Happy Birthday, Mr. Pollard

Robert Pollard, grandmaster of the venerated [Guided by Voices], turns 50 today. If you haven’t heard of him, his versatile lo-fi rock won critical acclaim during the mid- 1990s, cresting with 1994’s Bee Thousand.  Essentially, he’s an expert at cutting gems with crass tools.

Pollard is [a known asshole], and his latest solo work could have reached a little more than it did.  It’s strange to think that one of my favorite rock musicians is about the same age as… my dad.  But oh, if it doesn’t [tingle to watch him do “Game of Pricks” again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntWQOO_2Ws).