FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Dear Tom => Topic started by: Gibby on December 15, 2008, 07:25:12 PM
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I have Alien Lanes and Universal Truths and Cycles and I like them both a lot, but keep wandering away from GBV because they're a large project - and I gave all that energy to The Fall. Now I'm done with them, where to go with GBV?
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I think if you were able to swallow the entire discography of The Fall, that you will be able to handle anything. That's a big pill.
I prefer to go chronologically with this kind of thing.
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Bee Thousand... but also get Isolation Drills. Two great GBV albums at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of sound.
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Some of my faves:
Bee Thousand
King Shit and The Golden Boys (part of a box set but I think you can download it or something)
Isolation Drills
Vampire on Titus
I don't have Under The Bushes Under The Stars but I hear that's great.
There's also the Greatest Hits album, which, in the case of GBV, you really needn't be ashamed of owning, since they have 11,000 albums.
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Bee Thousand and Propeller are the best ones IMO.
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It's probably uncool to say this, but Mag Earwhig is my favorite of theirs.
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It's probably uncool to say this, but Mag Earwhig is my favorite of theirs.
Actually, that's in my top three as well. I don't know why it didn't make it on my little list there.
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"I Am A Tree" will stick for days on end. That one note gets lodged between my ears and doesn't go away.
It accidently got sentimentality attached to it when I brought it in a rented car on a visit back home. It all but has control of my motor functions.
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Under the Bushes Under the Stars and Half Smiles of the Decomposed are my favorites of the like, 6 or 7 I've heard. HSotD is a really good last album I think. Very unlike GBV in terms of length and "cleanliness". I dig it.
Alien Lanes is also, as stated, great. And the Greatest Hits is a really good collection especially since it kind of gives you a taste of everything.
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Also, by far my favorite track is "Drag Days" on UtB,UtS. Just my 2 cents.
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I lost my copy of Half Smiles...
imo there are some real clunkers on there but also some really great songs. I wish I could find it.
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I just think it's a very different type of album for them, hence why I like it so much. I don't really know how else to explain why i enjoy it so much.
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By the way if you want to throw in some of Bob's solo stuff by way of recommendation, I'm going to make a purchase soon.
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For the full-on absolute beginner, I would start with the greatest hits, HUMAN AMUSEMENTS. If you don't know if you'll go further than that, the hits are the way to go.
If you want to start with a proper album, you could always give BEE THOUSAND first crack at things. It's got enough hits dropped throughout that you'll find anchors to latch onto between the more 'difficult' songs (I'm not sure how good you are with the lo-fi stuff).
I got my start on PROPELLER, bought directly from the band (and sold and never re-purchased. Don't make me talk about it.) And upon looking at the track listing on it again from a prospective first-timers' POV, I am now saying START WITH PROPELLER.
Then you can always swing to BEE THOUSAND/ALIEN LANES/UNDER THE BUSHES, etc. Everything MAG EARWHIG on is more 'pro', for lack of a better term. It's all great though - you can't go wrong with ANY of it.
As for solo stuff, I have always been partial to KID MARINE, which is like Bob's version of a Who album in relative miniature, or FROM A COMPOUND EYE, which is a lot to digest at once. Maybe go with NOT IN MY AIRFORCE, which is kinda up the middle of the two poles.
If you need more, let me know. And anyone who has a contrary opinion, let's figure this thing out!
Tom.
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For the full-on absolute beginner, I would start with the greatest hits, HUMAN AMUSEMENTS. If you don't know if you'll go further than that, the hits are the way to go.
If you want to start with a proper album, you could always give BEE THOUSAND first crack at things. It's got enough hits dropped throughout that you'll find anchors to latch onto between the more 'difficult' songs (I'm not sure how good you are with the lo-fi stuff).
I got my start on PROPELLER, bought directly from the band (and sold and never re-purchased. Don't make me talk about it.) And upon looking at the track listing on it again from a prospective first-timers' POV, I am now saying START WITH PROPELLER.
Then you can always swing to BEE THOUSAND/ALIEN LANES/UNDER THE BUSHES, etc. Everything MAG EARWHIG on is more 'pro', for lack of a better term. It's all great though - you can't go wrong with ANY of it.
As for solo stuff, I have always been partial to KID MARINE, which is like Bob's version of a Who album in relative miniature, or FROM A COMPOUND EYE, which is a lot to digest at once. Maybe go with NOT IN MY AIRFORCE, which is kinda up the middle of the two poles.
If you need more, let me know. And anyone who has a contrary opinion, let's figure this thing out!
Tom.
The album that got me hooked was Alien Lanes. I think it's the most accessible of the early, lo-fi albums and a great starting point in general.
Gilly: if you like Alien Lanes, I would suggest sticking with the albums from around that era -- e.g. Propeller, Vampire on Titus, Bee Thousand, Under the Bushes, Under the Stars -- then expanding out from there.
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As for solo stuff, I have always been partial to KID MARINE, which is like Bob's version of a Who album in relative miniature, or FROM A COMPOUND EYE, which is a lot to digest at once. Maybe go with NOT IN MY AIRFORCE, which is kinda up the middle of the two poles.
From a Compound Eye was my first solo album I bought of Bob Pollard and I loved it. Plus it's an amazing value. 26 tracks! Definitely recommended.
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I'd say start with any one of their first 265 albums, and once you make it through those, begin working your way through the 312 albums they recorded after that ...
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Not that its been explicitly recommended, but I'd say to veer far away from Vampire On Titus at the early going. Pollard has said as much himself.
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I could make you a mix CD. I've got a pretty good 30-track one worked out that has plenty of hits and lesser-known/liked stuff. Here's the tracklist:
1. Over The Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox
2. Chasing Heather Crazy
3. Expecting Brainchild
4. Now To War
5. From A Voice Plantation
6. Useless Inventions
7. The Official Ironmen Rally Song
8. Drinker's Peace
9. Hey Hey, Spaceman
10. Postal Blowfish (King Shit & The Golden Boys Version)
11. My Impression Now
12. Tractor Rape Chain
13. The Best Of Jill Hives
14. Wrecking Now
15. As We Go Up, We Go Down
16. Sing For Your Meat
17. The Brides Have Hit Glass
18. Dusted (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle Version)
19. Non-Absorbing
20. Quality Of Armor
21. Surgical Focus
22. My Valuable Hunting Knife
23. Canteen Plums
24. Look, It's Baseball
25. Smothered In Hugs
26. Sad If I Lost It
27. Twilight Campfighter
28. Christian Animation Torch Carriers
29. Choking Tara (Creamy Version)
30. A Salty Salute
Album-wise, if you want more lo-fi stuff you should get Bee Thousand or Vampire On Titus (which isn't nearly as inaccessible as a lot of people think, in my opinion). If you want more professional-sounding stuff, get Isolation Drills or Mag Earwhig. I'd save Do the Collapse and Under the Bushes Under the Stars for last.
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Expecting Brainchild is such a good song, it's crazy. With that lady going "Bob, would you lead us into God Be the Glory" or whatever and then those sick, dirty power chords kicking the wall in.
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Before work last night I purchased Bee Thousand, and when the final work mope had left I cranked it up through my laptop, and let her rip. I wasn't really following any advice; it was the only one my parents' small town's only record store had.
Holy moly this is a record. I think I'm going to sing 'Gold Star For Robot Boy' in my head forever. 'Echos Myron', 'A Big Fan Of The Pigpen', 'Goldheart...'. = off the top my head wow tracks (ie. I was over the other side of the office and walked over to my screen to find out what it was). This is it. I'm on board.
Thanks guys,
Dan
ps. 'Mincer Ray'!
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Alien Lanes was the hook for me.
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For me, the best cheap sounding rock gems are on
Tonics and Twisted Chasers and King Shit and the Golden Boys.
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Another vote for King Shit
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related, maybe?
how about COVERS of GBV songs? is it possible to compile such an album?
i can think of two covers that are stellar: gaunt, covering "quality of armor," and the (profoundly underappreciated) fastbacks, who covered "teenage fbi."
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My housemate has Earthquake Glue. I just did the dishes to it. Top notch.
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related, maybe?
how about COVERS of GBV songs? is it possible to compile such an album?
i can think of two covers that are stellar: gaunt, covering "quality of armor," and the (profoundly underappreciated) fastbacks, who covered "teenage fbi."
There's a You're Gonna Know About Us From All The Dead People cover of "Gold Heart MOuntaintop Queen Directory" that I've never heard. Breeders covered Shocker in Gloomtown.
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thanks, john junk.
now i got material for a 4-song EP. not a bad start.
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thanks, john junk.
now i got material for a 4-song EP. not a bad start.
There was a GBV covers comp that came out in 1997 called Blatant Doom Trip. It's got Portastatic doing "Echos Myron" and Thurston Moore doing "Stabbing a Star".
Can't say I've heard it, though.
EDIT: Also, Jimmy Eat World covered "Game of Pricks".
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Trail of Dead did a fairly schmaltzy super hi-fi version of 'Goldheart...' on one of their albums.
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Trail of Dead did a fairly schmaltzy super hi-fi version of 'Goldheart...' on one of their albums.
That's what I said, sorta
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Trail of Dead did a fairly schmaltzy super hi-fi version of 'Goldheart...' on one of their albums.
That's what I said, sorta
(http://secretunicornsforum.com/forum/images/smilies/kidsthesedays.jpg)
Aimed at myself
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I'd go with Bee Thousand. AND THEN! Get Propeller. Bee Thousand is pretty classic GBV and Propeller is nice and noisy.
P.S. Somebody tell me, is it true the Mr. Wurster toured with Guided By Voices and/or just Robert Pollard?
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1) Earthquake Glue
2) Do the Collapse
3) Alien Lanes
those are the only ones I know
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I'd go with Bee Thousand. AND THEN! Get Propeller. Bee Thousand is pretty classic GBV and Propeller is nice and noisy.
P.S. Somebody tell me, is it true the Mr. Wurster toured with Guided By Voices and/or just Robert Pollard?
Toured with Mr. Pollard, played drums on "I Am a Tree" on The Electrifying Conclusion GB(D)V(D).
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Big Boring Wedding is pretty much my favorite song ever.
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Glad to hear you're on board with Pollard & Co. Gibby. I haven't seen anyone recommend the first Suitcase Box set yet. It seems to get dismissed as a "leftovers set", but i think the material is pretty strong & love the fact it's not sequenced chronologically. The melding of the various GBV lineups works pretty darn well to these ears. 4 disks, 100 tracks, 100 fake band names, under $40 bucks. It's a no brainer. If you're still not ready to jump in and plop down the cash for a box, heed Tom's advice and seek out Propeller. If you're partial to the cleaner production, Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department is chock full tasty riffage.
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I'm well on board. Heard Mag Earwhig! and Propeller and Pollard's Kid Marine. It's all good stuff. I'm no collector or completist but I can see all this stuff being worth something to me at some point. All these recommendations will pass by my ears when I gots the dough to do so.
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I think Alien Lanes is a really perfect introduction to the band, but that may be because it was the first full length GBV album that I heard. I think the singles and compilation tracks on the Demons and Painkillers disc of the Matador box can win over almost everybody, and it is a great complement to that greatest hits album.
I do think that From A Compound Eye is his best overall album. His songwriting and lyrics on that album are really advanced. As some other people have mentioned, there is a lot on that album so it takes a real commitment to really digest everything (especially since most of the songs don't really have big choruses or repeated verse melodies).
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I would start with...
Alien Lanes
Bee Thousand
Propeller (my personal favorite)
If you get more of a thirst after hearing those records, go ahead and up into the rest... I would move onto Mag Earwhig from there.
Pollard's latest solo album is pretty solid. Anyone heard the new Boston Submarines record yet?
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I do think that From A Compound Eye is his best overall album. His songwriting and lyrics on that album are really advanced. As some other people have mentioned, there is a lot on that album so it takes a real commitment to really digest everything (especially since most of the songs don't really have big choruses or repeated verse melodies).
I think I agree with that. It took me months to be able to listen to the whole thing without wanting to turn it off, but now that I'm there, it's easily his most cohesive set of songs. I think that has a lot to do with what (I assume) was the approach toward making the album, taking elements from other songs and fashioning another sound out of it. Like, "50-Year-Old Baby" is basically "Field Jacket Blues" plus "Kensington Cradle". "Cock of the Rainbow" is "Flowering Orphan" plus "Fresh Threats, Salad Shooters and Zip Guns". "Love is Stronger Than Witchcraft" is "US Mustard Company" plus "The Numbered Head", and so on.
Plus, his singing is so on point on that record. I know polish has never been Mr. Pollard's strong suit, but ever since FACE was released, it's like he's making a deliberate effort to put some of his most half-assed vocal performances on record. I'm looking at you, "Serious Bird Woman (You Turn Me On)"! And I don't like that cartoony "deep" voice he uses on songs like "The Blondes" and "Still in Rome" AT ALL.
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Pollard's latest solo album is pretty solid. Anyone heard the new Boston Submarines record yet?
If you mean Brown Submarine -- it's great. I saw this tour and had a great time at the show. All but the encore was mostly Boston Spaceships and though I hadn't heard the album yet, it was still some good stuff. There's another Boston Spaceships coming out at the end of the month. Haven't heard anything from that sucker yet.
I got to see Wurster drum with him after From a Compound Eye came out and that was also excellent. That album and the Boston Spaceships one are the best things he's done in the last few years, I think.
And I second starting with Bee Thousand. I'd do that and then King Shit and the Golden Boys (the odds and sods collection from the first box set, you can download it on its own at eMusic). Mag Earwig is one of my all-time favorites.
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I do think that From A Compound Eye is his best overall album. His songwriting and lyrics on that album are really advanced. As some other people have mentioned, there is a lot on that album so it takes a real commitment to really digest everything (especially since most of the songs don't really have big choruses or repeated verse melodies).
I think I agree with that. It took me months to be able to listen to the whole thing without wanting to turn it off, but now that I'm there, it's easily his most cohesive set of songs. I think that has a lot to do with what (I assume) was the approach toward making the album, taking elements from other songs and fashioning another sound out of it. Like, "50-Year-Old Baby" is basically "Field Jacket Blues" plus "Kensington Cradle". "Cock of the Rainbow" is "Flowering Orphan" plus "Fresh Threats, Salad Shooters and Zip Guns". "Love is Stronger Than Witchcraft" is "US Mustard Company" plus "The Numbered Head", and so on.
Plus, his singing is so on point on that record. I know polish has never been Mr. Pollard's strong suit, but ever since FACE was released, it's like he's making a deliberate effort to put some of his most half-assed vocal performances on record. I'm looking at you, "Serious Bird Woman (You Turn Me On)"! And I don't like that cartoony "deep" voice he uses on songs like "The Blondes" and "Still in Rome" AT ALL.
Huh, I don't think I've really noticed connections between the songs. I'll have to check into that.
I honestly think his level of songwriting on that album and some of the other recent solo stuff ("Weatherman and Skin Goddess" and "Zoom") are really at a completely different level from the fun and absurd songs he would write for GBV. He has always been a great songwriter, but with a lot of the more recent stuff he seems to be writing in a style and format that is completely different from what he has done before (and, to my ears, different from any other songwriter). Something like "Light Show" on From A Compound Eye manages to take a basic prog rock structure and marry it to Fables Of The Reconstruction-era R.E.M. It's pretty inspiring that he could change up his fundamental songwriting approach at this point in his career.
I also can do without the "deep voice" business, I think it tends to drag down some strong melodic ideas.
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I was listening to Isolation Drills yesterday. You know which song is really good? "Unspirited".
That is all.
EDIT: It's pretty obvious, but Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department is essential. "Slick as Snails" kills.
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I've always enjoyed "Sister I Need Wine" on Isolation Drills. GBV was mighty fine on that tour. I became a drunken ass at the Black Cat show and heckled The Strokes.
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I was listening to Isolation Drills yesterday. You know which song is really good? "Unspirited".
Yes! I've always loved that one.
Another song I really love from TVT-era GBV is "Avalanche Aminos" on the Hold on Hope ep.
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I was listening to Isolation Drills yesterday. You know which song is really good? "Unspirited".
That is all.
EDIT: It's pretty obvious, but Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department is essential. "Slick as Snails" kills.
I have to second the "speak kindly of your volunteer fire department" recommendation.
Favorite isolation drills track "how's my drinking?" That whole album is pretty amazing as well. Produced by Rob Schnapf who also produced Elliott smith (who plays piano on a number of tracks). The whole album has a very full almost orchestral sound.
I also recommend go back snowball for fans of "speak kindly.." this album is also a team up, this time with mac of superchunk.
Also for fans of propeller, bee thousand and alien lanes; fast japanese spin cycle and Static Airplane Jive are essential. Alot of those early 7inches are mini lo-fi epics. Though they are way out of print you can still find the tracks. its out there.
favorite guided by voices song "if we wait"
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favorite guided by voices song "if we wait"
Mine too.
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Bee Thousand and Propeller are the best ones IMO.
Ditto. They're the best ones outside of Alien Lanes. Though given the two you have already I would go:
1. Under the Bushes Under The Stars
2. Bee Thousand
3. Propeller
Do The Collapse and Isolation Drills are also great fun, but almost sound like a different band.
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I'm really surprised at all the love for Alien Lanes. I remember buying it the day it come out (I was, and am, a huge Bee Thousand fan) and being really disappointed by it. My impression hasn't changed much over the years, and I still find it an incredibly frustrating album. While the high points are almost breathtaking (It really does not get better than songs like Watch Me Jumpstart, Game of Pricks, Motor Away, Closer You Are and My Valuable Hunting Knife), you have to wade through all those brief, noisy, kinda pointless interludes to get to the good stuff. I know those are sort of a GBV trademark, and the interludes on Bee Thousand totally feel like a part of the whole tapestry, but on Alien Lanes they just seem to frustrate the album's attempts to gain momentum. The band fires off an amazing track and then it seems like you have to sit through 5 or 6 tracks like Gold Hick or Ex-Supermodel before the next gem.
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See, for me, the way Alien Lanes flows is so ingrained that it feels well-paced. And even if the track order is ridiculous, it's really vital.
"Hit" has to go between "Motor Away" and "My Valuable Hunting Knife" or the UNIVERSE WILL IMPLODE. It's that important.
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I think Propeller is their best and most consistent work overall.
Not that my opinion means anything.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you are very stoned, Alien Lanes is A-Fucking-Mazing. Like you're in a Fucking Maze. All those 30 second and 1 minute songs sound like they're 4-to-7 minutes if you're really high. Especially: "Ex-Supermodel"
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'Bee Thousand' is definitely a must own. 'Vampire on Titus' and 'Propeller' were fantastic too.
Reading this thread makes me want to dig through my CD collection and revisit GBV. It's been years since I listened to a lot of that stuff.
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The masterpiece that is "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" makes Propeller worth listening to.
Anything for free? X 11
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The masterpiece that is "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" makes Propeller worth listening to.
Anything for free? X 11
I like the idea behind it more than the "song" itself. I think PROPELLER was supposed to be their last record, so they just cobbled a bunch of songs together as if to say, "Here's all this great shit you'll never get to hear." Of course, fate had a different plan for them GBV boys, eh?
Am I the only person who likes "Sopor Joe"? I've never heard anybody talk about that song.
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I like Sopor Joe. I like Damn Good, Mr. Jam also.
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The masterpiece that is "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" makes Propeller worth listening to.
Anything for free? X 11
I like the idea behind it more than the "song" itself. I think PROPELLER was supposed to be their last record, so they just cobbled a bunch of songs together as if to say, "Here's all this great shit you'll never get to hear."
It's like, instead of interspersing the fragments between the "real" songs, they just lumped them all together in one place.
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The masterpiece that is "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" makes Propeller worth listening to.
Anything for free? X 11
I like the idea behind it more than the "song" itself. I think PROPELLER was supposed to be their last record, so they just cobbled a bunch of songs together as if to say, "Here's all this great shit you'll never get to hear." Of course, fate had a different plan for them GBV boys, eh?
Yeah, Bob has said many times over the years at various points that he's retiring GBV. I met him on the tour for the 'Under the Bushes...' album and he basically said that this was going to be GBVs last tour before they retire. Although that was kind of true because that was the last go-round for the older line-up featuring Sprout and Mitchell.
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Some friends of mine have a GBV tribute band. Is there any more out there?
http://www.myspace.com/voidedbyponces
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Some friends of mine have a GBV tribute band. Is there any more out there?
http://www.myspace.com/voidedbyponces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoXUN8asy8
My friends have one here in Nashville called Teenage FBI, they actually are pretty good. They toured for a week last year with bobby bare jr's pixies cover band. They played alien lanes in its entirety last week but I missed it.
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Oh Icepants, did you say here in Nashville? Look for me to be cruising around the nights of June 23rd and July 23rd, looking for something entertaining to break out.
Around here, GBV stands for gender-based violence. I am pretty sure I am against it, but maybe I just haven't met the right girl yet. I am fragile, though.
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GVB related interviews with Doug Gillard on Pseu Braun's show.
Brought to my attention by the nice folks on Joe Belock's accu-play-list.
March 2, 2001 and May 15, 2000. The March 2 interview starts about 1 hour into the show.
http://wfmu.org/playlists/SB
To the archives!
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The hits collection is actually a great place to start as most of the essential songs are there.
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The hits collection is actually a great place to start as most of the essential songs are there.
Yes, including "Hit".
Really, Robert Pollard? Couldn't just cut that one and put a real song on there? Way to sneak in a gay slur on your sure-to-be biggest selling record, by the way.
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The hits collection is actually a great place to start as most of the essential songs are there.
Yes, including "Hit".
Really, Robert Pollard? Couldn't just cut that one and put a real song on there? Way to sneak in a gay slur on your sure-to-be biggest selling record, by the way.
Well, being fair, 'Hit' is only about 25 seconds. So it's not like it's taking up valuable space or anything.
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In all honesty, I'd go for the greatest hits album first to get a feel for the band, then start at the beginning and work your way to the end.
Also, pick up Robert Pollard's solo work too, it's great!
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Really, Robert Pollard? Couldn't just cut that one and put a real song on there? Way to sneak in a gay slur on your sure-to-be biggest selling record, by the way.
I wonder how he survived the scandal!? The music blogs were abuzz!
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Really, Robert Pollard? Couldn't just cut that one and put a real song on there? Way to sneak in a gay slur on your sure-to-be biggest selling record, by the way.
I wonder how he survived the scandal!? The music blogs were abuzz!
To be fair, he did make it up to the gay community by writing a song promoting tolerance called "GLAAD Girls". Unfortunately, TVT Records made him change the title. And most of the lyrics.
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In all honesty, I'd go for the greatest hits album first to get a feel for the band, then start at the beginning and work your way to the end.
Also, pick up Robert Pollard's solo work too, it's great!
Human Amusements At An Hourly Rate is the greatest hits album that came with the box set and it's a perfect mix of songs, that's what I tell people that are just dipping their toes in the GBV waters. As far as solo stuff goes I love the Lifeguards disc, and there is as many or by this point more solo albums than GBV stuff. I've been going chronologically through The Fading Captain Series, they're numbered, it's easy.
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"My Valuable Hunting Knife" would be my beginning and end. I could listen to that on an endless loop.
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I feel like a shill because I was pimping Amie Street in another thread, but they've got some GBV on the cheaps...
http://amiestreet.com/music/guided-by-voices/
Also, some friends and I were in a GBV one-off cover band called Guided by Vices. It was a good time, and for an entire month I got to play drums in a band with Mark from Centro-matic and Peter, who plays with the New Year. (Wiki 'em) Very nice dudes.
Here's a mercifully short, dimly lit cell phone clip of us. The audio is pretty rough, but I suppose that only ads to its authenticity...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A99XcTDD2Qk
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFqBp3rfTTc[/youtube]
I love this video, it's so funny.
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There aren't enough high kicks in that video.
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There aren't enough high kicks in that video.
I know but they make up for it with Pollard saying "Get Wild" and Gilliard coming out of a smokey room with a guitar solo. Classic.
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That video is almost too much! I haven't read every reply so I may be repeating someone else's sentiments, but I just wanna say it's never too early or too late to watch the documentary about GBV, Watch Me Jumpstart. My recommendation for albums is to start with Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes and Under the Bushes, Under the Stars. Truly a power trilogy!
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I love the video because it's a great video that is making fun of the whole music video culture. Entertaining on many levels.
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The A.V. Club just did an article on this very subject.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/guided-by-voices,31076/
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This article brings up a goo point. There are definitely a few gbv related releases to stay away from. Namely the split Robert Pollard did with smegma. Its borderline unlistenable. Don't get me started on "relaxation of the a**hole." You have to take the good with the bad.
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This is repetitive:
Alien Lanes
Bee Thousand
Propeller
If you love that, then bits and pieces of the other albums are amazing and you will like most of it. Go to the first box set...
If you love Do The Collapse or Isolation Drills and not the older stuff, that is cool, but it is a bit of a different animal.
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Mark Prindle just put up his GBV page:
http://www.markprindle.com/guided.htm
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Mark Prindle just put up his GBV page:
http://www.markprindle.com/guided.htm
Am I weird for thinking that almost all of GBV's records are actually pretty consistent? Some songs may take longer to wedge themselves into my head than others, but I almost never skip a track when listening to a GBV album. Call me crazy!
No, seriously. Call me crazy, because I DO kinda agree with Mark on Under the Bushes Under the Stars. Yes, some people consider it their peak and it has great songs aplenty, but it's way too long and the pacing is almost nonexistent. The real saving grace of the album is that at the last minute they tucked the best-ever GBV EP on the end of it. The three song run of "Drag Days"/"Sheetkickers"/"Redmen and Their Wives" may be GBV's finest hour.
I think that, had Pollard not given up on it, The Power of Suck would have been their best album. Some dude compiled a CD imagining what it would've looked like, and it's pretty much all the GBV I've listened to for the past month. Hot stuff! Here's a link: http://ilovetotaldestruction.blogspot.com/2009/08/guided-by-voices-power-of-suck.html (http://ilovetotaldestruction.blogspot.com/2009/08/guided-by-voices-power-of-suck.html)
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This is why I like Mark Prindle.
I'm not sure why they chose the name "Guided By Voices," but it is an exceptionally appropriate name for two reasons: (1) so many of singer/songwriter/guitarist Robert Pollard's songs are centered around memorable vocal melodies that it often seems like the musical accompaniment is simply 'guided by (his) voice,' and (2) you'd have to be following voices in your head to think people want to hear every goddamned 4-second song you've recorded in your basement for the past 20 years.
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I just re-listened to Circus Devils - Sgt. Disco and still think that disk is amazing.
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFqBp3rfTTc[/youtube]
I love this video, it's so funny.
It's like if the "Hot for Teacher" video by Van Halen and the "Dirty Boots" video by Sonic Youth merged and ramped the sarcasm up to 11.
If somone can snap a screen shot (I don't have the proper hardware/software on this computer) of Doug Gillard shredding with the "MAXIMUM RIFFAGE" sign behind him for me, I'll be so happy.
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My favorite album of all time is Under the Bushes, Under the Stars. They're all pretty much awesome, but if you want to fall in love with The Man From Dayton, that IMHO, is the way to go.
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I doubt that this is the right thread for this question but has Pollard ever been on the show? If not, why?
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I doubt that this is the right thread for this question but has Pollard ever been on the show? If not, why?
He's too busy tilling the field with his tractor rape chain.
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After much deliberation, my Pollard Top 5:
1. FROM A COMPOUND EYE
2. ALIEN LANES
3. ISOLATION DRILLS
4. CHOREOGRAPHED MAN OF WAR
5. NOT IN MY AIRFORCE
If I had to round it out to ten, I'd add MAG EARWHIG, EARTHQUAKE GLUE, SPEAK KINDLY OF YOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT and BEE THOUSAND. One of the Boston Spaceships records would be in there too. ZERO TO 99 is the most consistent, but THE PLANETS ARE BLASTED still may be my favorite. The first side is pretty much flawless.
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1. Airport 5 - Tower In the Fountain of Sparks
2. Lifeguards - Mist King Urth
3. GBV - Mag Earwig
4. GBV - Bee Thousand
5. Circus Devils - Sgt. Disco
Has anyone heard Pollard's "comedy" album? I'm curious.
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I really love "Off to Business." The lo-fi, 26-song albums are among my favorites, don't get me wrong -- but it was nice to see Pollard really try and take his time to make a record that had more fully-fleshed out songs. I hope he revisits this format at some point in the future.