FIVE is the curiously titled fourth studio album by the experimental/psychedelic rock band Circus Devils

Circus Devils

Circus Devils is an American rock band with experimental/ psychedelic styles founded in 2001 by Robert Pollard, former lead singer and songwriter of the Dayton, Ohio band Guided by Voices. Members include Todd Tobias , and Tim Tobias...

. Released in 2005, FIVE is considered among the band's least accessible albums due to the fragmented moods and styles and the experimental nature of the music. All songs on FIVE were written and performed by Robert Pollard

Robert Pollard

Robert Pollard is an American rock musician and singer-songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices, who disbanded in 2004, only to reform in 2010...

 and Todd Tobias

Todd Tobias

Todd Tobias is a record producer and musician/ multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Robert Pollard and his band Guided by Voices. Other projects include Circus Devils, Clouds Forming Crowns, the Sleeptalkers, The Library is on Fire, the Celebrity Pilots, Kramies, Brian Lisik, Slark...

.

Reaction

"Multi-instrumentalist (Todd) Tobias keeps things primal-n-futuristic while (Robert) Pollard's lyrics allude to the horrors of the human race in a way both cryptic and imaginative. Much like Gang of Fours attempt to wise us to the consumer world, Circus Devils forewarn of a world consuming us."

- Detroit Free Press

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...

"The previous (Circus Devils) albums were experimental, yet they somehow always kept at least one toe on the terra-firma of accessibility on which (Robert) Pollard has made a career. As such, these albums were wondrous romps through the slightly musically-disparate musical imaginations of its members. FIVE has Pollard and Todd Tobias amputating said toe, and the majority of the record is an over-indulgence of their prog-rock influences. They opt for experiment over melody and noise over rhythm."

-- Bryan Roswell / Coke Machine Glow

"Five often doesn't feature a single guitar, instead relying on
Todd Tobias's trademark aural textures to create moods often bordering on ambient, a new and exciting background for (Robert) Pollard to ply his trade. The new contrast is captivating from the start. FIVE is an album of wonderful aural scope and intelligence, filled with emotion. Whenever Pollard attempts a style of music with which he's unfamiliar, the results are always at worst interesting; here they're nothing short of spectacular."

- David Tandy / Music Underwater

Track listing

1. "The Bending Sea"
2. "Look Between What's Goin' On"
3. "Just Touch Them"
4. "Artheroid Vogue"
5. "Dog Licking baby"
6. "Thelonius Has Eaten all the Paper"
7. "Strain"
8. "Animal Motel"
9. "Future For Germs"
10. "Effective News"
11. "No Wonder They Don't Stand Tall"
12. "We Taught Them Rock and Roll"
13. "Eyes Reload"
14. "Her Noise"
15. "In The Mood"
16. "Tell 'Em the Old Man is Coming Down"
17. "Dolphins of Color"
18. "Dreaming the Temple"
19. "The Word Business"
20. "Headhunter Who Blocks the Sky"
21. "People Thing"
22. "You Take the Lead"
23. "The Other Heart"

External links

• the Official Circus Devils site
• [ Circus Devils at allmusic.com]