My latest obsession is the debut solo album from Guided By Voices member Tobin

Sprout. The album, Carnival Boy, is everything some of us have come to

love from Guided By Voices: hooks galore, lo-fi production values, '60s Britpop

vocals, and very quirky lyrics. Songs like "I Didn't Know" or the rockin'

"White Flyer" have an effortless feel that belies the seasoned pop craft that

Sprout brings to them. The fourteen song album was quietly released on August

20; do not ignore it. The GBV guys have a direct wire to the rock 'n' roll

pleasure center. Sprout offers up subtle, clever twists on '60s popsters like

the Beatles, the Who and the Kinks. But like all the greats (both popular and

obscure), the results transcend their influences. Carnival Boy belongs

on every serious 1996 Top Ten list. Most amazing revelation of all here is that

GBV really is more than just leader Robert Pollard and his backing musicians.

Now we know there are at least two geniuses on board.