Artist bio

Guided By Voices is the primary vehicle for Dayton, Ohio-based rocksmith Robert Pollard, and has proved one of the most tireless, exciting rock bands of its time.

Pollard, a former elementary school teacher, formed the group in 1985 around a group of Dayton musicians and friends, including frequent collaborator Tobin Sprout. Their first four albums didn't cross many radar screens, but 1992's excellent Propeller earned the group a modicum of national recognition, with such musical notaries as Kim Deal and Thurston Moore naming themselves fans.

Two years later, the group's second breakthrough came with Bee Thousand, a home-crafted epic, classic rock and roll album that exploded the group's popularity and almost overnight, instituting GBV as "the" quintessential indie rock band. The group signed a big record deal with Matador, and then proceeded to make their next album at home and keep the money. Smart guys, these Ohians.

But rock aspirations got the better of them. The group began experimenting with "real studios" and fleshing out their songs into full-on rockers and such in the late '90s. Pollard solidified his role as the band's driver in 1997, after Sprout left and Pollard kicked out the rest of the members, hiring indie rockers Cobra Verde as their replacements. CV guitarist Doug Gillard stayed on as Pollard's favorite post-Sprout sideman thereafter, while other members came and went and stayed and left, the most volatile seat being on the drum riser.

And last we heard, Pollard and his merry band of mischief-makers were still swilling Bud Light and rocking long into the night at a club near you. Get up slowly, and tear yourself away from your computer. You might be able to get there in time to catch set closer "My Valuable Hunting Knife>Baba O'Riley".

Albums by this artist

Half-Smiles Of The Decomposed (2004)

Human Amusements At Hourly Rates (2003)

Universal Truths And Cycles (2002)

Isolation Drills (2001)

Suitcase (2000)

Do The Collapse (1999)

Mag Earwhig! (1997)

Bulldog Skin 7" (1997)

Tonics and Twisted Chasters (1997)

Sunfish Holy Breakfast (1996)

Under The Bushes, Under The Stars (Recommended) (1996)

Alien Lanes (Recommended) (1996)

Bee Thousand (Recommended) (1994)

Crying Your Knife Away (1994)

The Grand Hour (1993)

Propeller (Recommended) (1992)

Concerts

March 18, 2002
The Dublin Pub, Dayton, Ohio

December 30, 2001
Apollo Theatre, New York

Features

Guided By Voices History: Part II: 1994-1999
Published October 31, 2005

Guided by Voices History: Part III: 1999-2004
Published October 31, 2005

Guided By Voices History: Part I: 1983-1994
Published October 30, 2005

GBV: A Eulogy: Or, Pollards We Have Known
Published December 30, 2004

NATN's Wholly Subjective Top 100 GBV Songs Of All Time:
Published December 30, 2004

The Top 100 Songs Thingy: Um, The Second Half.
Published December 30, 2004

Interviews

Doug Gillard
October 23, 2003

Rock Of Ages
March 27, 2001

Guided By Voices

Do The Collapse

» TROY CARPENTER | CO-DIRECTOR

Guided By Voices

Do The Collapse

TVT, 1999

RiYL: The Who, The Amps, Built To Spill

Crystal clear sounds? String arrangements? Ric Ocasek? What has happened to Guided By Voices?

The answer is "all of the above," but somehow, it is also "not much". The incredibly prolific Bob Pollard and his rotating band of guitar-pop mercenaries have spawned forth the 11th studio LP under the Guided By Voices moniker, and the most conspicuous aspect to Do The Collapse is its crystalline production, miles from Pollard's usual rusty garage pop sound. Further in the direction hinted at with 1998's Mag Earwhig!, Do The Collapse was recorded in Hendrix's Electric Lady studios in NYC by the ex-Cars frontman, who Pollard was apparently attracted to via Ocasek's work on the first Weezer album.

Fans of GBV are by definition fans of Pollard's unique songwriting, and as such, they will enjoy Do The Collapse. But inevitably, such listeners exist for whom aesthetic and integrity are far more important than the songs themselves, and from that perspective Do The Collapse treads shaky ground, unabashedly wearing its newfound sheen like a gold tiara.

The production quality allows Pollard to explore textures he has likely always wanted to. Take the arena ballad "Liquid Indian," where layers of distorted guitars and keyboards don't drown out either Pollard's vocal hook or the backing harmonies, both of which stand out confidently in the mix.

"Mushroom Art" is a great example of Pollard's sporadic genius flourishing in its new surroundings. The new sound provides clarity to all parts of the song. He has one classic, powerfully overdubbed guitar riff, a succinct middle eight, and weird lyrics ("like a bejewelled crow on a quilted tent / our dead dreams awake!"). Add a ten-second "solo" section of Doug Gilliard's lead guitar, and the nugget is complete: 1.45.

The addition of former Breeder Jim Macpherson on drums adds extra power and cohesiveness to GBV's lineup. It might be a bit of a shock to hear GBV as a "regular" rock band, but Do The Collapse goes a way to show that they've been that at heart for a while.

There are, of course, throwaways among the 16 tracks, but fans of '90s indie rock and '70s cheese-pop alike will find plenty of wondrous treasures as well. As for Pollard's aspirations at pop superstardom, only the years will tell. But for now let's just hope the tunes keep on flowin'.

TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.