How Do You Spell Heaven

On their second album of 2017, Guided By Voices counter the aesthetic eclecticism of <i>August By Cake</i> with tightly coiled dynamics and surgical focus. With guitarist Doug Gillard back at his side, frontman Robert Pollard returns to the robust rock attack that marked their previous tenure together in the late ’90s, whether setting his madcap melodies to mechanised post-punk (“Boy W”) or scissor-kick-worthy surges (“Diver Dan”). But the thrills are offset by poignant comedown moments, particularly the aching “Nothing Gets You Real”.