line between being an asshole and a smart aleck, though I’m never sure how to exactly make the distinction. Songs like this aren’t much help, either. Yet, this is what I liked best about Guv’ner. Through the course of three records (one for Ecstatic Peace, two for Merge) and a slew of singles, the band managed to simultaneously define the 90’s indie aesthetic and push it out of its safety zone. Bands like Pavement got all the fame and glory, but was there a more indier-than-thou band than Guv’ner? The privileged stab of their name, the famous friends with famous names — Thurston, Kim, Julia and so on — even their post-band careers paved the way for everyone who’s ever turned sewing ipod covers into a lucrative business. (Even the ice skating album cover of Hard… reeks of upper-class elitism in a way only indie rockers can provide.)

Unlike a majority of indie rock, Guv’ner’s orbit revolved around sex, which isn’t a surprise since the band comprised of two married folks. When Pumpkin busts out lines like “I’m not like the rest / I’m better / You can’t fake me”, then spends the rest of the song being completely indecisive about her affections toward another and patting herself on the back for this behavior, you can’t help but wonder what’s going on between these two. Don’t even get me started on the part where she compares her goods to Almond Roca. Would a couple’s therapist think its OK to act this way?

Amidst the predicated metaphors for sex and desire, the band never fully answers the topic at hand. In the hands of Guv’ner, “Almond Roca” winds up being less gray area and empty sentiment, more penumbra. Each verse is built upon questions and effrontery, knocked down by basic human desire — Charles’ and Pumpkin’s guitars fumble and take turns with each other, plodding bass lines brushing up against a trebly guitar, eventually finding their way, albeit briefly.

Help Ecstatic Peace keep a clean and tidy stockroom — buy this record now!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 at 11:07 am and is filed under mp3blog.