Doyle took some time off from his busy law school schedule to give us this Guided By Voices playlist. Give a listen and post your comments below:
In 1983, fourth grade teacher Robert Pollard began having jam sessions with a bunch of refugees from the Dayton, Ohio bar band scene. Between 1986 and 1993, they recorded six self-released albums, most of which sat around in boxes due to Pollard's lack of confidence. But what was supposed to be their final album, Propeller, began making rounds among rock circles and soon Matador took notice. With Matador, Guided by Voices recorded Bee Thousand and instantly became the darlings of fans and industry tycoons half their age.
Guided by Voices have a discography that accounts for about 1,300 songs which basically break down like this: a 1/3 are about drinking and rock 'n roll, a 1/3 are about adolescence, and the final 1/3 are nonsensical. But despite this topical simplicity, Pollard's has a knack of borrowing from the historical Pop-Rock greats to create a distinct type of harmonious, guitar-driven ear candy.
The play list isn't anything special, and for people that are already familiar with Guided by Voices it might be a tad predictable. But still, I think this list does a decent job of encompassing everything that is wonderful about this band. First is A Salty Salute, which somehow conveys everything that I enjoy about music in a minute and a half. Next is My Kind of Soldier, an ode to that over aged guy that you see at every concert. The next twenty three songs continue to celebrate everything that is serendipitous about Rock music. I hope all of you enjoy it.
1. A Salty Salute / Alien Lanes / 1995
2. My Kind of Soldier / Earthquake Glue / 2003
3. Rhine Jive Click / Under the Bushes, Under the Stars / 1996
4. Sopor Joe / King Shit and the Golden Boys / 1995
5. Hey Hey Spaceman / Devil Between My Toes / 1987
6. Let's Go Vike / Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft / 2000
7. Trampoline / Self-Inflicted Ariel Nostalgia / 1989
8. Pendulum / Same Place the Fly Got Smashed / 1990
9. Game of Pricks / Alien Lanes / 1995
10. Hanks Little Fingers / Devil Between My Toes / 1987
11. Smothered in Hugs / Bee Thousand / 1994
12. The Hard Way / Same Place the Fly Got Smashed / 1990
13. Short on Posters / Self-Inflicted Ariel Nostalgia / 1989
14. Taco, Buffalo, Birddog and Jesus / To Trigger a Synapse / 1996
15. The Official Ironman Rally Song / Under the Bushes, Under the Stars / 1996
16. Hardcore UFOs / Bee Thousand / 1994
17. Pink Drink / Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft / 2000
18. My Valuable Hunting Knife / Alien Lanes / 1995
19. A Big Fan of the Pigpen / Bee Thousand / 1994
20. I am a Tree / Mag Earwhig! / 1997
21. Key Losers / Tonics and Twisted Chasers / 1996
22. Echos Myron / Bee Thousand / 1994
23. Beekeeper Seeks Ruth / Sunfish Holy Breakfast / 1996
24. Man Called Aerodynamics / Under the Bushes, Under the Stars / 1996
25. Alright / Alien Lanes / 1995
Total Time : 62:17
I just want to apologize but the awkward transition between the 23rd and 24th track. I already spent a lot of time organizing the tracklist on itunes and I was too lazy to redo the list to make for better flow.
ReplyDeletebut is supposed to be "about"
ReplyDeletethis is so humiliating
OK, preliminary thoughts on the GBV playlist after a few broken-up listens (I'll have more to say later):
ReplyDeleteSurprised by how:
1) Instantaneously catchy these songs are.
2) Subtle the music is.
3) Fucking incredible the vocals are.
I at least like all of the songs so far, except for "Rhine Jive Click." That super naked "click" of the cowbell is a little headache-inducing. Plus the song is just kinda clunky.
Some of the songs I'm completely in love with. The closing vocals to "A Salty Salute" sound timeless. Works great as an opener. The high notes Gibbard hits on "Pendulum" are thoroughly satisfying. It's really impressive how completely epic "The Hard Way" feels considering it clocks in only 3 minutes--that song is absolutely perfect (except for how the drums and vocals are panned on opposing sides--I hate it when songs are mixed like that, it makes it painful when you're listening on headphones). This to me, more than any other song on here, seems to hit that kind of transcendent simplicity that GBV-lovers are always pushing. Classic. And "Key Losers" makes me want to drink alone like a pathetic stinking drunk and drown my sorrows. That's a good thing. That song is a fucking anthem for the dude at the end of the bar buried in his beer. Beautiful. Also, good call on following that song with one of their bouncier songs. Instant recovery is needed there.
Man, Gibbard really carries these songs on his back. He just has a gift for getting his vocals to slip into these songs like a glove.
The more I listen to this stuff and the more it gets embedded in my head the more I really, really love the best songs. My only overall negative comment is that the weaker songs seem suffer from being kind of aimless, but even with those I feel like there's a charm that will grow as you memorize the nooks and crannies of vocal melodies.
You win, Doyle. I'm a convert. Great stuff. More thoughts to come...
Yeah, so Gibbard = Pollard. Don't they have a Gibbard too? Who am I thinking of? Weirdness.
ReplyDeleteDoyle,
ReplyDeleteThis playlist rules. Nothing wrong with being predictable with this band. I could listen to My Valuable Hunting Knife for hours and never get sick of it.
Gibbard = Death Cab For Cutie. Mike's words when I informed him of his lameness: "but i was probably thinking of ben gibbard and probably because i'm probably gay"
ReplyDeleteI given the playlist a few listens and have enjoyed it so far. There's really not a bad song on here. But I wouldn't say I've been converted. I'm intrigued, but I haven't really found anything on the playlist that keeps pulling me back to listen more. We'll see if it grows on me.
ReplyDeleteSome standout tracks I do like: Hey Hey Spaceman, Hanks Little Finger, Smothered in Hugs, I Am A Tree.
Also, this sounds like great driving music. I really want to take a long drive to nowhere.
Ha, great! My basic goal was to get Mike into this band. Some of my choices were sloppy...i'll give you that Rhine Click Jive can be grating, but I like the last 30 seconds. I can also see how some of the songs are sort of aimless, but for me that's the charm of the band.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time to listen to them is early Friday evening when I'm whining down and not quite ready to psych myself up for whatever's going on during the weekend. Even when they're poppy they can be kind of ethereal at times, and its great lazy beer-drinking music.
But there are probably another 4-5 dozen songs that instantly accessible and few hundred more that are enjoyable if you give them the time.
They seriously have over 1300 songs and I'm still discovering this band.
I can send you links for some of their more classic albums later.
"Unless you've got the answers, don't patronize the mountain men."
ReplyDeleteum... i may be dunder-headed, but i can't find the link anywhere on the page... can i get some help?
ReplyDeletealso, great idea for a blog... can't wait to see what else you have posted here...