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Tobin Sprout
When Tobin Sprout was an active member of Guided By Voices, it was usually difficult to discern which songs were his and which were written by the band’s ‘kingpin’, Robert Pollard. It seems incredible that two songwriters with such similarly eclectic styles would happen to find each other, and coexist in one band. Eventually (and most likely, inevitably), they found themselves apart, and "Carnival Boy" provides the first clear glimpse of the unique sensibilities of Sprout as a solo artist.
Like Pollard, Sprout is overflowing with melodic ideas and musical invention. Also like Pollard, he tends to be a D-I-Y type of guy, which can be both endearing and annoying. Although he can create melodies that are instantly captivating, Sprout lacks the passion of his one-time cohort. Throughout ‘Carnival Boy’, his emotional meter remains stuck at one level. This limits his expressive range, and the problem is compounded by lyrics that are so opaque they might as well be the phonetics of a foreign language. Sprout is obscure to a fault, leaving me with the overall feeling that he is incapable of tackling a topic directly. Why? Does he really have nothing to say? Is he hiding something? I’m sure that neither is the case, but it is impossible to ignore that while the music tugs you in, the lyrics simply grow more impenetrable.
For his own reasons, it appears that Tobin Sprout has made a conscious decision to pursue a style that stands in the way of his ability to communicate directly. This can be especially frustrating, since ‘Carnival Boy’ is more consistently melodic than most albums, providing fourteen pleasant songs that are intriguing, provided you don’t dig too deep.
Grade: 
 
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