Where to start with GBV?

[break]

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.

[icepants]

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"

[masterofsparks]

favorite guided by voices song "if we wait"

Mine too.

[zaxxon25]

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.

[masterofsparks]

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.

[oilcantim]

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.

[nec13]

I think Propeller is their best and most consistent work overall.

Not that my opinion means anything.

[J. Garbage]

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"

[ChrisRawk]

'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.

[nec13]

The masterpiece that is "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" makes Propeller worth listening to.

Anything for free? X 11

[Matt]

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.

[nec13]

I like Sopor Joe. I like Damn Good, Mr. Jam also.

[masterofsparks]

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.

[ChrisRawk]

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.

[Anthony from Ireland]

Some friends of mine have a GBV tribute band. Is there any more out there?

http://www.myspace.com/voidedbyponces