Opinions On Guided By Voices

I have heard a lot of praise for this band, many reviews saying that they are as good as Pavement. Is this true?

 

Does anyone on here like them?

 

I freakin' love GBV. I've been a big fan of theirs since Propeller. Personally, I think they're miles above Pavement. The biggest problem is that Robert Pollard is so damn prolific, it can been trying weeding out the great songs from the mediocre ones. But when they're on, there are few bands that I feel so passionate about. Their run of albums from Bee Thousand to Alien Lanes to Under the Bushes Under the Stars are amazing.

 

My favorite band. Get "Bee Thousand". Seen them around 25 times. Recorded them live on DAT many times as well.

 

I'm a fan of Alien Lanes myself. Saw an episode of Jacka** use the song Motor Away and I fell in love.

 

They have some great stuff - Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes - those 2 CDs are the pinnacle from what I've heard of them. But they have loads and loads of songs - the catalogue can be a bit daunting. A lot of their stuff is very lo-fi which is not to everyone's tastes. But their best songs, some of which at a quick glance might come off as snippets clocking in at a minute or two, are really tremendous, imo.

 

Love them! Difficult to compare them to Pavement...I don't really understand that at all, since GbV are a totally different animal. It took me awhile to really figure them out, but once I did, I was hooked! Pick up Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, Isolation Drills and Propeller for a broad introduction...or their Human Amusements At Hourly Rates is a great compilation to check out and decide yourself.

 

Thanks for all of your answers, I will get the albums that you mentioned when I can.

I think that they are compared to Pavement because they are both considered 'indie' and 'lo-fi'.

I already love what I have heard, Echos Myron, a quite Beatlesque song.

 

Very different from Pavement, obviously, but I got into both groups at the same time, coincidentally.

Be careful what you buy - as mentioned, there's a ton of releases. And in addition to GBV, Bob Pollard has recorded under a string of other group names. Some of these projects are worth paying attention to, others not so much.

 

GBV's new album, Class Clown Spots a UFO, is their best since the '90s, IMO.

I bought the Propeller/Vampire on Titus twofer in Ohio when it first came out and was an avid follower of the group for several years thereafter. Personally, I think GBV crushes Pavement like a grape, and I like Pavement.

 

This is not an opinion, but a FACT: they have horrible taste in beer. Never seen them drink anything than Budweiser.

 

Audiophiles beware: Their best stuff (Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, Vampire on Titus) was recorded on a cassette, dubbed to Pollard's phone message machine, Converted to CD via a potato-powered Tesla coil, then upconverted to an Edison wax cylinder.

What makes it great is what makes a lot of people hate!

 

love 'em.

later stuff is good too... "universal truths and cycles"

and pollard, of course, is insanely prolific.

check out the "boston spaceships" records, too

 

Saw them at the Recher Theatre in Towson Maryland twice. Great shows!!!! Best song live: "Game of Pricks".

 

ditto. I never got Pavement but really appreciate GBV.

 

Everyone should own Bee Thousand. I'm also going to urge you to get Crying Your Knife Away, which is a live album and an essential way to get the full GBV experience.

A thoroughly wonderful band.

 

Better than Pavement.

 

Exactly!

GBV is all the best rock music over the last 45 years wrapped into one amazing (albeit in some cases a very lo-fi) package. If you like Echos Myron, check out the rest of the album Bee Thousand and then go from there. The album in my avatar (Isolation Drills) ain't half bad either. The sound quality improves as you go through their discography.

 

In sheer quantity of great songs Pollard ranks with anyone-----in terms of lyrics and vocal melodies.

The backing is often crude-----the rhythm can be “same-y”.

But his best songs occupy that same great place as mid-to-late 1960s Beatles and Dylan.

His imagery and vocals will haunt you forever----if you can get past the raw recording technique (i like it for the most part) and that overly-familiar, intensely-strummed rhythm guitar.

 

i was at one of those shows and it was unbelievably good.

 

Very well said!

 

I only have Earthquake Glue and based in that, I would never place them above Pavement. But guess I may have started on the wrong foot, judging by the recommendations here.

 

This may or may not affect your thesis, but for awhile they were hardcore Rolling Rock drinkers. I believe they were shooting for an endorsement by drinking rolling rock alsmost exclusively.

Oh, and OP -- You seem to be getting into to a lot of 1990s indie rock lately, which is fantastic. Here are some other bands you should check out:
Chavez (heavy, awesome drummer, awesome band. There have been a few threads here singing their all-mighty praises.)
Shudder to Think (Mix of hard rock and art rock with werid, cool vocals. Oh, more awesome drumming.)
The Sea and Cake (Quiet and reflective. Again, awesome drumming.)


If you like the lo-fi sound especially, then try:
The Grifters
Sebadoh
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282

 

Pavement are a bit more adventurous, but the best way to start GBV, IMHO, is Propeller.

Obviously, they will never be audiophile stuff

 

This corresponds precisely with my take on them.