''Gringo'' is the seventh studio album released by the Ohio rock band
Circus Devils
Circus Devils is an American art rock band founded in 2001 by Robert Pollard, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the Dayton, Ohio, band Guided by Voices. The band consists of Pollard (vocals and lyrics), Todd Tobias (music and produ ...
in 2009. All songs on Gringo were written and performed by
Robert Pollard
Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. (born October 31, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to his work with Guided by Voices, he continues to have a prol ...
,
Todd Tobias
Todd Tobias (born 1967) is an American multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Robert Pollard and his band Guided by Voices. Other projects include Circus Devils, Kramies, The Library Is On Fire, and musical thea ...
, and Tim Tobias. The first all-acoustic album released by Circus Devils, ''Gringo'' is a song cycle in which each track recounts a moment in the life of a nameless drifter known only as "the Gringo." The moods on the album range widely between jubilant to melancholy to mean.
Reaction
''Musically the album is filled with creepy film-score interludes and art-rock grinders, but also pretty and strange acoustic balladry. Like every Circus Devils album, it feels haunted, but those ghosts do less screaming and more gentle creeping and following. And of course, nothing is as it seems. There’s a lot to savor and decipher throughout. With Gringo, you can get lulled into comfort, but then you’ll be stabbed in the face.''
– Dave Heaton fo
Erasing Clouds
''The latest from Circus Devils once again proves that this vehicle has no rules, boundaries or expectations. This seventh release tells the story of Gringo in a simple, mostly acoustic form that still embraces the Circus Devils love for eclectic background noises but is their most straightforward set of accessible songs to date. You can call Gringo a statement, a step forward, a step backwards, or just the right step but the Circus Devils finalize the notion that trying to put a label on them remains impossible and that is what makes them worth seeking out!''
– Christopher Anthony fo
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Track listing
# Witness Hill
# Every Moment Flame On
# Ships From Prison to Prison
# Bad Baby Blue
# Easy Baby
# Before it Walks
# Monkey Head
# The Beast Falls Down
# Letters From a Witch
# Arizona Blacktop Company
# Hot Water Wine
# In Your Hour of Rescue
# Ants
# Stars On All Night
# The Gasoline Drinkers
# Yellow Cloud (inst.)
References
External links
the Official Circus Devils site*
Circus Devils at allmusic.combr>
Circus Devils - ''Gringo'' - Album Review at Citizen Dick
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Circus Devils albums
2009 albums
Concept albums