Robert Pollard's 'Relaxation of the Asshole'

🎤 A Unique Live Recording

Relaxation of the Asshole is a live comedy album by the prolific American musician Robert Pollard, released in 2005. This distinctive work is characterized by its content, which consists entirely of outtakes from his onstage banter during various concerts.^[1] This approach positions the album not as a traditional musical performance, but as a curated collection of improvisational spoken-word segments, offering listeners a glimpse into the artist's off-the-cuff commentary.

🎭 Performance Artistry

The album's nature as a compilation of live banter elevates it beyond mere spoken word into the realm of performance art. It captures Pollard's distinctive persona and his ability to engage an audience through unscripted, often humorous, discourse. The title itself, Relaxation of the Asshole, suggests a deliberate shedding of inhibition and a raw, unfiltered presentation, aligning with Pollard's established artistic ethos.

🎶 Context within Pollard's Work

Released during a period of intense solo activity for Pollard, Relaxation of the Asshole stands as a testament to his diverse creative output. While primarily known for his work with the influential indie rock band Guided by Voices, Pollard has consistently explored various artistic avenues, including solo albums, EPs, and unique projects like this live comedy recording. This album provides a fascinating counterpoint to his more conventional musical releases.

💬 The Nature of the Banter

The core of Relaxation of the Asshole lies in its compilation of "outtakes" from Robert Pollard's live performances. These are not songs, but rather fragments of his spoken interactions with the audience, often characterized by non-sequiturs, observational humor, and a certain confrontational or absurdist edge. The album captures the ephemeral nature of live performance, preserving moments that might otherwise be lost.

😂 Humor and Subjectivity

The album's classification as "comedy" is inherently subjective. Pollard's humor often relies on his unique persona, cultural references, and a delivery style that can be both witty and abrasive. The "asshole" in the title can be interpreted as a self-aware acknowledgment of this potentially challenging or provocative aspect of his performance. Analyzing this humor requires an understanding of Pollard's broader artistic context and his deliberate subversion of conventional expectations.

🗣️ Improvisation and Spontaneity

The album serves as a significant artifact of improvisational performance. Unlike scripted comedy routines, the tracks on Relaxation of the Asshole are products of spontaneous interaction. This spontaneity is key to its artistic value, offering a raw and unvarnished look at the artist's mind in real-time. The "outtake" nature further emphasizes this, suggesting that these moments were captured precisely because of their unique, unscripted quality.

📊 The Pitchfork Paradox

The album received a notable review from Pitchfork Media, which assigned it a highly unusual dual rating of "0.0" and "10.0".^[3] This paradoxical score reflects the polarizing nature of the album and perhaps the reviewer's struggle to categorize its unique content within conventional critical frameworks. Such a rating underscores the album's experimental status and its departure from standard musical or comedic expectations.

🤔 Interpreting the Dual Rating

The "0.0" rating might signify a rejection of the material based on traditional metrics of musicality or conventional humor, perhaps finding it too abrasive, formless, or self-indulgent. Conversely, the "10.0" rating could represent an appreciation for its radical authenticity, its embodiment of Pollard's artistic integrity, or its success as a pure expression of spontaneous, uninhibited performance. This duality invites deeper analysis into the criteria used for evaluating such unconventional artistic outputs.

📅 Release and Production

Released: 2005

Label: Yuk Yuk Motherfucker Production

Length: 40 minutes, 12 seconds

Genre: Comedy, Live Album

🔍 Album Classification

This release is categorized as a live comedy album. Its unique composition from onstage banter distinguishes it from typical live albums, which usually feature musical performances. The "comedy" aspect is derived from the artist's unscripted, often idiosyncratic, spoken-word contributions.

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📜 Important Notice Regarding Content

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence model and is intended for informational and educational purposes exclusively. The content is derived from a specific snapshot of publicly available data, primarily the Wikipedia article on "Relaxation of the Asshole," and may not encompass all nuances or the most current information available.

This is not professional artistic or critical analysis. The information provided herein should not be considered a substitute for expert musicological study, critical review, or personal interpretation. The subjective nature of comedy and performance art means that individual experiences and perceptions of this album may vary significantly.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information presented. Users are encouraged to engage with the source material and form their own informed opinions.