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Thread: XTC ... any fans?

  1. #101
    Quote Originally Posted by aith01 View Post
    What's a good jumping in point for Guided By Voices? I've never heard anything by them, but those are some strong recommendations.
    The current lineup has so far made four albums-- August by Cake, Space Gun, How Do You Spell Heaven and the new Zeppelin over China-- and they're all topnotch, full of great songcraft and lower on the eccentric touches.

    For most people the two most classic albums are Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes and they're both great, though steeped in the low-fi aesthetic that they'd abandon later on. Isolation Drills is also very well liked, though it's probably the most polished of all GBV albums (too much so for my taste).

    Two others I'm very fond of are Universal Truths and Cycles (a heavier rock sounding album) and Let's Go Eat the Factory (which marked the classic lineup's reunion), though neither is in most fans' top five.

    They also have a best-of album, Human Amusements at Hourly Rates) which does the job well (up to that point at least).

    The only ones to avoid are Vampire on Titus (their closest to a dud songwise, though the CD matches it with the much better Propeller) and Please Be Honest (which I like, but it sounds pretty weird because there was no band then and Pollard played everything).

    Happy hunting!

  2. #102
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    Quote Originally Posted by polmico View Post
    Aw man. That's a real bummer!

    The statement posted on FB reads (in part) that he has to put music "on the back burner" and "spend more time with his family."

    Hopefully everything is ok!
    yeah - its pretty ominous anytime someone abruptly pulls out of something to "spend time with family"
    Critter Jams "album of the week" blog: http://critterjams.wordpress.com

  3. #103
    For Guided by Voices, their EP "Fast Japanese Spin Cycle" is my favorite. There is a track on there called "Dusted" that is one of the greatest 2 minute pop songs of all time!

  4. #104
    Quote Originally Posted by aith01 View Post
    What's a good jumping in point for Guided By Voices? I've never heard anything by them, but those are some strong recommendations.
    You could do worse than to start with the best-of (as of 2003), Human Amusements at Hourly Rates, selected by the man himself, Robert Pollard (who is to GBV as Fripp is to King Crimson).

    The consensus golden period is 94-96, with the albums Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, and Under The Bushes Under The Stars. Bee Thousand is generally considered to be their top record, Alien Lanes is my own favorite, and Under The Bushes Under The Stars is probably the one I would recommend most. They're all top-notch. With some info about your own preferences (e.g., are you allergic to lo-fi), it would be easier to offer specific suggestions.

  5. #105
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    Quote Originally Posted by betty humpter View Post
    For Guided by Voices, their EP "Fast Japanese Spin Cycle" is my favorite. There is a track on there called "Dusted" that is one of the greatest 2 minute pop songs of all time!
    Check out this guy's lyrics.

    Dusted (Words and Music by Robert Pollard)

    Comes the sign of wasted times
    I will wait no more
    Ever trudging through the aimless
    Forests we explore

    In our boots and money chains
    Misfitting cloaks we can't contain
    Hidden hates of urgency
    Declaring our emergency

    And up the tallest window world
    The distance was not clear
    Unoccupied by brutish thoughts
    We had no cause to fear
    A lesson so severe

    Hotter than the fire we built
    Darker than the truth
    Ignorance reflected in
    The windows of our youth

    Push me now beyond the bounds
    Of healing hands and thorny crowns
    And all the sadness it implies
    I've tasted with my own two eyes

    And as the cattle rack was cleared
    The floor was brightly stained
    And larger though we grew in size
    Not a thing was gained
    The fate as so ordained

    GUIDED BY VOICES!!!! Being discussed here? A dream come true for me.
    The Prog Corner

  6. #106
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    Quote Originally Posted by aith01 View Post
    What's a good jumping in point for Guided By Voices? I've never heard anything by them, but those are some strong recommendations.
    They have gone through many stylistic changes (mostly related to recording quality) but these are my favorites per era:

    Early Days (Lo-Fi):

    Bee Thousand
    Alien Lanes

    Major Label Era:

    Do The Collapse
    Isolation Drill

    Reunion Era:

    The Bears For Lunch
    Motivational Jumpsuit

    The New Era:

    Space Gun
    Zeppelin Over China (out Feb. 1 but amazing)

    And then there are the side projects and solo LP's...

    Best Solo LP's:

    Not In My Airforce
    Waved Out
    Moses On A Snail

    Other Highlights:

    Speak Kindly Of You Volunteer Fire Department (with Dog Gillard)
    Let It Beard (with Boston Spaceships)
    Gringo (with Circus Devils)

    Over 100 albums in his illustrious career and there's no end in sight!!!
    (But he is only slightly Prog. But who cares.)
    The Prog Corner

  7. #107
    Quote Originally Posted by miamiscot View Post
    Check out this guy's lyrics.

    Dusted (Words and Music by Robert Pollard)

    Comes the sign of wasted times
    I will wait no more
    Ever trudging through the aimless
    Forests we explore

    In our boots and money chains
    Misfitting cloaks we can't contain
    Hidden hates of urgency
    Declaring our emergency

    And up the tallest window world
    The distance was not clear
    Unoccupied by brutish thoughts
    We had no cause to fear
    A lesson so severe

    Hotter than the fire we built
    Darker than the truth
    Ignorance reflected in
    The windows of our youth

    Push me now beyond the bounds
    Of healing hands and thorny crowns
    And all the sadness it implies
    I've tasted with my own two eyes

    And as the cattle rack was cleared
    The floor was brightly stained
    And larger though we grew in size
    Not a thing was gained
    The fate as so ordained

    GUIDED BY VOICES!!!! Being discussed here? A dream come true for me.

  8. #108
    I saw GBV at the Tasty World (no longer a thing) in Athens, GA 15 (plus) years ago.

    Never pursued them but did enjoy the show.

    This thread prompted me to get into them, so I ordered Zepplein over China and Space Gun from the band’s site. I’ll post thoughts when they arrive.

    Edit: hmmmm. A live database suggests that I probably saw them at the 40 Watt.
    I want to dynamite your mind with love tonight.

  9. #109
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    Quote Originally Posted by polmico View Post
    I saw GBV at the Tasty World (no longer a thing) in Athens, GA 15 (plus) years ago.

    Never pursued them but did enjoy the show.

    This thread prompted me to get into them, so I ordered Zepplein over China and Space Gun from the band’s site. I’ll post thoughts when they arrive.

    Edit: hmmmm. A live database suggests that I probably saw them at the 40 Watt.
    Both are amazing!!! Space Gun might be a little proggier but ZOC is a double album. More Pollard is always better!!!
    The Prog Corner

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