Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007

Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007 is a collection of songs from releases in the Fading Captain series of Dayton, Ohio rock singer-songwriter Robert Pollard. Pollard launched his Fading Captain series of record releases in 1999, eventually releasing 44 works before ending the series in 2007. The compilation Crickets was the 44th and final release in the series.[1][2] The series included albums, singles, and EPs, and featured collaborations with musicians including Tobin Sprout, Mac McCaughan (Calling Zero), Doug Gillard (Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department), and Tommy Keene (Blues and Boogie Shoes).[3]

Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007
A black-and-white illustration of a military man saluting a shooting range
Compilation album by
ReleasedJuly 7, 2007
GenreIndie rock
LabelFading Captain
Robert Pollard chronology
Suitcase 2: American Superdream Wow
(2005)
Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007
(2007)

Reception edit

Pitchfork rated Crickets 6.0/10, saying it "lacks adequate bait for completists and will confuse and likely put off neophytes."[4]

AllMusic rated the album three out of fives stars, calling the album too often meandering and lacking "the cohesion and charge of even the lesser GBV albums."[5]

PopMatters called Crickets "overstuffed" with throwaway tracks and "some new bonus material that isn't even worth mentioning", but containing "a dozen fantastic songs" and "ten or so other solid tracks."[1]

CD1 edit

  1. Tight Globes – Robert Pollard/Doug Gillard
  2. Total Exposure – Airport 5
  3. Death of the Party – The Keene Brothers
  4. Festival of Death – Circus Devils
  5. Break Some Concentration – Psycho And The Birds
  6. Beaten by the Target – The Moping Swans
  7. Built to Improve – Robert Pollard
  8. Flings of the Wastecoat Crowd – Robert Pollard
  9. Never Forget Where You Get Them – Go Back Snowball
  10. Stifled Man Casino – Airport 5
  11. Bull Spears – Circus Devils
  12. White Gloves Come Off – Robert Pollard
  13. Time Machines – Lexo & The Leapers
  14. Alone, Stinking and Unafraid – Lexo & The Leapers
  15. Sensational Gravity Boy – Freedom Cruise
  16. Dolphins of Color – Circus Devils
  17. Fairly Blacking Out – The Takeovers
  18. Naked Wall, The – The Keene Brothers
  19. Do Something Real – Robert Pollard/Doug Gillard
  20. It Is Divine – Go Back Snowball
  21. I'm Dirty – Howling Wolf Orchestra
  22. However Young They Are – Airport 5
  23. Look at Your Life – The Moping Swans
  24. Harrison Adams – Robert Pollard
  25. All Men Are Freezing – Robert Pollard
  26. Sister I Need Wine – Guided by Voices
  27. I'm Gonna Miss My Horse – Ellsworth Pollard
  28. Butcherman – Psycho

CD2 edit

  1. Zoom (It Happens All Over the World) – Robert Pollard
  2. First of an Early Go Getter – Lifeguards
  3. Correcto – Circus Devils
  4. Pop Zeus – Robert Pollard/Doug Gillard
  5. First Spill Is Free – The Takeovers
  6. Instrument Beetle – Robert Pollard/Soft Rock Renegades
  7. Bunco Men – Elf God
  8. Selective Service – Guided by Voices
  9. Soldiers of June – Circus Devils
  10. Remain Lodging (At Airport 5) – Airport 5
  11. Island of Lost Lucys – The Keene Brothers
  12. Feathering Clueless (The Exotic Freebird) – Airport 5
  13. Suffer the Sun – Psycho And The Birds
  14. Vault of Moons, The – Robert Pollard
  15. Trial of Affliction and Light Sleeping – Robert Pollard
  16. Children Come On – Robert Pollard
  17. (No) Hell For Humor – Circus Devils
  18. Society Dome – Lifeguards
  19. 7th Level Shutdown – Robert Pollard/Soft Rock Renegades
  20. Her Noise – Circus Devils
  21. Dumbluck Systems Stormfront – Go Back Snowball
  22. Frequent Weaver Who Burns – Robert Pollard/Doug Gillard
  23. Town of Mirrors – Robert Pollard
  24. Powerblessings – Robert Pollard
  25. Island Crimes – Robert Pollard
  26. Lugnut Blues – Alien Mofo
  27. You've Taken Me In – Little Bobby Pop
  28. Power of Suck, The – Radiation Feeder

References edit

  1. ^ a b Fiander, Matthew (2007-07-15). "Robert Pollard: Crickets". PopMatters. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  2. ^ "Fading Captain Series". GBVDB. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  3. ^ "Robert Pollard Released Crickets: Best Of The Fading Captain Series 1999-2007 15 Years Ago Today". Magnet. 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  4. ^ Crock, Jason (2007-08-24). "Crickets: The Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999 - 2007". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  5. ^ Deming, Mark. "Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999-2007 Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-08-04.