Is the Earth still spinning? Check. Is Robert Pollard’s heart still beating? Check. Then you can be sure a new batch of brilliantly demented lo-fi pop tracks is forthcoming. The Guided By Voices frontman is about to release another project with Ricked Wicky, his latest rock ‘n’ roll ensemble. Swimmer To A Liquid Armchair is out in less than a month, and “Poor Substitute” heralds its arrival. The self-deprecating track finds Pollard at his most straightforward, loudly but solemnly spinning lyrics like “Try me a beast of burden/ I’ll be more than qualified” over a power chord bash that will barrel you down. “I know I’m a poor substitute” goes the chorus, but this song is our latest reminder that there’s only one Robert Pollard. Listen below.

Tracklist:

01 “What Are All Those Paint Men Digging”

02 “Crystal Titanic”

03 “Poor Substitute”

04 “Blind Side”

05 “A Number I Can Trust”

06 “Simple Simon Paper Plates”

07 “Red Legged Pygmalion”

08 “No Man Would Develop”

09 “Plastic Oceanic Getaway”

10 “The Box (Including The Curse)”

11 “Could I See The List One More Time”

12 “I Am A Coast Guard”

Swimmer To A Liquid Armchair is out 9/25 on GBV, Inc. Pre-order it here.