Guided By Voices

Molecules · 01-24-2009, 02:23 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.

Roygbiv · 01-24-2009, 03:06 PM

I love the **** out of Bee Thousand.
How's Alien Lanes? I keep hearing it's just as good if not better.

Molecules · 01-24-2009, 03:13 PM

the age old conundrum of Alien Lanes vs. Bee Thousand... Alien Lanes was the first one I got but I could never choose, they're like sister albums really. I am PM happy by the way people

Roygbiv · 01-24-2009, 03:29 PM

Please, grant me my wish - let me listen to Alien Lanes.

Rainard Jalen · 01-24-2009, 03:39 PM

um... why in blue hell was there not a thread on this band already?

bee thousand is full of all sorts of awesomeness and let there be no doubt regarding that!

Sneer · 01-24-2009, 03:49 PM

Could you pm both of those albums Molecules? I notice you mentioned them when talking about Pavement

Molecules · 01-24-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainard Jalen

um... why in blue hell was there not a thread on this band already?

bee thousand is full of all sorts of awesomeness and let there be no doubt regarding that!

I know, it's a fresh kind of madness but we have a thread now.

Has anyone heard the pre-1993 stuff? particularly their 80's output which had a much cleaner, janglier and at times post-punky sound; the closest sound I can approximate them to at this stage is maybe early REM? (when they were cool).

Here are some of my faves from Devil Between My Toes ('87)
Old Battery
Hank's Little Fingers

and Sandbox ('87)
Long Distance Man
I Certainly Hope Not

sorry for the overload I am ever so slightly bored

Stamper · 01-25-2009, 01:17 AM

Bee Thousand is a pretty decent album, favorite would be Hardcore UFOs. I've always really liked Pollard's voice, I think that the low production sound somehow strangely compliments it, but I always thought it was funny that their sound quality was better live then on their records.

GravitySlips · 01-25-2009, 08:57 PM

For some reason I've still not heard anything by them except Bee Thousand, even though it's an utterly excellent album. I have loads more as well, waiting to be listened to. I'll do it tomorrow.

Molecules · 01-25-2009, 09:21 PM

Oh christ, how did I forget to mention Propeller? Not my favourite at first but it really grew on me. Easily up there with the Magic Two. If anybody needs kitting out with GBV's excellent selection of EP's from this era sling me a PM, innit.

01-24-2009, 02:23 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 03:33 PM.

01-24-2009, 03:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Roygbiv marquee moon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 759	I love the ** out of Bee Thousand. How's Alien Lanes? I keep hearing it's just as good if not better. __________________ Roygbiv's Review Revue LATEST REVIEW SILENT SHOUT BY THE KNIFE**

01-24-2009, 03:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	the age old conundrum of Alien Lanes vs. Bee Thousand... Alien Lanes was the first one I got but I could never choose, they're like sister albums really. I am PM happy by the way people __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

01-24-2009, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Roygbiv marquee moon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 759	Please, grant me my wish - let me listen to Alien Lanes. __________________ Roygbiv's Review Revue LATEST REVIEW SILENT SHOUT BY THE KNIFE

01-24-2009, 03:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Could you pm both of those albums Molecules? I notice you mentioned them when talking about Pavement __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

01-24-2009, 03:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rainard Jalen Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,221	um... why in blue hell was there not a thread on this band already? bee thousand is full of all sorts of awesomeness and let there be no doubt regarding that!

01-25-2009, 01:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
Stamper Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 60	Bee Thousand is a pretty decent album, favorite would be Hardcore UFOs. I've always really liked Pollard's voice, I think that the low production sound somehow strangely compliments it, but I always thought it was funny that their sound quality was better live then on their records. __________________ My soul has grown deep like the rivers -Langston Hughes-

01-25-2009, 08:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	For some reason I've still not heard anything by them except Bee Thousand, even though it's an utterly excellent album. I have loads more as well, waiting to be listened to. I'll do it tomorrow.

01-25-2009, 09:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Oh christ, how did I forget to mention Propeller? Not my favourite at first but it really grew on me. Easily up there with the Magic Two. If anybody needs kitting out with GBV's excellent selection of EP's from this era sling me a PM, innit. __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her