Let's Welcome The Circus People

With his two previous solo albums and his prior work with Guided By Voices, Tobin Sprout has proven himself a master of basement-bred lo-fi pop-rock. "Let's Welcome The Circus People" shows Sprout retreating a little bit further into the dark corners of his basement. Compared with the songs from his sophomore solo album, 1997's "Moonflower Plastic," Sprout's new work is a bit less bouncy, with some more sluggish tempos and obscured vocals. Despite his darker and more contemplative moments, Sprout still shows his affinity for melodic, British Invasion-inspired songs. "Circus People" also shows more experimentation lyrically, even though several tracks get stuck on preoccupation with domestic life, offering references to bungalows, gardens, and furniture. Sprout also shows consistency with his similar drum tempos and tambourine patterns (Spoon drummer Jim Eno pitches in on a few tracks).