GBV OCD

[auto-da-fey]

The last few months have been a blur of mega-commuting and stress for me, and my response has been to systematically listen through my 90-some albums worth of Guided by Voices-related stuff, with the utterly pointless goal of distilling this all down into a 4-disc collection of lo-fi stuff, the studio years, the hidden gems, and the side projects.

I know there are a few Postal Blowfish types here, so I thought I'd see if there were any glaring omissions in my sets, since I now have an unconverted friend who wants a copy, and I want to sell her on that old Pollard genius (plus I'm not planning on hauling all of my albums along with me when I move in the fall, so this'll come in handy for me). I only have the first disc planned, and I'm not sure it'll quite come in under the requisite 80 minutes, but I'm hoping:

STAND ON THE EDGE OF THE LEDGE: THE LO-FI CANON

Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox   (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Game of Pricks            (Alien Lanes, 1995)
Echos Myron            (Bee Thousand, 1994)
A Good Flying Bird         (Alien Lanes, 1995)
My Impression Now         (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1993)
Shocker in Gloomtown      (The Grand Hour, 1993)
As We Go Up, We Go Down      (Alien Lanes, 1995)
Closer You Are         (Alien Lanes, 1995)
14 Cheerleader Coldfront      (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Exit Flagger            (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Sing It Out            (Suitcase, disc 1, 1992)
Captain’s Dead         (Devil Between My Toes, 1987)
Visit to the Creep Doctor      (Sandbox, 1987)
Blimps Go 90                       (Alien Lanes, 1995)
Kicker of Elves         (Bee Thousand, 1994)
I am a Scientist         (Bee Thousand, 1994)
My Valuable Hunting Knife      (Alien Lanes, 1995)
Little Whirl            (Alien Lanes, 1995)
Pantherz            (The Power of Suck, unreleased/1995)
Gleemer (the Deeds of Fertile Jim)   (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Wondering Boy Poet         (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Supermarket the Moon      (Suitcase, disc 1, 1993)
Long Distance Man         (Sandbox, 1987)
Color of My Blade         (The Power of Suck, unreleased/1995)
Motor Away            (Alien Lanes, 1995)
Ha Ha Man            (Suitcase, disc 1, 1993)
Old Battery            (Devil Between My Toes, 1987)
Tractor Rape Chain         (Bee Thousand, 1994)
Goldheart Mountaintop Queen
    Directory            (Bee Thousand, 1994)
Big School            (Static Airplane Jive, 1993)
Quality of Armor         (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Do the Earth            (I am a Scientist EP, 1994)
Smothered in Hugs         (Bee Thousand, 1994)
Gold Star for Robot Boy      (Bee Thousand, 1994)
Hardcore UFOs         (Bee Thousand, 1994)
7 Strokes to Heaven’s Edge      (Hardcore UFOs, 1989)
Weed King            (Vampire on Titus, 1993)
Kisses to the Crying Cooks      (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1993)

sashwap? reebty? Dennis? any help?

[elpollodiablo]

I'm nowhere near a real GBV devotee, but I can tell ya that the second track you listed off of Alien Lanes is called Game of Pricks, and it's one of the best pop songs I've ever heard in mah fookin LOYFE. I was listening to AL constantly throughout most of the winter; it was my first real indoctrination in the genius that is GBV. I've still actually heard more Pollard solo stuff than I have GBV records--I love "Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft" though I dunno if it's seminal or even well-liked by true devotees.

[elpollodiablo]

Also I think it's worth mentioning (or maybe not) that GBV/Pollard is a point of local pride around here, because he's still based out of Dayton to this day. Danielle went to school with one his daughters, and her childhood neighbor is in real tight with the whole fam. We got to go backstage and meet him at this show in Columbus a few years ago, and it was cool. That man can drink.

[elpollodiablo]

And dude really c'mon: "My Valuable Hunting Knife"

[sashwap]

oh yay, this can be the robert pollard catch-all thread i was thinking of making. have you guys hear his new album?? etc. 

as for your mix, looks very good! i LOVE that "sing it out" made the cut. that songs is...something about it. it's my favorite (sometimes). "do the earth," "ha ha man," "kisses to the crying cooks," are also very excellent picks as far as under-appreciated gems go. great tobin sprout picks too.

if i could submit a handful of classics for consideration:

postal blowfish
paper girl (that's probably a must, whether it be the acoustic and harmony-drenched self-inflicted aerial nostalgia version or the full-band version on suitcase 2.)
if we wait
indian fables (squeeze it in, it's short)

i basically sat here for ten minutes saying things to myself like "crap! "gold star for robot boy!" and then scrutinizing your list only to breath a sigh of relief.

[sashwap]

And dude really c'mon: "My Valuable Hunting Knife"

*sigh of relief*

[elpollodiablo]

Hey Whit man can you do me a big solid and post a torrent/YSI link of the whole mix when you're done? I'd love to hear it.

[El_Josharino]

I would rather enjoy that as well as someone who is currently unconverted but have a feeling that I could/would love GBV, etc.

[auto-da-fey]

I'm nowhere near a real GBV devotee, but I can tell ya that the second track you listed off of Alien Lanes is called Game of Pricks,

Whoops, I had "Gang of Pricks" for some reason--no idea how I slipped up there, since I've loved that song fiercely since the day it dropped. In fact, the much more polished/guitar-lead-driven way they began to play it live was one reason it took me a while to warm to the Doug Gillard era.

Also I think it's worth mentioning (or maybe not) that GBV/Pollard is a point of local pride around here, because he's still based out of Dayton to this day. Danielle went to school with one his daughters, and her childhood neighbor is in real tight with the whole fam. We got to go backstage and meet him at this show in Columbus a few years ago, and it was cool. That man can drink.

That's awesome. My half-brother got married in Dayton in 1998, and I spent the whole weekend asking locals about Pollard. Alas, his wife's family being pretty unhip folks, no one there had even heard of him, which kind of boggled my mind at the time.

And yeah, I'll put it up when done.

[auto-da-fey]

if i could submit a handful of classics for consideration:

postal blowfish
paper girl (that's probably a must, whether it be the acoustic and harmony-drenched self-inflicted aerial nostalgia version or the full-band version on suitcase 2.)
if we wait
indian fables (squeeze it in, it's short)

Ha, I was planning on putting two of those on the "hidden gems" disc (which is admittedly based on an utterly arbitrary set of distinctions, since some of my "canon" is hardly part of any consensus beyond my own). "If We Wait," though, I just have never been all that into--it takes off after a while, but even after my beloved J Church covered it on Altamont '99, I just haven't been able to see what others so clearly do see. I will pop it on right now to see if I get caught up in the momentum, though--sometimes it takes a decade.
"Indian Fables" I'll also revisit, since it definitely is short.

[auto-da-fey]

Yeah, it's probably just me, but "If We Wait" just doesn't quite coalesce into what I'd like it to be. But I am repping for Sunfish Holy Breakfast on the third disc--if I can fit them all, "Jabberstroker," "Stabbing a Star" and "Trendspotter Acrobat" (gotta fit Jim Greer in somewhere) are on my list.

While "Indian Fables" doesn't leave the strongest impression, it's hard to argue with a 40-second song, so I'll add that to my list.

[sashwap]

sunfish is one of the best EPs. ever.

oh, speaking of, are you going to include anything from get out of my stations? seems like "melted pat" and "spring tiger" would be good additions (maybe better than "indian fables?")

[auto-da-fey]

"Melted Pat" indeed--I was thinking that, "Dusty Bushworms," and "Scalding Creek." Hell, I was about to get offline and exercise, but now I'm inspired and might as well plot out the next disc.

[auto-da-fey]

Okay, here's my next volume--fewer tracks, but we're past the 60-second-song era now. Should "Big Boring Wedding" be here? I love when Pollard starts singing, "pass the word, the chicks are back," but it's otherwise no classic. I don't know.

PICTURE THEM BIG TIME, AKA JUMP OFF ‘CAUSE NOBODY CARES: THE STUDIO YEARS

Teenage FBI               (Do the Collapse, 1999)
Everywhere with Helicopters         (Universal Truths and Cycles, 2002)
I am a Tree               (Mag Earwhig!, 1997)
Glad Girls               (Isolation Drills, 2001)
Official Ironman Rally Song         (Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, 1996)
Surgical Focus               (Do the Collapse, 1999)
Cheyenne               (Universal Truths and Cycles, 2002)
Hold on Hope               (Do the Collapse, 1999)
Chasing Heather Crazy         (Isolation Drills, 2001)
Fly into Ashes               (Hold on Hope EP, 2000)
Portable Men’s Society         (Mag Earwhig!, 1997)
Wrecking Now                             (Do the Collapse, 1999)
Best of Jill Hives            (Earthquake Glue, 2003)
Atom Eyes (live)            (Peel session, 1996)
Acorns & Orioles            (Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, 1996)
Choking Tara               (Mag Earwhig!, 1997)
Girls of Wild Strawberries         (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004)
Underwater Explosions         (Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, 1996)
Fair Touching               (Isolation Drills, 2001)
Drag Days                                        (Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, 1996)
My Kind of Soldier            (Earthquake Glue, 2003)
Things I Will Keep            (Do the Collapse, 1999)
Little Lines               (Mag Earwhig!, 1997)
Jane of the Waking Universe            (Mag Earwhig!, 1997)
Running Off with the Fun City Girls      (Hardcore UFOs, 1998)
It’s Like Soul Man            (Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, 1996)
Now to War               (Mag Earwhig!, 1997)
Huffman Prairie Flying Field         (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004)

[hannah]

I took the liberty of directing Jacob's attention to this thread. He didn't have much to add -- "Bulldog Skin and "Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy" were the only specific recommendations he made -- but he did think you could stand to up the number of Tobin Sprout songs, if only to acknowledge Sprout's significant influence on the band's sound.

[sashwap]

here are some songs that sprang to mind that may help break up the long stretches of big rock numbers:

Jane of the Waking Universe
Your Name is Wild
Wrecking Now
Dig Through My Window
Tropical Robots
Zap

[auto-da-fey]

Added "Jane," and also "Drag Days" as overrock-correctives. Actually, meant to add "Wrecking Now," too. "Dig Through My Window," I must admit, I had to look up in the gbvdb to locate--nothing on Prince Whippet has ever done much for me (I just spun it again, and it's still the case).

And I was hoping for some indirect Jacob-input--I thought I had remembered references to his own GBV OCD status. I hope he won't feel slighted, though--I don't think there's room for "Unleashed," and I have personal issues with "Bulldog Skin" (which stem from staying up to see its video debut on 120 Minutes and being crushingly disappointed with both video and song--that, for me, was the moment where the well first seemed dry, and led me to drop my GBV obsession for the next few albums after Mag Earwhig--Do the Collapse and Isolation Drills became the first albums since Vampire on Titus that I didn't buy day-of-release [though I did jump back in in 2002]).

But re: Tobin Sprout, I agree--and he'll certainly be represented heavily on the volumes to come. Though I'm very distressed that I can't find one of his solo albums, which seems to have disappeared into my clutter.

[auto-da-fey]

Okay, here's my third volume (with the esteemed Mr. Sprout in the lead track!). I have no idea whether this'll all fit on one disc, but I hope so (and I hope there aren't too many must-include additions, but there probably are).

KEY LOSERS: HIDDEN, SCRATCHED, OR FAKE GEMS

Jabberstroker               (Sunfish Holy Breakfast, 1996)
I am Decided               (Suitcase 2, disc 2, 1996)
Kiss Only the Important Ones         (Tigerbomb, 1995)
Taco, Buffalo, Birddog and Jesus      (Suitcase, disc 1, 1989)
Hey Hey Spaceman            (Devil Between My Toes, 1987)
James Riot               (Suitcase, disc 1, 1998)
The Lodger Carried a Gun         (Suitcase 2, disc 2, 1987)
Land of Danger            (Forever Since Breakfast, 1986)
Mammoth Cave            (Same Place the Fly Got Smashed, 1990)
Messenger               (Suitcase, disc 2, 1985)
Lonely Town               (Suitcase 2, disc 3, 1987)
Indian was an Angel            (King Shit and the Golden Boys, 1993)
In Previous Trials             (The Power of Suck, unreleased/1995)
Flesh Ears from June            (Suitcase, disc 1, 1992)
I Can See it in Your Eyes         (Suitcase, disc 2, 1989)
Ester’s Day               (Bee Thousand, 1994)
Perch Warble               (Suitcase 2, disc 2, 1993)
Pink Drink               (The Power of Suck, unreleased/1995)
Stabbing a Star            (Sunfish Holy Breakfast. 1996)
Dusty Bushworms            (Get Out of My Stations, 1993)
Melted Pat               (Get Out of My Stations, 1993)
The Terrible Two            (Suitcase, disc 1, 1993)
Hank’s Little Fingers            (Devil Between My Toes, 1987)
I Certainly Hope Not            (Sandbox, 1987)
Paper Girl               (Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia, 1989)
Delayed Reaction Brats         (Hardcore UFOs, 1996)
Superwhore               (The Power of Suck, unreleased/1995)
Universal Truths and Cycles         (Universal Truths and Cycles, 2002)
Father Sgt. Christmas Card         (Universal Truths and Cycles, 2002)
Trendspotter Acrobat            (Sunfish Holy Breakfast. 1996)
Hot Freaks               (Bee Thousand, 1994)
Dodging Invisible Rays         (Tigerbomb, 1995)
Sensational Gravity Boy                    (Crickets, 1995)
Dusted                  (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1993)
Drinker’s Peace            (Same Place the Fly Got Smashed, 1990)
Deathtrot and Warlock Riding a Rooster   (King Shit and the Golden Boys, 1993)
Postal Blowfish            (King Shit and the Golden Boys, 1993)
Harboring Exiles            (Hardcore UFOs, 1989)
Try to Find You            (Suitcase, disc 4, 1984)
I’m Cold               (Suitcase, disc 2, 1987)
You’re Killin’ Me            (Suitcase 2, disc 3, 1980)
He’s the Uncle               (Hardcore UFOs, 1996)
Scalding Creek            (Get Out of My Stations, 1993)
Adverse Wind               (Sandbox, 1987)
Dayton, Ohio-19 Something and 5      (Tonics and Twisted Chasers, 1996)

[sashwap]

dang! that disc is better than most band's greatest hits.

by the way, the first and third mixes that you posted both have at least one song i'm 100% not familiar with (by name anyway). that's one thing that's so great about pollard/gbv. some will say pollard needs an editor -- i.e. only put his BEST songs on his major releases -- but a big part of the reason that we are here today discussing his music is because he didn't do that. not only is there so much to discover (often in [delightfully] unexpected places), but there's also so much variety from person to person when it comes to selecting the "best" songs. and even the ones you skip over at first might come back and be your favorite a couple years later.

oh, also i have some hidden gems:

sensational gravity boy (find it on crickets)
sucker of pistol city (on plugs for the program....awesome song)

[auto-da-fey]

that's one thing that's so great about pollard/gbv. some will say pollard needs an editor -- i.e. only put his BEST songs on his major releases -- but a big part of the reason that we are here today discussing his music is because he didn't do that. not only is there so much to discover (often in [delightfully] unexpected places), but there's also so much variety from person to person when it comes to selecting the "best" songs. and even the ones you skip over at first might come back and be your favorite a couple years later.

oh, also i have some hidden gems:

sensational gravity boy (find it on crickets)
sucker of pistol city (on plugs for the program....awesome song)

Agreed, and as a case in point, I don't know either of those--any chance of a YSI? I'd be happy to throw up the ones from my list that you've missed, since I'm not all that close to actually uploading the whole mixes yet.

[sashwap]

that's one thing that's so great about pollard/gbv. some will say pollard needs an editor -- i.e. only put his BEST songs on his major releases -- but a big part of the reason that we are here today discussing his music is because he didn't do that. not only is there so much to discover (often in [delightfully] unexpected places), but there's also so much variety from person to person when it comes to selecting the "best" songs. and even the ones you skip over at first might come back and be your favorite a couple years later.

oh, also i have some hidden gems:

sensational gravity boy (find it on crickets)
sucker of pistol city (on plugs for the program....awesome song)

Agreed, and as a case in point, I don't know either of those--any chance of a YSI? I'd be happy to throw up the ones from my list that you've missed, since I'm not all that close to actually uploading the whole mixes yet.

wow! yeah, i'll throw 'em up ASAP.

no need for you to send me anything; i have those albums, i'm just a dunce ("adverse wind," "visit to the creep doctor," early stuff like that).

[sashwap]

i am really excited to share these.

sensational gravity boy:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/w6idlo
note: there is a slightly inferior version of this that features kim deal on backing vocals

the sucker of pistol city:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/iiw60r
note: this song is great.

[Andrew_TSKS]

by the way, the first and third mixes that you posted both have at least one song i'm 100% not familiar with (by name anyway). that's one thing that's so great about pollard/gbv. some will say pollard needs an editor -- i.e. only put his BEST songs on his major releases -- but a big part of the reason that we are here today discussing his music is because he didn't do that. not only is there so much to discover (often in [delightfully] unexpected places), but there's also so much variety from person to person when it comes to selecting the "best" songs. and even the ones you skip over at first might come back and be your favorite a couple years later.

i pretty much love every artist that operates this way, for exactly that reason.

[lastclearchance]

If you can squeeze an extra 18 seconds into disc three (or disc one I guess) I've always loved "Cigarette Tricks" (off Alien Lanes obviously).

[Jacob_Evans]

"blimps go 90"?