T.W. Walsh - Pollensongs EP
(My Pal God)
Unaware of any connection between Walsh and David Bazaan, when I first heard Walsh's 5 song, approximately 25 minute Pollensongs EP I was really taken aback by the musical similarities it had to Pedro the Lion. Quickly checking the liner notes to see if, perhaps, David Bazaan or other members of Pedro the Lion happened to be playing on the record, I was surprised to see that no one did. However, it wasn't much later that I found out that, besides releasing a few singer/songwriter solo records on Truckstop and Made In Mexico, TW Walsh has, on occasion, played in Pedro the Lion, both live and on record.
So I guess it isn't that odd that, musically, Pollensongs sounds so much like Pedro the Lion (though a more rustic version). However, when the vocals come in, all similarities between the two end. Whereas Bazaan's vocals are generally more intimate, soft, and soothing, Walsh's vocals sound more like a mix between Neil Young and a countrified Thom Yorke.
The Pollensongs EP, while not an awful record, isn't really engaging at all. Probably due to the sometimes whiney, and drab feel of the vocals, the songs very quickly start to feel lifeless and uninspired. It doesn't help things either that the music and vocals seem so separate from one another.
Though none of the songs on Pollensongs are necessarily bad, they also aren't really interesting or engrossing enough to keep you listening.
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