Guided By Voices

Molecules · 01-24-2009, 01:23 PM

Think these guys deserve a thread as they are my top artist on Last.fm by quite a margin (mostly accrued over a one-month GBV binge).

For those who have no idea who they are, GBV were yet another great band from Ohio who put out sh*tloads of albums and played sh*tloads of gigs between 1983 and 2004; fronted by former schoolteacher and garage rocker Robert Pollard.
Their music is basically idiosyncratic indie rock, and they are credited with defining the lo-fi aesthetic with their cheaply-recorded but deeply affecting records whilst having a reputation as a formidable live presence comparable to the Who in their prime.

Their finest period of the classic line-up (where they first gained real press attention) is generally thought to be the mid-90's with the albums Alien Lanes and Bee Thousand being hallmarks of (real) American indie rock music.

They achieved only limited commercial success (specifically with their latter-day major label single 'Teenage FBI') and their later albums resorted to a 'proper' studio sound that, whilst yielding some great songs IMO, lacked the intimate resonance of their earlier work that had intrigued so many people.

I think they are particularly noteworthy for a totally unpretentious, binge-drinking, chain-smoking attitude to make enjoyable 60's-inflected rock music.

01-24-2009, 01:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Guided By Voices Think these guys deserve a thread as they are my top artist on Last.fm by quite a margin (mostly accrued over a one-month GBV binge). For those who have no idea who they are, GBV were yet another great band from Ohio who put out shtloads of albums and played shtloads of gigs between 1983 and 2004; fronted by former schoolteacher and garage rocker Robert Pollard. Their music is basically idiosyncratic indie rock, and they are credited with defining the lo-fi aesthetic with their cheaply-recorded but deeply affecting records whilst having a reputation as a formidable live presence comparable to the Who in their prime. Their finest period of the classic line-up (where they first gained real press attention) is generally thought to be the mid-90's with the albums Alien Lanes and Bee Thousand being hallmarks of (real) American indie rock music. They achieved only limited commercial success (specifically with their latter-day major label single 'Teenage FBI') and their later albums resorted to a 'proper' studio sound that, whilst yielding some great songs IMO, lacked the intimate resonance of their earlier work that had intrigued so many people. I think they are particularly noteworthy for a totally unpretentious, binge-drinking, chain-smoking attitude to make enjoyable 60's-inflected rock music. __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her Last edited by Molecules; 01-24-2009 at 02:33 PM.