Collected thoughts on Guided By Voices

I’m obsessed with GBV now.

I can’t work out whether it’s the vocals, the melodies, the lo-fi production or the energy and spirit that leaks out of every single song that’s captured me.

I love the confidence they had to just put out EVERYTHING. That even a track consisting of just a discarded bass line has made it to one record. Now that’s brave. I could never “rate” one of their albums like I would with another band as they seem to defy criticism. Part of the aesthetic and art of what they do is to put you on a rollercoaster of musical experiments… the fact that they fail is often why they work. It’s all part of the experience.

Some of the melodies feel like a throwback to a Beatles style simplicity which is quite endearing. Then they’ll chuck in a disturbing and hypnotic experiment which throws you off track.

I think Robert Pollard has the most perfect rock voice, I could listen to him just reading the phone book (actually that might appear on one album, lol). There’s a demo track where he introduces it and his lovely smooth Ohio drawl is just so yummy. It’s suck a nice moment as he laments “I’m not sure what’ll happen with this, but…” and then cracks on with singing it. Very nice.

I sometimes sit their listening to them wondering if it’s all just nonsense and I’m a fool for loving it so much. Are they just a crap pub band who got lucky or cult genius’ who will never get the mainstream recognition they deserve?

Probably a bit of both.

There’s just so much of it to listen to, so many albums, so many rarities collections. I’ve been listening to them for two years now and I’ve still only bought half their output… and I’ve got seven albums and a four disc rarities box set (the first of three).

That said, the fairly consistent set of original floating band members dissolved after their ninth album Under The Bushes Under The Stars and unofficial (and now seemingly rare) fanclub-only album Tonics & Twisted Chasers. After these releases the Guided By Voices brand seemed to lose it’s grounding and Robert Pollard even had the new line-up go into a proper studio with an experienced producer to record Do The Collapse where Teenage FBI features.

They recorded Under The Bushes Under The Stars in professional studios but those results sound a little more pure and retain the rough edge that makes them so interesting. Do The Collapse sounds like an eerily well produced thing with big silences and clean audio tracks. GBV albums are usually full of mistakes and atmospheric hissings and the sound of band members stumbling about the place drunk, lol. It’s a very weird listen, far too clean shaven for me.

I think Bob took the soul of GBV into his solo work which began after the old line-up said goodbye, so I might follow that instead. I’ve still got two Suitcase boxsets to chase up though, so my journey isn’t over yet… I hope.

I’m a geek for it all. But I know one day I’ll pass through it and move on, I’m not looking forward to that day.