Four-CD box set Captain Kangaroo Won the War features 100 tracks of Robert Pollard-penned demos, alternate takes, B-sides and more, with its reach stretching across 20 years of the songwriter’s career. Suitcase 4 covers material later reworked for 1992’s Propellor, 1993’s Vampire on Titus, 1994 breakthrough Bee Thousand, 1995’s Alien Lanes, 2001’s Isolation Drills, 2003’s Earthquake Glue and post-reunion effort Class Clown Spots a UFO from 2012.
Some songs explored within the hefty set include “Goldheart Mountaintop,” “Hardcore UFOs,” “Motor Away,” “Echos Myron,” “Tractor Rape Chain (Clean It Up)” and “Queen of Cans and Jars.”
Additionally, Suitcase 4 includes a handful of…
…demos, which tease Pollard’s next solo album, Of Course You Are.
CD1
1. Lead Walking Shorts [02:50]
2. Walls and Windows [02:54]
3. I’m in Shock (Hit Me with Tonic) [00:53]
4. Deaf Dumb and Blind Girl [01:21]
5. Try Me on for Size [01:18]
6. No One Looking for You [01:12]
7. Murphy Had a Birthday [03:32]
8. Living on Planet Cake [02:04]
9. Great Service [00:54]
10. Only Ghost in Town [02:53]
11. 8 Bars (Ext. 3) [01:05]
12. No Bird [02:53]
13. Motor Away [01:06]
14. The Garden [03:05]
15. Happy Heartbreaker [00:43]
16. Less Active Railroad [03:23]
17. Porpoise Northeast [03:35]
18. Pretty Pinwheel [02:30]
19. Back to the Diving Board [03:50]
20. Mary and the Summer [00:54]
21. Eloise [01:33]
22. Here to Stay [00:57]
23. She It [00:44]
24. Hallway of Glass [03:08]
25. Govt. Bldg. 15 [01:22]
CD2
1. Lockets of the Empress [02:19]
2. The New Ooze [01:21]
3. Our Little Secret [01:05]
4. I Can Never Let You Win [01:25]
5. Hey You Know Me [01:54]
6. Ode to J.D. [01:20]
7. I Am Decided [02:12]
8. Over and Over Again [03:30]
9. Excellent Extension [02:10]
10. Good to Look [02:20]
11. Slave Boss Cranberry [00:35]
12. Slow Dirty Water [02:39]
13. The Garden Goes [01:01]
14. Save My Life [03:02]
15. Something’s Missing [01:18]
16. Clean It Up [02:08]
17. You Dont Know Me (I’m Your Dog) [02:10]
18. You Make the Sun [01:25]
19. Time Will Destroy You [03:18]
20. Delayed Reaction Brats [02:05]
21. Pretty as Her Cats [00:56]
22. One Big Boss [03:16]
23. Mistery Walk [01:11]
24. Then Again [01:07]
25. Son of the Sea [03:02]
CD3
1. Bellboy Stomp [02:43]
2. Linda’s Lottery [02:10]
3. Of Course You Are [02:19]
4. Pinpoints on the Anal Zone [02:55]
5. City With Fear [01:43]
6. She Doesn’t Know Why [00:40]
7. (I Been) Pigeon Tripping [00:54]
8. Fall All Over Yourself [01:13]
9. Quality of Armor [02:48]
10. Teeth Flashlight (Demo) [02:17]
11. Lest Make Out [03:31]
12. Busy Bee [00:31]
13. Why Do You Stare Into the Sea [03:52]
14. Rock Time [02:01]
15. Heartbeat [02:35]
16. Near as Not Late [01:38]
17. Finger to the Lips [01:01]
18. Carnal Limousine [02:48]
19. Doctor Boyfriend [02:16]
20. Spiraling Epsilon [01:10]
21. Ugly Day of Rain and Soccer [02:34]
22. Yank for the Rooties [01:30]
23. Glad Girls [00:46]
24. (If You’ve Got a Rocket) Got to Ride [01:56]
25. Frog Baby Axe Murderer [04:47]
CD4
1. Strange Games [01:23]
2. Thick and Thin [01:57]
3. When 2 Hours Seem Like 5 [03:22]
4. Find a Wet Spot [00:49]
5. I’m Just Doing My Job [02:09]
6. Contemporary Man (He is Our Age) [02:03]
7. Heels Tight [01:32]
8. The House Always Looks So Nice [02:17]
9. Amazed [02:01]
10. Disappearing Act [02:50]
11. Rubber Man (Long) [02:14]
12. James of Life [01:40]
13. The Jerking Clown [00:56]
14. Psycho All the Time [01:43]
15. Throwing Down the Line [04:26]
16. Proof [01:33]
17. Third Grade Aviator [01:14]
18. She Likes Tea Rats [02:16]
19. Promo Brunette [02:27]
20. Just One Drop [03:09]
21. Temporary Shutdown [02:24]
22. Skin High [01:34]
23. Your Cricket is Rather Unique [03:05]
24. Fame and Fortune [03:17]
25. High Treason [02:31]