52 ballots received (and, it appears, at least three ballots not received...a deadline's a deadline). Today we'll begin with the top ten albums list and pick up the tracks rollout Tuesday morning.
http://i.imgur.com/FaG83.jpg
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:20 (twelve years ago) link
Fuck yeah!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtbFqfFAZnM/TgXYMvLPkbI/AAAAAAAAAVU/J_dWpGhVHa8/s320/pollard.jpg
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:21 (twelve years ago) link
For the albums, I just assigned 5 points to your first choice, 4 points to your second, and so on. A total of 23 different releases received at least one vote, many of them by just a single voter. Here are the top ten.
http://i.imgur.com/Ywknr.jpg
10. FAST JAPANESE SPIN CYCLE EP / 1994 (4 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:25 (twelve years ago) link
I remember buying that one. I think I got it at Best Buy?!?
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 13:31 (twelve years ago) link
Seriously? I don't think I've ever seen GbV at a Best Buy, except the TVT stuff right when it came out.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:37 (twelve years ago) link
My Best Buy was pretty cool! I had a friend who worked there. I got Boss Hogg and Sebadoh cds there too iirc.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 13:40 (twelve years ago) link
lol 90s
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 13:41 (twelve years ago) link
That's pretty awesome. I honestly wonder if there are ways in which Best Buy employees were (they clearly don't anymore) able to have in stocking certain music, because I remember certain stores being much more well-stocked in certain genres than others. For example, there used to be a Best Buy out near Wheeling by an old office of mine that was really, really well stocked on metal stuff, even semi-obscure stuff.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:44 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I had a pretty cool Best Buy too. Lots of indie cds bought in the 1993-97 range before I started getting online and ordering from labela/distros.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/6B4gt.jpg
9. TONICS AND TWISTED CHASERS / 1996 (5 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 13:59 (twelve years ago) link
^^ sign of quality voters imo
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:01 (twelve years ago) link
When it got issued on cd in 1997, I think it was one of the first things I ordered/bought online...direct from Rockathon.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
Man, still going to have so much listening to do! Didn't vote for favorite albums, cause my votes would have been fairly worthless. More interested to see what others have to say about most things GBV.
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
damn, forgot to include an album ballot ;_; I think I'm gonna regret it if Same Place won't place
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:22 (twelve years ago) link
Also forgot the album vote. No prob though.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:25 (twelve years ago) link
too busy to vote but can't wait for the spotify playlist.
― skip, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:25 (twelve years ago) link
V79 i can assure you that at least one person voted for it
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:25 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/HqqC6.jpg
8. SAME PLACE THE FLY GOT SMASHED / 1990 (7 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:27 (twelve years ago) link
(this always happens in polls! people start talking about something and it's the very next thing to come up.)
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
hard to pick my favorite song from this album, but hard way -- drinker's peace -- mammoth cave -- when she turns 50 is a great string of songs. excellent album to sing the hell out of on a road trip.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:29 (twelve years ago) link
The 5 albums list was tough because I could pretty much argue for any of them on any given day, depending on what type of Pollard mood I'm in that week - pop Pollard? proggy Pollard? etc etc etc
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:30 (twelve years ago) link
what's that you're eating? could be midleading.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:30 (twelve years ago) link
oof
MISLEADING
you don't wanna know
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:31 (twelve years ago) link
:))) thanks LL! (and everyone else who voted for this one)
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:31 (twelve years ago) link
and you're OTM about that great string of songs. and then there are, of course, Local Mix-up and the closer!
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:33 (twelve years ago) link
i've always thought of it as a hit paradealso i would like to reiterate that mammoth cave is an excellent tourist destination and everyone should visit it. hiking, history, nature, mammoth underground caves.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:34 (twelve years ago) link
I meant to go there several times when I lived in Nashville (where it was reasonably nearby), but never did. :(
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:35 (twelve years ago) link
oh, so it's a tourist destination? so nice to know
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:36 (twelve years ago) link
2004, second trip to mammoth cave, something fucking stinks in herehttp://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6185047123_e9dfa14aa5_m.jpg
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:42 (twelve years ago) link
it's a national park!
http://i.imgur.com/uGx5s.jpg
7. ISOLATION DRILLS / 2001 (10 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:44 (twelve years ago) link
Ok, too low. I think Isolation Drills is a very underrated album.
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
Same Place the Fly Got Smashed is really good. Really glad to get turned on to it.
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:51 (twelve years ago) link
Really like some of the unhinged Pollard moments. He really sings the hell out of some of these songs.
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:52 (twelve years ago) link
they've got at least 10 albums better than ID. it's good, but misses greatness to my ears. most boring show i saw by them was on that tour.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:52 (twelve years ago) link
Disappointed that "Mammoth Cave" the song isn't included in this list of music composed in the honor of Mammoth Cave (the place) http://www.nps.gov/maca/photosmultimedia/sounscapes.htm
Still, one of the oldest tourist attractions in the US -- began tours in 1816!
I also agree that Isolation Drills shows were dull. I felt like they had drank a bit too much Kool Aid at that point.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 14:53 (twelve years ago) link
yeah. gillard was always good, but the rest of the band, it sort of felt like they had picked a few fans out of the crowd.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:56 (twelve years ago) link
xp hey thanks, the more you know!
re ID, I just hope for a good placing of "Chasing Heather Crazy". like, top 10 would be nice enough
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:56 (twelve years ago) link
ID was my #3. Love it.
― Jeff, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:57 (twelve years ago) link
The show I saw for that tour was pretty good. Pretty debauched. I think that was Pollard's tequila stage. I will agree that the lows on that album are pretty low but 'Glad Girls'? 'Run Wild'? 'Chasing Heather Crazy'? 'The Brides Have Hit Glass'?
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 14:57 (twelve years ago) link
well, yeah, those songs are great!
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:02 (twelve years ago) link
I don't really like any of them tbh -- esp Glad Girls. I don't have a lot of negativity about GBV to offer, but that song always felt really lame to me, kinda lowest common denominator "give them what they want" boring rock song. Maybe it sounds half-hearted/uninspired? I dunno.
If there is anything I've learned about GBV fans over the years it's that there are as many different types as there are types of GBV songs.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:07 (twelve years ago) link
Hmm, I voted for "Glad Girls", it possesses a certain steam-rollering quality imho, the song "drives" to my ears.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:09 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/uuwFO.jpg
6. VAMPIRE ON TITUS / 1993 (12 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:09 (twelve years ago) link
i dunno, i was all for GBV making a polished, radio-friendly rock album and ID comes closest to that. but there's just too much boring stuff on there -- i mean, if pollard had taken the hits from speak kindly of your volunteer etc. and put them on there, he'd have a classic, maybe?
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:10 (twelve years ago) link
Don't rate ID among their best at all though.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:10 (twelve years ago) link
Not much to say about VoT really. I could spend twice as much time with it as I have and still not know it that well, though when I hear individual songs from it I think "hey, that's a really good one!"
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:25 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/iAoGP.jpg
5. MAG EARWHIG! / 1997 (13 points)
(perhaps not my favorite GBV album, but definitely my favorite GBV album cover.)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:26 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, that's a nice one
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:27 (twelve years ago) link
If you want to know what lurks in the mind of the Tobin Sprout hater: GBV's best moments, for me, are their most desperate--the poster child being for that strain being Vampire--and Sprout tends to mar that mood with his whimsical doings (see: "Gleemer"). Of course now I'm taking a closer look at the credits and he's all over the rest of the damn thing, so...
― bentelec, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:28 (twelve years ago) link
Aside from Bulldog Skin, never understood the love for this album. But then I like Isolation Drills.
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:29 (twelve years ago) link
Not much to say about VoT really. I could spend twice as much time with it as I have and still not know it that well, though when I hear individual songs from it I think "hey, that's a really good one!"otm
I had the VoT/Propeller combo cd and I'll admit that I skipped to Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox at least 2/3 of the time. It's not that I don't like it, but I never really gave it a full chance. How could it have a chance next to Propeller?!
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
i think mag earwig is a bit too much of a hodge podge (not that bob can't make a masterpiece out of a hodge podge). again, great stuff on here, but not terribly consistent.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
I like the hodge podginess - I just don't feel particularly moved by most of the songs. The "get wild!" part of Bulldog Skin is enough to buoy me through a bunch of boring songs.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
did not in my airforce come out the same year as ME? i think i ended up liking that one better. the cobra verde-era live shows were pretty great though, even if it was initially disappointing that the classic lineup was gone.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:34 (twelve years ago) link
I think Airforce came out in 96 (the same day, or maybe month, as Tobin's Carnival Boy). We didn't find out until 97 that they weren't going to be working together in GBV anymore.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:39 (twelve years ago) link
Aside from Bulldog Skin, never understood the love for this album.
ā righteousmaelstrom, Monday, September 26, 2011 5:29 PM (10 minutes ago) Bookmark
This is the opposite for me! I don't like Bulldog Skin (anymore ~ it's like Nada Surf's 'Popular', for a lot of people "that one song by that one band that had a cool video"), but man are there some gems on ME. 'Learning to Hunt', 'Not Behind the Fighter Jet', 'Choking Tara', 'I Am A Tree'...
Well, I think I voted for songs from ME the most, didn't keep count.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:42 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I definitely like a lot of songs on ME!, but Bulldog Skin isn't one of them.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:43 (twelve years ago) link
so many lovely ballady things on ME.
― ledge, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:45 (twelve years ago) link
^^ yeah I'm a sucker for those introspective GBV moments. At least more than all GBV aficionados I know. Lol melancholy soul.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:47 (twelve years ago) link
I'm a right sucker for GBV's moments of spleen
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 15:48 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/GM1pm.jpg
4. UNDER THE BUSHES UNDER THE STARS / 1996 (39 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:49 (twelve years ago) link
ahaaa, here's one i voted for. classic through and through (including the amazing bonus ep)
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:51 (twelve years ago) link
my #1; not the first i heard (that was alien lanes), but the first i bought and imo a perfect sweet spot between the early period chaos and late period fm radio friendliness.
― ledge, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:52 (twelve years ago) link
Sometimes I'm pretty sure this is my favorite.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:52 (twelve years ago) link
the record that linked between gbv lo to hi fi
― nostormo, Monday, 26 September 2011 15:55 (twelve years ago) link
Had I got my ballot in, UTBUTS would have been my #1
― BlackIronPrison, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:00 (twelve years ago) link
It's a really warm record, both in recording techniques and in the songwriting. I wear it like a blanket.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
would love an expanded version of this record --seems like there are a bunch of tracks from the albini sessions floating around? at least those few that greer has posted.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:06 (twelve years ago) link
Just fwiw, #3 only beat #4 by a single point and #1 only beat #2 by a single point...so some real tight races. #3 coming up...
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:08 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/qG1B1.jpg
3. PROPELLER / 1992 (40 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:10 (twelve years ago) link
Sorry if I've not been paying attention, but are the "most hated tracks" calculated in the countdown song list?
I didn't vote for "hated" tracks tbh
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 16:11 (twelve years ago) link
There wasn't enough consensus of any kind to even bother with a hated tracks countdown. The (optional) exercise was all for naught.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:12 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 16:14 (twelve years ago) link
i wonder what the top 2 will be ;)
― i'm hearing Bowie sing this, and it's the best single of 1985 (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 26 September 2011 16:32 (twelve years ago) link
hmmm
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:32 (twelve years ago) link
Universal Truths and Sandbox, of course. oops! Spoiler!
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:33 (twelve years ago) link
still holding out for Do The Collapse here
― ciderpress, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:34 (twelve years ago) link
but yeah, propellor! i remember getting that one after bee thousand, alien lanes, various EPs, and just thinking before listening, this one can't be that good, how could one band be so good! of course, propellor is just like one peak after the next. it's ridiculous.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:34 (twelve years ago) link
We all know the top two. Should I post them together and then let them both be discussed at once, or do them one at a time?
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:36 (twelve years ago) link
just roll em both out
― ciderpress, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
xp Propeller is probably their most idea-heavy record and the first time which the big ideas were successfully translated into listenable recordings. I love the crap out of that record.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
Like the Vampire On Titus/Propeller CD, put them together. My introduction to GBV was a friend putting one on one side of cassette and the other on side B.
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/5TgQT.jpg
2. BEE THOUSAND / 1994 (88 points)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/CE5Be.jpg
1. ALIEN LANES / 1995 (89 points)
haha, almost a tie!
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
haha I flipped Bee Thousand from #1 to #2 and put Alien Lanes #1 right before I sent my ballot in o_0
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:43 (twelve years ago) link
I forgot about voting in the albums, just got too focused on the tracks and it slipped my mind. Would have voted Alien Lanes at #1 though so all is well.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 26 September 2011 16:44 (twelve years ago) link
wow! genuinely shocked that B1000 came in second!
― i'm hearing Bowie sing this, and it's the best single of 1985 (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 26 September 2011 16:45 (twelve years ago) link
At one point behind, it's not that shocking.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
i like bee thousand a bit more but yeah it really doesn't matter either way
― ciderpress, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
I think the right album won. I've always like AL slightly more than B1000.
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:47 (twelve years ago) link
I didn't submit my own albums ballot, but it probs would've been UTBUTS/Propeller/Alien Lanes/B1000 and then something else in 5th place (Half Smiles? Earthquake Glue?).
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:47 (twelve years ago) link
alien lanes is better because its longer
― nostormo, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:47 (twelve years ago) link
here's my claim to GBV semi (not really) fame. i'm in the crowd herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnyEJ36rmDcpumping my fist wildly.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:47 (twelve years ago) link
used to be no way I would ever consider putting anything above Bee Thousand but Alien Lanes crept up kinda the same way Crooked Rain is my favorite Pavement now over Slanted
I voted for King Shit & the Golden Boys in fifth
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:49 (twelve years ago) link
Alien Lanes 89Bee Thousand 88Propeller 40Under the Bushes, Under the Stars 39Mag Earwhig! 13Vampire on Titus 12Isolation Drills 10Same Place the Fly Got Smashed 7Tonics and Twisted Chasers 5Fast Japanese Spin Cycle EP 4Do the Collapse 3Earthquake Glue 3Universal Truths and Cycles 3Crying Your Knife Away 2Half Smiles of the Decomposed 2King Shit & The Golden Boys 2Live at the Wheelchair Races 1Not in My Airforce 1Sandbox 1Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia 1Suitcase 1Sunfish Holy Breakfast EP 1Waved Out 1
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
wow, splendid. Alien Lanes would obv be my no. 1 too, had I submitted an album ballot. but honestly speaking, they're both sides of the same coin to me - B1000 is the weird indie rock one, while AL is straight up powerpop, a shameless hookfest, almost a medley of 28 hooks.
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:55 (twelve years ago) link
Damn, I really need to listen to Propeller. I got into GBV with Bee Thousand, and never listened to the earlier albums until Box came out. But VoT and Propeller weren't included in that box set, so I never got around to those two albums. Putting them on my iPod right NOW.
― ArchCarrier, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:18 (twelve years ago) link
Propeller's really dope, "Quality of Armor" was #21 on my ballot, a close shave
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:21 (twelve years ago) link
Propeller is awesome. It is on the vinyl version of Box but not the CD version (I guess because Scat had put that double-CD out by then).
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:31 (twelve years ago) link
GBV! GBV! GBV!
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:34 (twelve years ago) link
Cool, the top 5 albums was my top 5 - except I had Propeller and Under The Bushes... swapped over. Propeller has gone up in my estimation after revisiting it for voting purposes, definitely feels to me like a massive jump in quality from the earlier records.
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:52 (twelve years ago) link
who else voted for crying your knife away!!? high 5, homie
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 17:53 (twelve years ago) link
Never even heard of that one!
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:54 (twelve years ago) link
crying your knife away is so good. that's actually where i heard a lot of those songs first -- i think i bought it pretty soon after i got bee thousand (pre Alien Lanes!), didn't even know it was a bootleg. was crazy to hear the beautiful, real version of if we wait after the insane singalong on CYKA.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:56 (twelve years ago) link
It was just you. The #4 album on people's album ballots got 2 points.
I'll high 5 you anyway, tho.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:56 (twelve years ago) link
oh manthanks for not leaving me hanging
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 17:57 (twelve years ago) link
CYKA is the one where GBV cover "Invisible Man"
*off to youtube*
― i'm hearing Bowie sing this, and it's the best single of 1985 (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 26 September 2011 17:58 (twelve years ago) link
i have listened to that so much that i sing along with the ridiculous stage banter
WHERE'S MIKE HUMMEL
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 17:58 (twelve years ago) link
youtube came up short :(
yeah! and the way they start playing postal blowfish, but some lee hazlewood song is still playing in the background!
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 17:59 (twelve years ago) link
and the breeders cover!
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZEKpC0lkL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
crying your knife away has such a classic album cover. I was stoked when I first got it. never listen to any of the live albums any more though. Jellyfish Reflector is probably the best one I think.
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:00 (twelve years ago) link
I think you HAVE to be drunk to listen to CYKA all the way though. they are so wasted.
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
I mean that cover makes my eyes light up with Ohio pride, for reals. The whole album does, but the cover looks like home. (I have gone for a ride in the Goodyear blimp btw, it's awesome)
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
album's comin out on scat matador recordsyou gotta say matador cuz it's more ~prestigious~
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 18:05 (twelve years ago) link
we should all pile into a bus and go on a massive gbv singalong road trip across the midwesthow embarrassing would that be
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 18:06 (twelve years ago) link
The "official" countdown is from 50-1, but I've got a little bit of spare time today (that I wasn't anticipating) if you guys are interested in a 60-51 bonus round!
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:25 (twelve years ago) link
Considering the amount of GBV songs, seems like 60 is warranted to me
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:30 (twelve years ago) link
a roll-in would be much appreciated, of course
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:30 (twelve years ago) link
TIE 60. "My Kind of Soldier" (Earthquake Glue, 2003) [110 points, 5 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NaiQYgaSSw
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:33 (twelve years ago) link
that's a good lighthearted little song
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 18:33 (twelve years ago) link
This is a pretty late period track in the 90s mold. Others I like more on Earthquake Glue (especially The Main Street Wizards), but I totally understand why this one got a few votes tossed its way.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:44 (twelve years ago) link
i think it goes without saying that i will participate in discussion of 60-1 with as much irritating zeal as 50-1.
i like the phonemic compatibility of soldier/shoulder; Pollard's appreciation of word sounds has always impressed me
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
TIE 60. "Chicken Blows" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [110 points, 5 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH3GkxqrwQQ
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:51 (twelve years ago) link
I guess there's not much sense in shouting "TOO LOW" every time an AL cut shows up, is there
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
I didn't vote for anything from Earthquake Glue but 'My Kind Of Soldier' is one of my two or three favourites on there.
I love the backing vocals in 'Chicken Blows'.
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:54 (twelve years ago) link
I love the way my kind of soldier ends. It's very satisfying.
― Jeff, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:54 (twelve years ago) link
I was coincidentally singing this one just a few minutes ago. I also love how trippy the slowed down snippet on "Back To Saturn X Report" sounds like
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:55 (twelve years ago) link
i wonder when chicken blows was actually recorded, since it shows up in fragmentary form on back to saturn x. ha xpostsuch a gorgeous, weird song.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 18:56 (twelve years ago) link
58. "Postal Blowfish" (outtake, 1993) [111 points, 5 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uZJaVWWuks
This was the only version I could find on youtube. Can anyone confirm or deny that this is the re-recorded Brain Candy version? Because I remember the original being a little more "shambling".
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:02 (twelve years ago) link
this sounds like the brain candy version to me. is there a version on king shit and the golden boys? that one iirc is more lo-fi.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
when I fist heard "Chicken Blows" it wasn't that beautiful, nautical strangeness of recording that struck me first. what I noticed was how it blatantly references The Beatles with it's oh-ed backing vocals. yeah, I know
xp as far as I remember from Spotify that's the re-recorded version
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:05 (twelve years ago) link
57. "Bulldog Skin" (Mag Earwhig!, 1997) [116 points, 6 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFqBp3rfTTc
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
^ don't think I'd ever seen that video before today. Uh, cute.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
#1 will be Dragons Awake! i am calling it right now
― ciderpress, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:22 (twelve years ago) link
Hah, two of mine already showing up. And I thought mine would be obvious high-placing songs (which I am sure a lot of them will be). I had Postal Blowfish pretty high (love that version above). Just one of those songs I never get tired of for some reason.
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:22 (twelve years ago) link
Likewise. Kind of embarrassing, I think, but w/e. Song sounds way better without the Wonder Years footage.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:24 (twelve years ago) link
Ha, I really don't like 'Bulldog Skin' at all.
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:24 (twelve years ago) link
Same here.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
Chicken Blows is like the best bootleg White Album demo ever
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:28 (twelve years ago) link
Same here, don't like it. Thought it was a candidate for "hated tracks" but found I really couldn't create a "hated songs"-list of GBV
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
60th seems about right for "My Kind of Soldier" and "Chicken Blows" which are both fine but never really close to making my ballot. Not crazy about the other two.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
is there a version on king shit and the golden boys? that one iirc is more lo-fi.
yes. and yes more lo-fi.
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
actually think of the blowfish from crying your knife away as definitive. fun song to cover. so easy! (and a lot of GBV songs are deceptively difficult -- pollard uses strange chords).
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:33 (twelve years ago) link
56. "Key Losers" (outtake, 1995) [124 points, 5 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emIlqw1xMjE
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
This one I actually vote for, though fairly low on my ballot. Was hoping to see it make the top 50, too bad.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
Man, I had no idea that Doug Gillard had recorded I Am a Tree before joining GBV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06LeARpYqo0&feature=related
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
Really thought Postal Blowfish was more loved (not to beat a dead horse here). Love the build up at the end, especially in that Brain Candy version, lots of cool guitar parts. Guess that's all Gillard?
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:37 (twelve years ago) link
Brain Candy version would've been pre-Gillard.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:38 (twelve years ago) link
fun song to cover. so easy!
I have an mp3 of the Grifters covering it live
and yeah I thought the song the *poll was named for* might place higher? I voted it pretty high.
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
yeah i think the postal blowfish on brain candy is still "classic lineup" gbv? could be wrong.
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
non-album track etc etc
― ciderpress, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
I thought the song the *poll was named for* might place higher
The song the Led Zeppelin poll was named for didn't make the countdown at all. To be honest, top 60 is a pretty good result when there were 80 million songs to choose from.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:41 (twelve years ago) link
I like Postal Blowfish but it's not one of my favorites.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
I think so. There were a lot of songs around then that had a lo-fi and hi-fi version like Motor Away and I Am a Scientist but most of em all had the same guys playing on them
― dmr, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:44 (twelve years ago) link
Would anyone be terribly offended if I asked if there are any other female voters here? Just curious.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
55. "Huffman Prairie Flying Field" (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004) [125 points, 4 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGYvY2unqVo
(Until the news that there would be upcoming GBV material, this would've been the final album track ever released by the band. A fine sign-off imo.)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
Oh man I tooooooooooooooootally love this song. Quintessential GBV.
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
The song the Led Zeppelin poll was named for didn't make the countdown at all.
A good pun trumps all.
― Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:49 (twelve years ago) link
i'm happy then you didn't call this one, say, Tracks Poll Rape Chain
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:52 (twelve years ago) link
"Polled hands, touching my face"
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:54 (twelve years ago) link
Buzzards and Dreadful Polls
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:55 (twelve years ago) link
Club POLLuska
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 19:56 (twelve years ago) link
Robert POLLard
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:56 (twelve years ago) link
54. "Big Boring Wedding" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [125 points, 5 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGprtQJwSY
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:13 (twelve years ago) link
woo!
― da croupier, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
Great track. Scraped my top 20, but I just couldn't make room for it.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:17 (twelve years ago) link
53. "Everybody Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)" (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004) [130 points, 6 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MTzCxFlT8g
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:29 (twelve years ago) link
^ Another near miss from my ballot. Given a second draft now, it likely would be on there.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:31 (twelve years ago) link
52. "Gleemer (The Deeds of Fertile Jim)" (Vampire on Titus, 1993) [131 points, 6 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvsGMlgK0fs
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:44 (twelve years ago) link
That's a good one.
― kornrulez6969, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:52 (twelve years ago) link
could this be a brand new low? a brand new love? what is he saying? either way, so nice, maybe my favorite song on VOT. kind of long for a gbv song, but i wish it was longer!
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 20:54 (twelve years ago) link
Last one for today. The "official" countdown begins tomorrow (50-36, then 35-21, then the top 20 on Thursday)...
51. "Little Whirl" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [136 points, 6 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1H0_NhJar8
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:02 (twelve years ago) link
"chicken blows" was in my most-hated tracks
― sons of menarche (donna rouge), Monday, 26 September 2011 21:04 (twelve years ago) link
None of my picks in those. Looking forward to the rest of the list.
― Jeff, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:05 (twelve years ago) link
my favourite Tobin song off of Alien Lanes. it's just so euphoric with its waves of overdrive, masses of compressed sounds. I can't shake off the feeling that Sprout sang this one with a huge smile on his face.
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:08 (twelve years ago) link
For stragglers:
TIE 60. "My Kind of Soldier" (Earthquake Glue, 2003) [110 points, 5 votes]TIE 60. "Chicken Blows" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [110 points, 5 votes]58. "Postal Blowfish" (outtake, 1993) [111 points, 5 votes]57. "Bulldog Skin" (Mag Earwhig!, 1997) [116 points, 6 votes]56. "The Key Losers" (outtake, 1995) [124 points, 5 votes, 1 #1 vote]55. "Huffman Prairie Flying Field" (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004) [125 points, 4 votes]54. "Big Boring Wedding" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [125 points, 5 votes]53. "Everybody Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)" (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004) [130 points, 6 votes]52. "Gleemer (The Deeds of Fertile Jim)" (Vampire on Titus, 1993) [131 points, 6 votes]51. "Little Whirl" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [136 points, 6 votes]
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:09 (twelve years ago) link
it's my only pick (#12 on my ballot) so far to show up
― V79, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:10 (twelve years ago) link
man 3 of my top 20 already knocked out in there
― da croupier, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:11 (twelve years ago) link
Chicken Blows just missed the cut for me. And of course, Bulldog Skin was on my ballot.
― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:17 (twelve years ago) link
Bulldog Skin was on mine as well. Just makes me happy.
― grandavis, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
This was one track I voted for ("Key Losers") and a whole bunch of tracks that were fine but I never really considered voting for. I guess that's about right for 60-51
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 26 September 2011 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/sp10000/playlist/5QWljGgTEhj3DPiXtmkYU7
― skip, Monday, 26 September 2011 21:33 (twelve years ago) link
Little Whirl and Big Boring Wedding both made my lists. The chicks are back!
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Monday, 26 September 2011 21:52 (twelve years ago) link
lol "brand new low" never even occurred to me, but I thought "Captain's Dead" started thusly:
Captain's dead, the woman -- she has fled
haha
― some lady (La Lechera), Monday, 26 September 2011 21:55 (twelve years ago) link
ha, i really did not know, but i looked it up
I'm sitting on 2 heads"Some seat" I heard some saidJust waiting for SundayFour days after Wednesday
The higher clouds are closing inTo hide the deeds of Fertile Jim
Could this be a brand new lowOne that we can't talk aboutOne that we can't live withoutOne that we can join in now
I'm standing on 2 feetNow buried in concreteJust waiting for sundownSo as to be not found
― tylerw, Monday, 26 September 2011 22:02 (twelve years ago) link
The only one I voted for today was "Bulldog Skin" : such a power rocker. I thought about voting for "Gleemer" but 20's a tough # to fit with this band.
― Euler, Monday, 26 September 2011 23:03 (twelve years ago) link
Was listening to a fairly random GBV playlist on my way into work. Only one track I voted for was on the selection, but realised that if I hadn't done an instant top-of-my-head 20, I could have been there all week trying to winnow it down. So many good songs.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 10:25 (twelve years ago) link
Too bad that 'Key Losers' isn't better known. If it had been included on one of the '94-'96 albums, it would have placed MUCH higher. BTW, who had it at #1? It was my number 3.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 10:29 (twelve years ago) link
Kicking it off for today in 3...2...1...
50. "As We Go Up, We Go Down" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [138 points, 8 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7FqlArPFwI
(My friend Danny actually made this video for it, so yeah.)
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:36 (twelve years ago) link
Good start.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:37 (twelve years ago) link
49. "I Am a Tree" (Mag Earwhig!, 1997) [150 points, 6 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV1fPyh53Ik
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:54 (twelve years ago) link
definitely my most listened GBV song, all time guitar lick
― skip, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link
Just realized I should have voted for Kicker of Elves.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:09 (twelve years ago) link
I almost voted "Kicker of Elves"! It's a ridiculous song that I find myself singing for a laugh all the time.
― Euler, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
I swear that Doug Gillard ripped off the first part of the main riff from 'I Am A Tree' from some 70's hard rock band (I wanna say it was Head East but it's not). I will find it someday. Definitely the most "classic rock" of their songs.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:20 (twelve years ago) link
voted "I Am A Tree" pretty high too
― Euler, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:22 (twelve years ago) link
48. "Closer You Are" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [150 points, 8 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTEcNruLS3Y
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:24 (twelve years ago) link
Seeing these Alien Lanes songs come in that I did not vote for makes me realize that I could have just voted the first 20 AL songs with an exception here or there and been pretty happy with my ballot.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:26 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, we've had here 2 Alien Lanes songs that didn't make my ballot but very easily could have (ended up with 4 AL songs on my ballot, easily could have been 8 or so)
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:41 (twelve years ago) link
One of mine finally made the list!
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:42 (twelve years ago) link
ha, i think "as we go up" is the first song i voted for that's shown up. so beautiful and seemingly effortless.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
47. "Everywhere With Helicopter" (Universal Truths and Cycles, 2002) [152 points, 9 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRMobFKG-a4
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:50 (twelve years ago) link
The number 47 already getting 9 votes can only mean: monster poll. Love it.
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:51 (twelve years ago) link
Woo! One of the songs that shows not the transformation from lo-fi to hi-fi, but the transformation into a band capable of rocking so tight and hard.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:53 (twelve years ago) link
the only AL song i voted for hasn't showed up yet, but i know it will. i woke up this morning trying to remember the name of the song that contains the lyrics "under the bushes, under the stars". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-uZAwh7KLk
― some lady (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:53 (twelve years ago) link
9 votes with 152 points means a lot of people had this at the bottom of their ballot. I myself voted for it, at number 15. I've always thought it was the best song on Universal Truths & Cycles.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:54 (twelve years ago) link
Yay, Helicopter. Best part of that song is ROOF TO FLOOR.
― some lady (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:54 (twelve years ago) link
Even more than "I Am a Tree," I think "Helicopter" is their most fully put-together big rawk song. I used to love it originally, but now I'm a little over it. What it makes up for in flash and sound quality, it lacks in some of the other things I like about GBV. Gold bless Doug Gillard, but he's no Mitch Mitchell.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:54 (twelve years ago) link
I love Gillard's solo on Helicopter ... Not usually a fan of solos.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:56 (twelve years ago) link
The live version is better than the original imo. Rates pretty high on the "makes me flip out when I hear it" scale. I can't really say that for, I dunno, "Chicken Blows".
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:56 (twelve years ago) link
great track. The guitar solo reminds me of late 90s Bad Religion.
― skip, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:04 (twelve years ago) link
46. "Do the Earth" (I Am a Scientist EP, 1994) [154 points, 7 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIC2mqWerR0
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:06 (twelve years ago) link
Great song. Just missed out on my ballot.
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:09 (twelve years ago) link
At the risk of offending some people, I've got to admit that Doug Gillard's overplaying ruins a lot of late-period GBV for me - not that he does it all the time but nonetheless...
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:10 (twelve years ago) link
the only AL song i voted for hasn't showed up yet, but i know it will. i woke up this morning trying to remember the name of the song that contains the lyrics "under the bushes, under the stars".
ā some lady (La Lechera), Tuesday, September 27, 2011 2:53 PM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark
Bunco Men from the first Suitcase also contains the "under the bushes under the stars" lyric. It was suppose to be on UTBUTS but apparently they misplaced the tape it was recorded on. Great song.
― ColinO, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:15 (twelve years ago) link
So far three of my songs have appeared in the countdown including the 60-51 bonus portion. (Big Boring Wedding, Gleemer, and Do The Earth)
And like justfanoe, I easily could have included Closer You Are and As We Go Up We Go Down but I already included a handful of Alien Lanes' tracks. Just too too many damn great songs...
― ColinO, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:22 (twelve years ago) link
45. "Girls of Wild Strawberries" (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004) [156 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oahhlvwZKk
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:23 (twelve years ago) link
I'm pleased with the amount of love some songs from Half Smiles have gotten so far. I didn't vote for this one or Raincloud, but I did for Huffman Prairie and a couple others. Def an underrated album.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:27 (twelve years ago) link
(xpost) that's a good one. I didn't vote for anything past Isolation Drills but yesterday I was thinking this one could/should have made it. or maybe Back to the Lake.
― dmr, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:27 (twelve years ago) link
Wild Strawberries is a good melody - I always wanted to hear it with a more energetic tempo. boomp boomp boomp boomp zzzzzzz
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
I totally expected As We Go Up We Go Down to be top 20
― iatee, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
This came on my iPod this morning, and I was struck by how brilliant it was. Didn't vote for it, mind.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
sooo much OTM right there. an the start I actually wanted to pull this one off as a kind of a joke (a joke that still would be pretty close to the truth)
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:37 (twelve years ago) link
44. "Acorns and Orioles" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [157 points, 6 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVmVJ2ZGd4
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:45 (twelve years ago) link
*swoons*
wth was i doing putting it at only #13?
― ledge, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:46 (twelve years ago) link
My #03! Love love love it so
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:47 (twelve years ago) link
Number 1 voter come forth and be praised
I can't believe only 6 people voted for it.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:48 (twelve years ago) link
i can't believe i forgot about it! i'm ashamed
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
what a great song
Yeah, especially freakin' great on headphones, with that constant threatening droney sound in the background
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:53 (twelve years ago) link
I thought this would finish higher but, then again, I didn't vote for it either so I guess I can't complain.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:58 (twelve years ago) link
oof yeah i should've voted for acorns & orioles!
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:05 (twelve years ago) link
So basically it would've been the number one if so many people hadn't forgotten to vote for it! I suspect that will happen with more songs in this poll :)
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:06 (twelve years ago) link
Great song, sorry to omit it! Always loved the Peel wersion of "Cut-Out Witch" with the "I can't tell you anything" refrain stuck in at the end.
― bentelec, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:07 (twelve years ago) link
I've never heard that version, or session. Was it officially released?
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:11 (twelve years ago) link
43. "Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy" (Propeller, 1992) [157 points, 8 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM8JTHgOfRM
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:16 (twelve years ago) link
yaaaay "do the earth" and "U!TLHB"
― sons of menarche (donna rouge), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:17 (twelve years ago) link
I'm away for two hours and we're already at 43! Just wanted to mention that 'Everywhere with Helicopter' was the only song on my ballot that I hadn't heard before this poll and that I added thanks to the voting thread.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:17 (twelve years ago) link
xxxp the bootleg called To Trigger A Synapse has these, suppose they weren't released officially?
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:17 (twelve years ago) link
"Unleashed" bassline intro reminds me heavily of a similar intro in JD's "Disorder"
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:19 (twelve years ago) link
LBI: only know it through less-than-legal downloads, but it's on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVz7RhAkiDE
― bentelec, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:28 (twelve years ago) link
Hey thanks!!
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:28 (twelve years ago) link
"Acorns and Orioles" always makes me think of R.E.M.
― nerve_pylon, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:31 (twelve years ago) link
42. "Man Called Aerodynamics" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [159 points, 7 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PFlJ0hapXM
(see also, the BBC session youtube posted above...it's the second track.)
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:35 (twelve years ago) link
This song is a force of nature, btw.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:36 (twelve years ago) link
"Unleashed" bassline intro reminds me heavily of a similar intro in JD's "Disorder"ā V79, Tuesday, September 27, 2011 6:19 PM (14 minutes ago)
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:36 (twelve years ago) link
'Digital'?
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
xp the bassline also (kinda) resembles the Pachelbel canon, which is a popular chord movement after all. but I assure you, the moment I first heard "Unleashed" it made me think of "Disorder" :)
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
This song is a force of nature, btw
The way this song starts it sounds like you're in the middle of a tornado. No matter how many times I listen to it, it still takes me a second or two to get my bearings.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
Brilliant record opener, and OTM about the tornado effect. Sounds like a few seconds were cut off on the master tape.
BTW: I always thought that instead of a 'book mobile' he was talking about this thing :)http://images.wikia.com/mafiawars/images/c/ce/Popemobile_Real.jpg
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
don't know if he gets called out too much but kevin fennell can be a pretty impressive drummer -- the beat on aerodynamics is relentless.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
The whole song, for me, is a frantic build-up to the moment Pollard sings the song's title and stretches out the "aeeeroooo-dy-namics".
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
I feel like I just won the lottery by the time he gets to it.
I suddenly realised what the bassline of 'Unleashed' reminded me of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OArdM4Cb-ho
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
41. "Peep-Hole" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [164 points, 6 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUjzXV9bIGA
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:52 (twelve years ago) link
Gotta admit I don't get "Peep-Hole" being this high, much less getting a #1.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:53 (twelve years ago) link
now that's a hell of a crazy tune.
^^^ well that's the GBV - even the strangests of cuts have their own charm, that few may find very appealing
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:55 (twelve years ago) link
i voted for peephole, just one of those gorgeous melodies that sounds effortless, but is actually pretty complex/strange. christ it's a cluttered mess!
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:56 (twelve years ago) link
This song is fine but it just seems too slight to rank on a top 20 list.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:56 (twelve years ago) link
I voted for "Cigarette Tricks", I can understand anything that happens in this poll
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
Man Called Aerodynamics is such a great song! Listen to the demo version first, and then the full version and it's like getting a blast of wind in the face. Head clearing!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
Haha. xp
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
It and the Sprout song after it are like lagniappes. Nice, but not essential.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
"It" being 'Peep-Hole' xpost
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, it is an oddly underwhelming way to end the album.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:02 (twelve years ago) link
there was a cracking electrified live version of peephole i had on mp3 from somewhere. maybe from gbv.com?
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:05 (twelve years ago) link
yes! http://gbv.com/sounds/peephole.mp3
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:06 (twelve years ago) link
actually a ton of cool live stuff here: http://gbv.com/music.html
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
40. "Your Name Is Wild" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [183 points, 8 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HKCwYjt5eY
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:08 (twelve years ago) link
I love this one even if no one else does.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:15 (twelve years ago) link
I might name my firstborn "Wild".
i think i voted for it? great side two opener. about his daughter, I think? did i make that up?
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:16 (twelve years ago) link
seven other people do! (including me, i voted for it)
― sons of menarche (donna rouge), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:16 (twelve years ago) link
'closer you are' is one of my favourite i'm-having-a-bad-day songs. "you try to be nice and look where it gets you aaaah aaaah"
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:16 (twelve years ago) link
"Stoned at the Alamo" tonight
― dmr, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:22 (twelve years ago) link
Wild Strawberry Fever <-- nice name, kid
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:24 (twelve years ago) link
Guessing that the "Peep-Hole" naysayers are "I Am A Scientist" fans who think of it as the natural climax to the album? The appeal--Pollard drawing back the curtain at the end of the album with a fairly legible lyric--is pretty much the same. Though the lyric in "Scientist" is a lot more evolved, I always thought the melody of "Peep-Hole" worked better, and I love the inarticulate scatting at the end. (But then, I am the mentalist who voted it #1.)
― bentelec, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:24 (twelve years ago) link
I love this one even if no one else does.that's how i feel about "Liquid Indian"i just LOVE it for no apparent reason
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:25 (twelve years ago) link
xp hey, did you forget of "You're Not An Airplane"? no hard feelings, I can't really recall this one either tbh
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
39. "Subspace Biographies" (Waved Out, 1998) [184 points, 7 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U5BWlCBNS0
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:31 (twelve years ago) link
xpNah, just that the album seems to resolve at "I Am A Scientist" (or "Peep-Hole," depending on your taste) and that what follows is for lagniappe, like righteousmaelstrom said.
― bentelec, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:32 (twelve years ago) link
xp yes!some of my favorite pollard lyrics, so berzerk
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:34 (twelve years ago) link
super chuggy too
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:35 (twelve years ago) link
that one came up on shuffle the other day and oh man
― ciderpress, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:37 (twelve years ago) link
i dropped all the solo pollard tracks from my ballot though since it was the least agonizing way to get it down to 20.
― ciderpress, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
xp yeah, I see (I was also kind of joking)
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
Subspace was my #2. Thought it would come in higher.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
hey, did you forget of "You're Not An Airplane"? no hard feelings, I can't really recall this one either tbh
You will be eating your words when "You're Not An Airplane" finishes #1.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
i will have to rep for 'Far-Out Crops' some other time
― ciderpress, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
Waved out isn't on spotify :(
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:41 (twelve years ago) link
I voted for "We've Got Airplanes" does that count?
Faaaaaar Ooooout Croooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooops that song rules
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:41 (twelve years ago) link
Only three more for today. I'll do them when I get back from lunch!
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:43 (twelve years ago) link
I put "Peephole" second. Almost put it first. It's this great love song to his (now-ex-) wife, disarmingly straightforward. Some of his most touching lyrics and melody, I think. It only seems slight if you accept the notion that a song only a minute or so long is necessarily slight - a perspective I can't imagine reconciling with being a Pollard fan. Then again, I voted for "The Ascended Master's Grog Shop". And two tracks off the Get Out of My Stations 7", which I'm sure people think of as a slight release (I would have put it on my albums ballot if I had counted it as an album).
― erasingclouds, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:43 (twelve years ago) link
it only seems slight if you accept the notion that a song only a minute or so long is necessarily slight
Nah, the #1 song on my ballot is about the same length as "Peep-Hole" so that's not it. It's a fine song, but the melody just never grabs me. Actually, I've always found it to be very forgettable.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
I just got idea we also should have voted for our favourite Pollard track & album names (I like the ring of "Get Out of My Stations")
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
Peep hole was one of the last songs to be cut from my list. Subspace biographies was quite high on mine.
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:48 (twelve years ago) link
xpYeah! "Deathtrot and Warlock Riding a Rooster" would place high, I hope.
― bentelec, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:50 (twelve years ago) link
cock of the block
i've had my fingers crossed for "don't stop now" kinda bummed that i am going to be in class tomorrow during the countdown :(
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:51 (twelve years ago) link
i've owned you for centuries
― ciderpress, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:52 (twelve years ago) link
Voted Subspace! Such a simple but great rock song. Almost dumped it to stick to GBV stuff, but just found that I still loved it.
― grandavis, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 17:55 (twelve years ago) link
Have to think that "Don't Stop Now" will make it. I am holding out for quite a few UTBUTS songs, none of mine have placed yet.
― grandavis, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:07 (twelve years ago) link
I had 2 UTBUTS songs on my ballot and I would be shocked if they don't both place.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:08 (twelve years ago) link
38. "Dusted" (Vampire on Titus, 1993 / Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1994) [185 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwUgou8yaRQ
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:14 (twelve years ago) link
amazing song, i had it pretty high up there. if i drank enough rolling rock, i'd probably argue that FJSC is the best album of the 90s. And it's not even an album.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:16 (twelve years ago) link
good vocal quality on "dusted"
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:17 (twelve years ago) link
I had 5 from alien lanes. Didn't even notice while I was making my list. No other album has more than 2 for me.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:20 (twelve years ago) link
tangentially related -- rock n roll hall of fame first-time eligibles this year but not nominated include Crowded House, Guided by Voices, the Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett, Salt N Pepa, Soundgarden, They Might Be Giants, and Yo La Tengo.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:23 (twelve years ago) link
Would be surprised if any of them ever make it in.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:25 (twelve years ago) link
Soundgarden will, someday.
― The Man With The Flavored Toothpick (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:27 (twelve years ago) link
had never heard the amazing FJSC version, definitely pushed it into my ballot
― bentelec, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:28 (twelve years ago) link
Mu number nineteen.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:29 (twelve years ago) link
Mu My
37. "Jane of the Waking Universe" (Mag Earwhig!, 1997) [190 points, 8 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5cNgnHUevU
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:32 (twelve years ago) link
Subspace Biographies is awesome. Was hoping to hear some solo/outtake stuff that I was not familiar with.
― skip, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:34 (twelve years ago) link
Really glad this one made it. I think I knew at one point that it was one of the "classic lineup" final recordings, but had forgotten until it was mentioned in the voting thread. ANTHEMIC!
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
Here's another song I voted for (at around #12 or so). Def. my favorite on Mag Earwhig!, one of the very best Pollard choruses actually.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
Didn't vote for 'Jane' but absolutely love that "And undulating always like the tide..." bridge.
― Gavin, Leeds, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
i didn't vote for jane either, but the vowel sounds in that song are strange and interesting
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:56 (twelve years ago) link
Last one for today...
36. "Hot Freaks" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [202 points, 9 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fB6AyGes8
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:03 (twelve years ago) link
Too low!
About "Jane," I always liked the structure of that song -- I guess it's chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/solo/chorus, but since the verse only comes in once, it's like the bridge is just a second, completely different verse.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:08 (twelve years ago) link
hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!freaks!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:09 (twelve years ago) link
Don't like the recorded version of Hot Freaks much, but it always kills live.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:11 (twelve years ago) link
I thought this would place higher.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:12 (twelve years ago) link
I love the story about when Pollard was laying down the vocals for Hot Freaks in Tobin Sprout's basement while Sprout's wife was trying to run a garage sale at the same time.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:13 (twelve years ago) link
Haha!
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:13 (twelve years ago) link
"hi, i was just wondering how much this lamp is?""this one is on the hoooooooooooouse"
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:15 (twelve years ago) link
looooooooooollllllllllllll
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
I don't love Hot Freaks enough to vote for it, but it's a good album track. I sure like it a lot more though if that story about the garage sale is true. That's amazing.
― grandavis, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
I was also at the show Darin mentioned in the polling thread where half of the audience stormed the stage to sing Hot Freaks. It was awesome.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
50. "As We Go Up, We Go Down" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [138 points, 8 votes]49. "I Am a Tree" (Mag Earwhig!, 1997) [150 points, 6 votes]48. "Closer You Are" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [150 points, 8 votes]47. "Everywhere With Helicopter" (Universal Truths and Cycles, 2002) [152 points, 9 votes]46. "Do the Earth" (I Am a Scientist EP, 1994) [154 points, 7 votes]45. "Girls of Wild Strawberries" (Half Smiles of the Decomposed, 2004) [156 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote]44. "Acorns and Orioles" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [157 points, 6 votes, 1 #1 vote]43. "Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy" (Propeller, 1992) [157 points, 8 votes]42. "Man Called Aerodynamics" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [159 points, 7 votes]41. "Peep-Hole" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [164 points, 6 votes, 1 #1 vote]40. "Your Name Is Wild" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [183 points, 8 votes]39. "Subspace Biographies" (Waved Out, 1998) [184 points, 7 votes]38. "Dusted" (Vampire on Titus, 1993 / Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1994) [185 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote]37. "Jane of the Waking Universe" (Mag Earwhig!, 1997) [190 points, 8 votes]36. "Hot Freaks" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [202 points, 9 votes]
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:22 (twelve years ago) link
i suspect my top two will place somewhere but probably not my #3, at this rate
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:26 (twelve years ago) link
I had hopes that FJSC Dusted would finish higher. It was my #1
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:29 (twelve years ago) link
i wonder whether any of my others will place if weed king doesn't make it, i'm gonna go bazonkers on you people
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:33 (twelve years ago) link
hahahaha
― skip, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
If I had made a worst list, I prob would have put hot freaks on it. Song just really annoys me.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
haha. I think Pollard told that one at the most recent Brooklyn reunion show.
agree Hot Freaks is way too low
if weed king doesn't make it, i'm gonna go bazonkers on you people
I did my part, voted Weed King #4 (Hot Freaks was 3)
― dmr, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:38 (twelve years ago) link
why does Jeff hate GBV
― dmr, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
If I hate them I sure have spent a lot of money on stuff I hate!
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:40 (twelve years ago) link
I don't really love "Hot Freaks", it works really good in the context of Bee Thousand in terms of adding in to the overall oddball atmosphere. I don't really feel the necessity to listen to it as a standalone track
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
i had two songs on my hate list, both from b000, and hot freaks was one of them. (i'll let you know the other when it comes up on the countdown, which i'm pretty sure it will!) the longest minute and a half in the gbv catalog for me. i could probably deal with it in a funny/strange hard-rock/metal kinda way if it weren't clogging up side 1 of my favorite gbv album (for an intolerably long minute and a half!) and if they didn't play it in every damn show they ever did. is there any song they played live more than that one?
― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:51 (twelve years ago) link
lethargy?
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:52 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah I'm not really a fan of "Hot Freaks" either.
I've had 3 of my list place. I still expect the vast majority of my remaining 17 to show up. We'll see I guess.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:52 (twelve years ago) link
xxp of course there is - http://gbvdb.com/gig_report.asp?AlbumIDs=&tour=&all=true&sortcount=true
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:55 (twelve years ago) link
"Dusted" is great btw. Didn't vote for it but would have been in my top 25. Hopefully "My Impression Now" will show up later on.
― dmr, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 19:56 (twelve years ago) link
i had two songs on my hate list, both from b000, and hot freaks was one of them. (i'll let you know the other when it comes up on the countdown, which i'm pretty sure it will!) the longest minute and a half in the gbv catalog for me.
I can only deduce that this is Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory.
I think I've only had 3 of mine place so far in the top 50. At this point I've given up on seeing 'It's Like Soul, Man' show up. I do have a bunch of songs on there that they play live so I'm assuming they'll be placing but this won't be like the Zep poll where unless you were picking stuff off of Presence or Coda you could see pretty much everything place.
― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:04 (twelve years ago) link
ā Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, September 27, 2011 9:15 PM (47 minutes ago) Bookmark
<3
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:04 (twelve years ago) link
2 of mine have placed. I bet my other 18 will be the top 18.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:08 (twelve years ago) link
only one (1) of mine have placed so far (as the shameful #51) and I suspect no more than 10 others are going to show up later. guess my ballot sure was an unconventional one, oh well
― V79, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:15 (twelve years ago) link
yeah i don't think a lot of mine will place either (if they haven't yet) because i just voted for personal favorites and they are all over the place. oh well. if anyone gets a chance, listen to "earful o' wax" -- it's a great plane-taking-off song and has a great solo at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYPo0BYmuRk
does anyone have cartooning skills?4 panel cartoon of that recording session/garage sale:
panel 1 -- dayton oh, 19 something and 5 -- greeting customers at sale, offering lemonade la ti dapanel 2 -- the boys downstairs with bubbles and beers and guitars jamming and belting out hot freaks woo hoopanel 3 -- lady asks about lamp, bob replies from the basementpanel 4 -- mrs sprout makes a face :-/
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:20 (twelve years ago) link
Man, that's a really cool song. Thanks!
― grandavis, Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:52 (twelve years ago) link
nope
― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 04:57 (twelve years ago) link
Another good old one that will never make it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FNIzF7mFkY
If I had ever had a radio show, it would have been called "trust the wizard".
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:34 (twelve years ago) link
35. "Wished I Was a Giant" (Vampire on Titus, 1993) [203 points, 9 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdhNN3WrtkI
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:37 (twelve years ago) link
I used to have that scooter promo picture up on my wall in lolcollege.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:38 (twelve years ago) link
A guy here in Charlottesville, Virginia, had a great radio show called "Trust the Wizard"! WTJU!!!
― grandavis, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:38 (twelve years ago) link
i figured there were a bunch of them -- it seemed cliche at the time, but now no one would know wtf i'm referring to
btw i know this is asking a lot, but juanito could you drag this out as long as possible? please? i have class til 12:15 and shameful though it is, i've been looking forward to this. i thought the countdown was going to be yesterday!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:40 (twelve years ago) link
I just realized yesterday that I am actually gonna be offline tomorrow through Monday, so I am gonna miss the top 20 countdown. It will of course still be fun to read the thread, but sad to miss the event itself.
I certainly didn't know what "Trust the Wizard" referred to, so probably only a cliche to big GBV fans. Pretty easy to love the obviously-lovable aspects of GBV though, as in every college station should have a radio show called "Trust the Wizard", it would be fucking cooler of they did.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
My college radio show was not called "Trust the Wizard". What a missed opportunity.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:58 (twelve years ago) link
By the way, should this be ""Wished I Was a Giant""?
"Wished I Was A Giant" is one of my very favorites
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 14:00 (twelve years ago) link
34. "A Good Flying Bird" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [207 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkltkwCsyPk
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 14:13 (twelve years ago) link
at last, a song I voted for! whoever you are, who placed it as his #1, I salute you.
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 14:19 (twelve years ago) link
As memory serves, I had this one in my top 10. One of the most energetic and catchiest songs in their catalogue.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 14:34 (twelve years ago) link
33. "Glad Girls" (Isolation Drills, 2001) [211 points, 10 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQa1_PAPbks
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 14:55 (twelve years ago) link
that's hell of a trippy video
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:06 (twelve years ago) link
so catchy
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:06 (twelve years ago) link
"Glad Girls" wore thin on me after listening to it beaucoup times upon release. it opens great! but the "they're all right" repetition is brutal. & the song could stand to be an old-style quickie, 2 minutes & out.
also I dunno why but I found the album's backstory about the dissolution of his marriage sad & found the album (& this song) a bit too personal to enjoy the pumped up kicks. it's less abstract to me & kind of a downer. still love "Chasing Heather Crazy" though
― Euler, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:08 (twelve years ago) link
here's glad girls as an old style quickie from 93https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl4c_85kgOQ
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:11 (twelve years ago) link
It's got a Moment, though - "the light that passes through me". Love the combination of chords and words at that point.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:17 (twelve years ago) link
32. "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [220 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGZT82PrbKs
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:20 (twelve years ago) link
also I dunno why but I found the album's backstory about the dissolution of his marriage sad & found the album (& this song) a bit too personal to enjoy the pumped up kicks. it's less abstract to me & kind of a downer. still love "Chasing Heather Crazy" thoughā Euler, Wednesday, September 28, 2011 11:08 AM (15 minutes ago) Bookmark
Euler, or anyone else, is there a good bio or book about GBV? Thanks in advance...made a playlist of the countdown songs so far last night and it is soooooo f-in' amazing. This is one of the best poll ideas yet as it really distills down the greatest of the great
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:26 (twelve years ago) link
Well, my #1 didn't make the top 50 (or 60), so it's not as great as it could be. ;)
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:28 (twelve years ago) link
spotify link is also being updated: http://open.spotify.com/user/sp10000/playlist/5QWljGgTEhj3DPiXtmkYU7
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
xp Jim Greer's "Hunting Accidents" comes first to mind, and people have been saying good things about it upthread.
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
My son was about 2 around the time of Isolation Drills. We'd be listening to the album in the car and he'd be in the back seat singing along to 'Glad Girls'. But we had to be careful playing that song around other people since he would sing "Hey, Hey, glad girls!/I only want to get you high!"
― righteousmaelstrom, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
That's another way of saying "too low."
― righteousmaelstrom, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:33 (twelve years ago) link
xp it's a weird book, lot of cool stuff, but a lot of inside baseball stuff that isn't of too much interest. inside baseball almost literally -- there's kind of an interminable amount of space devoted to the pollard bros' high school sports career.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:33 (twelve years ago) link
Man love "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows", it's just a continuous hook.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:33 (twelve years ago) link
Just listened to it 3 times in a row.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:40 (twelve years ago) link
Glad Girls one of my least favorites :(
Love Buzzards
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:45 (twelve years ago) link
31. "My Son Cool" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [235 points, 10 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdY-sjG8-vk
(Volume is really low on the clip, but I remember watching the show when they appeared!)
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:48 (twelve years ago) link
The problem with "Glad Girls" is that it goes on too long, which should never happen in a GBV song.
This has been a bad day for me, only one song I voted for and none of the other songs that made it are really anywhere close to my favorites.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
there's something really haunting about "My Son Cool" (esp. about the coda) and I can't put my finger on it. those three closing songs AL stand out from the rest of the album in a way I can't really explain
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:54 (twelve years ago) link
yeah i love my son cool -- decide now!!!!
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:59 (twelve years ago) link
30. "My Impression Now" (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1994) [241 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4_2rjFkPcI
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:03 (twelve years ago) link
yay
― dmr, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
It's another good one... but not better than "My Son Cool"
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
The first time I heard Glad Girls was at a show in Athens, GA. They were playing through the entirety of ID and after Glad Girls, they decided to play it again! I'm sure that would annoy some people but it was awesome at the time.
― Jeff, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:06 (twelve years ago) link
... maybe they ran out of songs
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:08 (twelve years ago) link
^ GBV fan's joke
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:09 (twelve years ago) link
in those rare events, when GBV run out of songs onstage, they just take a 5 minute break and come back with premiere material
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:15 (twelve years ago) link
29. "Redmen and Their Wives" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [247 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__q87LmkD8Y
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:23 (twelve years ago) link
Unlike Glad Girls which goes on way too long, I'd be fine with Redmen and Their Wives going on another 3 or 4 minutes.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
yeah that one's got some nice catharsis
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:30 (twelve years ago) link
28. "Chasing Heather Crazy" (Isolation Drills, 2001) [248 points, 11 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7KiLRCxt58
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
Hooray!
― Jeff, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:52 (twelve years ago) link
I like this track a lot more now than I did at the time the album was new. It's a remarkably slow burn for such an uptempo GBV song.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
isolation drills really came at a low point of my GBV fandom, but i couldn't deny this song.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:57 (twelve years ago) link
27. "Blimps Go 90" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [249 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU4NJnK1pvk
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
Great song.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:11 (twelve years ago) link
The rusty violin is a nice touch. Also, Mary Lou Lord had a nice cover of this on one of her albums (can't remember which).
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
nooooo, "Heather" is criminally TOO LOW :( that was my #2, I seriously thought it's a lock on for a top ten...
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:15 (twelve years ago) link
Hey, here's 2 songs I voted for, and two of GBV's prettiest tunes. I love the harmonies on "Chasing Heather Crazy" so much.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:23 (twelve years ago) link
I almost voted for 'Chasing Heather Crazy' but couldn't really decide whether or not 'Unspirited' does a similar-ish thing better... In the end neither made my final ballot anyway.
― Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
yay "my impression now"!! escort you safely away hey
hey hey
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:29 (twelve years ago) link
for the record, what i don't like about "Glad Girls" is the same thing I don't like about "Girls of Wild Strawberries" -- plodding undynamic unremarkable generic song about "girls"
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:30 (twelve years ago) link
26. "Shocker in Gloomtown" (The Grand Hour, 1993) [262 points, 10 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GO0i0ohbw
(bonus Breeders cover with GBV cameos)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqhOQLD3t0
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:32 (twelve years ago) link
yaaaay
love the breeders cover!!!!!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:35 (twelve years ago) link
yeah that is a great version. first time i saw gbv, kim miraculously appeared to sing on that and goldheart mountaintop.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:36 (twelve years ago) link
According the youtube uploader, that GBV vid is from just earlier this month and was the final show of the tour (maybe the final show ever? well, probably not that.)
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:37 (twelve years ago) link
how the hell did we miss itbared his ass for all to seeand no one got to kiss it
― dmr, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:38 (twelve years ago) link
The more I think about it, the more I think this song came in too low (I realize that #26 out of a zillion is pretty high, but still...).
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
Definitely too low.
― Jeff, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:53 (twelve years ago) link
Glad Girls -- but I was really torn between that and Motor Away.ā righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:01 PM (4 years ago) Bookmark
ā righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:01 PM (4 years ago) Bookmark
Haha. These are neither my #1 or #2.
― righteousmaelstrom, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:53 (twelve years ago) link
25. "Cut Out Witch" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [264 points, 14 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjkJIy2vZ2I
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:54 (twelve years ago) link
This one almost made my ballot and I could have picked one of the lower tracks and replaced it with this one pretty easily. Always great live.
― righteousmaelstrom, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:57 (twelve years ago) link
cut out witch is awesome
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 17:59 (twelve years ago) link
Gloomtown does feel too low. So much crammed in those 90 seconds.
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:02 (twelve years ago) link
Cut out witch totally great. Pretty good showing.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:05 (twelve years ago) link
Great song!
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:07 (twelve years ago) link
love the structure of Cut Out Witch - sounds so easy but other bands could try for years and fail to come up with something as snappy and well formed as that.
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:07 (twelve years ago) link
24. "14 Cheerleader Coldfront" (Propeller, 1992) [281 points, 14 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFvonufcz8A
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:26 (twelve years ago) link
No love?
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:33 (twelve years ago) link
Lotta love! I voted for this. Just really busy at work today, so I'm limited in my time for deep thoughts.
Overall I'm pleased that my #1 is still yet to come. Unless ILM will shame me by shutting it out completely.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:34 (twelve years ago) link
I don't really like 14 Cheerleader Coldfront very much tbh. It has never really moved me.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
It's so delicate, especially in the midst of what's around it on Propeller. It's swoony.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:37 (twelve years ago) link
I love this one. I think I had it tops among all the pre-Bee Thousand songs. I am totally out of touch with the greater GBV community, so actually I had no idea everybody else loved it too. I thought it was an unconventional pick on my ballot.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:37 (twelve years ago) link
See, for me, Circus World is swoony. 14 Cheerleader -- I dunno -- it just doesn't soar, it doesn't drive, it doesn't even plod -- it just kinda sits there harmonizing like a forgettable pair of strummers singing a coffee shop duet.
I would never get into this much detail with people who hadn't already spent this much time discussing the minutiae of GBV songs, but we have, so I did.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:40 (twelve years ago) link
I get what LL is getting at wrt "14 Cheerleader Coldfront", but I voted for it because they always seem to be able to breathe new life into it on-stage.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:41 (twelve years ago) link
If I'm in a wistful mood this is the ticket - great lyrics
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:42 (twelve years ago) link
stay close to locker rooms
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:43 (twelve years ago) link
23. "A Salty Salute" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [302 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX6vRwEZFrM
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:44 (twelve years ago) link
C'MON C'MON C'MON!
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:44 (twelve years ago) link
I still cringe at "no coin meters there"I guess I'll never really love that song.
Anyway, PROOOOOOUD BROTHERS
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
One of the great album openers ever. Not surprising that they chose this to start off the 'greatest hits' CD too.
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
^^ so OTM
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:46 (twelve years ago) link
ha, i actually thought this'd be #1greatest bassline ever.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:46 (twelve years ago) link
'Blimps Go 90' FAR TOO LOW.
― ArchCarrier, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
erg, i don't think i voted for that. but yeah, A+ opening track
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:51 (twelve years ago) link
An almost perfect GBV song, just admire all the lyrics:
Disarm the settlersThe new drunk driversHave hoisted the flagWe are with you in your angerProud brothersDo not fretThe bus will get you there yetTo carry us to the lakeThe club is openYeah, The club is openHey, the club is openA-come on, come on, the club is openC'mon, c'mon, the club is openC'mon, c'mon, c'mon, the club is open...
― Jeff, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, since this poll I've been paying more attention to the lyrics, and some of them are so great. 'Atom Eyes' is my fave atm.
― ArchCarrier, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
in retrospect i clearly threw most of my votes into the trash, but i think there will be at least 7 more that make it to the top 20
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
Love 14 Cheerleader Coldfront. A Salty Salute the first GBV song I ever heard. A great album opener.
I wonder if my #1 will show. It's not one of their bigger songs but one I think they've played every time I've seen them -- usually during the 1st or 2nd encore.
― righteousmaelstrom, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
still laughing at that joke about "this one is on the house" from upthread
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:56 (twelve years ago) link
22. "Watch Me Jumpstart" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [306 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRkntM8IFFY
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
A++++ run here
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:58 (twelve years ago) link
i love the sway/chug on watch me jumpstart!!!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:59 (twelve years ago) link
I'm glad this one did not make the top 20. It's fine, but I've always found it to be a bit overrated, probably like my 10th favorite song or so on the album, maybe less.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:00 (twelve years ago) link
Great live song, like it much better than the album version
― Jeff, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
that was my #2 i think? it's kind of a gbv litmus test sound-wise, some people just hear sludge, but the chorus hook is undeniable imo
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:05 (twelve years ago) link
i love to make up my own harmonies and doot doot doots to "watch me jumpstart" -- been singing the same ones for years, no idea why
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:07 (twelve years ago) link
'Cause I'm a supernova erect and white hot
― Jeff, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
tmi
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
21. "Dayton, Ohioā19 Something and 5" (Tonics and Twisted Chasers, 1996) [317 points, 14 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C6AhgMYiRg
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:14 (twelve years ago) link
re "Watch Me Jumpstart": my #8. GBV at their most anthemic. well, of course the same can be said about "Salty Salute".
― V79, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:15 (twelve years ago) link
this top 30 is gonna be about as good a compilation as you can make
― iatee, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
the chord change into "cause i won't be around, as you run...etc." so great
― bluelips, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
A++++ run continues
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
ooh didn't know people rated that one so highly. it's nice
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
and shoooooooot me dowwwwwwwwnnnnnnn
― dmr, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
That's all for today. Top 20 rolls out tomorrow, so get ready.
35. "Wished I Was a Giant" (Vampire on Titus, 1993) [203 points, 9 votes]34. "A Good Flying Bird" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [207 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote]33. "Glad Girls" (Isolation Drills, 2001) [211 points, 10 votes]32. "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [220 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote]31. "My Son Cool" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [235 points, 10 votes]30. "My Impression Now" (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, 1994) [241 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote]29. "Redmen and Their Wives" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [247 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote]28. "Chasing Heather Crazy" (Isolation Drills, 2001) [248 points, 11 votes]27. "Blimps Go 90" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [249 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote]26. "Shocker in Gloomtown" (The Grand Hour, 1993) [262 points, 10 votes]25. "Cut Out Witch" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [264 points, 14 votes]24. "14 Cheerleader Coldfront" (Propeller, 1992) [281 points, 14 votes]23. "A Salty Salute" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [302 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 vote]22. "Watch Me Jumpstart" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [306 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote]21. "Dayton, Ohioā19 Something and 5" (Tonics and Twisted Chasers, 1996) [317 points, 14 votes]
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks Johnny! Cannot wait for tomorrow.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:21 (twelve years ago) link
"Isn't it great to exist at this point in time? Where the produce is rotten but no one is forgotten"
O_O
― ArchCarrier, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
wonder how much overlap there will be with the official GH compilation.
― skip, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
Man, really unfortunate that I am going to miss out on tomorrow.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
i thought it was "no one's forgotten strawberry philadelphia drive"
"the smell of fried food and pure hot tar" is one of my favorite descriptive lines, pure ohio, gives me chills
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:49 (twelve years ago) link
like no one HAS forgottenrather than no one IS forgotten
because it is very ohio to hold a permanent grudge
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:50 (twelve years ago) link
exercise in contrasts:
"Dayton, Ohio"
+
"Other Place"
One is grim and real but also tenderly affectionate; the other is sunny and rings like a strange jangly clown maskboth are talking ostensibly about the same place
yes i have thought about this a lot
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:52 (twelve years ago) link
Dayton, Ohio-19 Something And 5 was so great live. Just an incredibly evocative and nostalgic song, I had it at #17.
Only 5 of my songs have shown up so far. I love how when each new song is unveiled I'm like "damn that one could have easily made my list..."
― ColinO, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 20:06 (twelve years ago) link
I love how when each new song is unveiled I'm like "damn that one could have easily made my list..."
Yeah, this. Only three of mine in so far but it's still been a great list.
― Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 20:45 (twelve years ago) link
Got six landed so far .
My next 14 will land. Surely?
There are some songs on here that I need to revisit / didn't realise they existed.And I have the rekkids.
I am a bad man and poor listener
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 22:27 (twelve years ago) link
9 so far here. I probably will see 7 more place. Would be surprised if anything else off of ID shows up (I only have one song left from that one).
― righteousmaelstrom, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 22:31 (twelve years ago) link
Gosh darn I missed 35-21, and will prob miss the final showdown tomorrow. Curse you americans with your weird time system!
anyway 5 or 6 of mine placed so far inc. my #1, redmen and their wives, had to go for the melancholia. wonderful cathedral-organ atmospherics of the second guitar when it comes in, and then after the understated first half they bust out some traditional gbv slow n heavy rock, almost a redemption even as the lyrics descend from resignation to despair.
― ledge, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 23:05 (twelve years ago) link
"breadwinner and klutz" is a lovely "two types of people in the world" binary.
― ledge, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 23:10 (twelve years ago) link
Ledge . I mean this is the problem for me and it's a very exciting one. I Had never listened/or even heard to 'Redmen...' ever. and I thought I was a big fan of UTBUTS . i didn;t get beyond "Rally" "witch" and "Don't Stop".What a tit. I am not GBV hardcore firm obviously.
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 23:16 (twelve years ago) link
ha i am so not the hardcore fan, i only had four albums in my top five. hoping to find some hidden gold in this poll meself but utbuts is standing firm as my personal sweet spot of unpolished melodic wonderment.
― ledge, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 23:22 (twelve years ago) link
The bottom 20
Smothered in HugsGold Star For Robot BoyTractor Rape ChainThe Goldheart Mountaintop Queen DirectoryEchos MyronI Am A ScientistYours to KeepPimple ZooGame Of PricksMy Valuable Hunting Knife(I Wanna Be a) DumbchargerMotor AwayOver The Neptune/Mesh Gear FoxWeed KingQuality of ArmorLethargyTeenage FBIThe Best of Jill HivesSubspace BiographiesUncle Dave
I'd be sad if Uncle Dave doesn't place
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 00:16 (twelve years ago) link
this is the other song i was referring to btw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8FMsWjiG7Y&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLB3A7A33B08123042
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 00:17 (twelve years ago) link
that album cover makes my heart hurt
Alien Lanes back cover photo: who is on the far left?
― calstars, Thursday, 29 September 2011 01:06 (twelve years ago) link
jim greer
― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 29 September 2011 01:23 (twelve years ago) link
(i think!)
None of my Isolation Drills songs have placed yet not looking good for them.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 01:29 (twelve years ago) link
yeah :(
― minge beat (electricsound), Thursday, 29 September 2011 01:36 (twelve years ago) link
great poll so far, am excited for the rest of the results. i wonder if my favourite gbv song "drag days" will place.
― marc iv, Thursday, 29 September 2011 02:13 (twelve years ago) link
dept. of had i voted:
'i am a tree' would be higher'little whirl' would be higher'the enemy' would maybe have placed?
lamely,-m.
― mookieproof, Thursday, 29 September 2011 02:25 (twelve years ago) link
One of the ones in my guess for the top 20 already placed. I'll replace Subspace Biographies with Kicker of Elves
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 02:44 (twelve years ago) link
No way in hell Uncle Dave is gonna place. That's a REALLY obscure choice only found on the Grifters' split single and never played live. Pretty good song though...
― ColinO, Thursday, 29 September 2011 07:38 (twelve years ago) link
Don't Stop Now, Official Ironmen Rally Song, Exit Flagger, and If We Wait should all make the top twenty. And probably Drinkers' Peace...
― ColinO, Thursday, 29 September 2011 07:56 (twelve years ago) link
xxxxxpost about the lyrics to 'Dayton': yes, you're probably right about HAS vs. IS. Too bad, I liked the universality of IS - like in this internet age everybody leaves traces of their existence online, so no-one is really forgotten anymore, but despite all the technology we eat bad food ('rotten produce').Never been in Ohio, so I don't recognize the specifics of the descriptions.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 08:11 (twelve years ago) link
thoughts on cut-out witch: wonderfully weird images conjured up by the lyrics, like something out of struwwelpeter or a jan svankmajer film. although the witch herself doesn't seem at all malign so there's a nice form/content tension there.
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 08:35 (twelve years ago) link
LET'S DO THIS
20. "The Brides Have Hit Glass" (Isolation Drills, 2001) [327 points, 13 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4b-syoEgrU
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 13:49 (twelve years ago) link
tbh this song has never stood out to me in any way at all, so I was very surprised when all the votes for it started rolling in.
Nice song, like a lot of "Isolation Drills" it's a post-divorce heart-tugger
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 13:52 (twelve years ago) link
xp to archcarrier -- That's interesting about the universality of that song -- I've honestly never thought about it as anything but extremely specific to (for lack of better words) a place and a point in time :)
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 13:52 (twelve years ago) link
Nice drums in "Brides Have Hit Glass"
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 13:53 (twelve years ago) link
19. "Hardcore UFO's" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [331 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2ICvSl2b38
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:01 (twelve years ago) link
First GBV song I ever heard. As I imagine it was for many.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:04 (twelve years ago) link
really like the guitars during the chorus on "Brides" but see where JF is coming from. There's also a weird dissonance running through that keeps it interesting.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:04 (twelve years ago) link
I wish I had gotten bee thousand at the time. too wrapped up in middle school KROQ stuff to know it even existed.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:05 (twelve years ago) link
my first GBV song tooevokes driving aimlessly through the countryside by myself in my white escort, smoking ciggies and wondering what's going to happen to me
"build a playground in your head" -- words i have always really taken to heart
maybe i'm just sleep deprived but i feel like a weepy sap this morning!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:12 (twelve years ago) link
don't stop now!
― Euler, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:14 (twelve years ago) link
Already 2 songs that out of all the guesses so far were not guessed. Great fun!
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:15 (twelve years ago) link
does robert pollard have AA experience
― thomp, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
18. "Gold Star for Robot Boy" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [344 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmO48lOXVe4
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
i ask bcz i'd never seen the lyrics to 'a salty salute' before -- actually at first i thought that song started 'dibs on the setlist' which i thought was a great opening line, tho' perhaps in retrospect a bit british -- and then i heard it as something about "dicks and the sexless" which i thought was awful, and which i couldn't make make sense with the rest of the song, so i gave up on the song, and the band, guided by voices, by extension
sorry, i should stop cluttering up this poll
― thomp, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:17 (twelve years ago) link
Here's one that I voted for. One of the catchiest melodies on Bee Thousand and great lyrics too!
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:17 (twelve years ago) link
Really digging "The Brides Have Hit Glass". Staccato guitar strongly reminds me of something - prob some faceless late 90s band or death cab for cutie or something :/
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:19 (twelve years ago) link
Metropolitan Brewery did a beer called Gold Star for Robot Boy. Sad I was never able to obtain some
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:27 (twelve years ago) link
Hardcore UFO's was my first GBV song too, I think
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:35 (twelve years ago) link
"Hardcore UFOs" is not one of my favorites on its own, but it is a great opening track on Bee Thousand. I easily could have voted for it.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:40 (twelve years ago) link
17. "Teenage FBI" (Wish in One Hand 7", 1997 / Do the Collapse, 1999) [345 points, 15 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2ujKKN66k
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:41 (twelve years ago) link
Catchy, like ebola, but not in my Top 20
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:45 (twelve years ago) link
GBV at their best pure pop moment, I think.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:46 (twelve years ago) link
Feel like the crux of the whole song really is the title line, which is just thrown away in the middle.
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:47 (twelve years ago) link
I like the Do The Collapse version more: the synths work very well.
― Euler, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:47 (twelve years ago) link
I still like Liquid Indian better if we're choosing DTC songs -- right after "are we there yet?" at like 0:56 the skips and flips kick in and it's so good. You can kind of try to forget about "born again bootstomping witchhumper by the 2:00 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IUYZjr2pMM
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:50 (twelve years ago) link
Fun to wooeeewooweeeoooo.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 14:51 (twelve years ago) link
is it too late for Surgical Focus? that's the best hi-fi GBV jam by far imo
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:04 (twelve years ago) link
My DTC song still hasn't placed. I'd be surprised if it does.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:05 (twelve years ago) link
i also voted for Wormhole but that's not gonna make it i'm afraid
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:06 (twelve years ago) link
16. "Weed King" (Propeller, 1992) [358 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfH9-MgouFs
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:09 (twelve years ago) link
hopefully not too late for Surgical Focus!
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:10 (twelve years ago) link
never really sat down and listened to the album version of Teenage FBI until now. Very cheesy but I like it.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:13 (twelve years ago) link
Voted for "Surgical Focus" too
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:17 (twelve years ago) link
But, never mind that, yay "Weed King"!
weed king is indeed great
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:19 (twelve years ago) link
ā Euler, Thursday, September 29, 2011 4:47 PM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark
Yeah me too. The version on the Greatest Hits is awful
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:19 (twelve years ago) link
Y'all are nuts. The DTC version is a nice experiments, but the essence of the song is captured on the Wish in One Hand lo-fi version.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:22 (twelve years ago) link
15. "Quality of Armor" (Propeller, 1992) [365 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ET1I2Dkhhw
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:25 (twelve years ago) link
yay! woo!
― nerve_pylon, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:27 (twelve years ago) link
My #1
― da croupier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:28 (twelve years ago) link
My #2. Too low.
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
Ok, so there's the last song I have from ID to show ('Brides'). Love that song. All of the others I didn't vote for, except Quality of Armor, but I knew they didn't need my vote. But this is the point in the poll where it starts to become the alternative GBV best of.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
My #5 (much higher than "14 Cheerleader Coldfront", I was wrong on that above). Such a great pop/rock song
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
the worst offense is intelligencethe best defense is belligerence
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
QofA in my Top 10, but can't remember where
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
14. "The Best of Jill Hives" (Earthquake Glue, 2003) [370 points, 17 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl1965lkmTA
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:43 (twelve years ago) link
It's a good song but the way it just sort of dribbles away annoys me. I don't like that album at all.
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:44 (twelve years ago) link
wow didnt know that one was so highly rated. it is pretty though
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:45 (twelve years ago) link
... dribbles to a conclusion, I mean (xp)
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:45 (twelve years ago) link
WEED KING! I knew it would be top 20. Knew it! My #2.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:46 (twelve years ago) link
My fav EG song.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:46 (twelve years ago) link
More crazy talk. Earthquake Glue is second only to Half Smiles in my list of favorite post-UTBUTS albums. xps to Tom
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:47 (twelve years ago) link
long live rockathon
I had Weed King at #4
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:48 (twelve years ago) link
QoA was my #6. Another driving-around-nowhere classic.
I like EG but Jill Hives never really moved me. Maybe I will record myself singing Weed King again, stick some noise on it, call myself Jill Hives, and release a "best of" that contains just that one song.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:49 (twelve years ago) link
i think the EG track that made my ballot was 'useless inventions'
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
'Jill Hives' is pretty but yeah, just kinda ends. From reading the other thread and this one, I do need to check out the last two albums.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
I'm starting to give up hope for Old Battery or Indian Was An Angel
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:51 (twelve years ago) link
More crazy talk. Earthquake Glue is second only to Half Smiles in my list of favorite post-UTBUTS albums
Well, each to his own. It sounds sort of desperate and directionless to me, I don't hear (m)any hooks and the neither-one-thing-nor-the-other production is a complete failure.
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:51 (twelve years ago) link
The first moment I heard Jill Hives I thought THIS IS THE SONG I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS BAND DO IN YEARS. Don't see how it's unmoving in any way, but other people are crazy for things I don't care about at all. With such a broad catalog, there's enough for everyone.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:52 (twelve years ago) link
so nice to see "Quality Of Armor" place so well! my favourite from Propeller, love those harmonies at the beginning. It barely scratched my ballot, was my #21."Jill Hives" - a good song, but I don't really love it. "Teenage FBI" - I'm surprised it placed so high, I don't like that one.
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:52 (twelve years ago) link
xxxp Indian Was An Angel is one of my favs, just missed my ballot tho
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:53 (twelve years ago) link
not sure why there is so much hate for this song. produced but not overproduced, very catchy chorus, and it's not as if there aren't lots of tracks in the 'prime' GBV period that don't trail off into nothing...
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:54 (twelve years ago) link
love jill hives
― iatee, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:55 (twelve years ago) link
now is it better than, say, Cut-Out Witch...no...but I didn't vote so I can't really complain
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
Jill Hives to me always seemed like the godchild of Official Ironmen.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
Jill Hives is a good later period one, sort of a unique sound for GBV, dig the reverb-y vocals. but i didn't vote for it. too many good songs!
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:57 (twelve years ago) link
Oh no, are you calling me crazy?! I'm listening to it again.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:58 (twelve years ago) link
13. "If We Wait" (Sunfish Holy Breakfast, 1996) [375 points, 14 votes, 4 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu2RqqIRCuc
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 15:59 (twelve years ago) link
omg that is not #1?!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:00 (twelve years ago) link
I forgot to vote for it :-(
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:01 (twelve years ago) link
I like it but not that much
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:01 (twelve years ago) link
I was hoping that "Jill Hives" would make the top 10. Oh well. (It was my #3)
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:08 (twelve years ago) link
It danced with the top 10 for a long time until the last couple days worth of ballots came in.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:10 (twelve years ago) link
Same with If We Wait. Its 4 #1 votes came in early and I thought for sure it would be top 10. It only dropped to 13 late.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:11 (twelve years ago) link
I was one of those 4. surely it ended up w/ the highest per vote average?
― iatee, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:12 (twelve years ago) link
Ok, so I think Jill Hives is more restrained than I want it to be. That's all.
If We Wait, however, really grabs the stars melodically and lyrically, for me at least.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:13 (twelve years ago) link
if we wait was my numero uno
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:15 (twelve years ago) link
12. "Echos Myron" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [395 points, 17 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QetZC5TIISI
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:16 (twelve years ago) link
OK this is too low. My favorite by far on Bee Thousand. Really surprised it had no #1's, I was deliberating between this and what I ended up putting at #1 til the last minute.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:17 (twelve years ago) link
We're finally here, or something like that.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:28 (twelve years ago) link
Hold up:
Disarm the settlersThe new drunk driversHave hoisted the flagWe are with you in your anger
"Settlers"? or "Sexless"?
― fear itself (Ćwen P.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:33 (twelve years ago) link
Echos Myron is a song I used to really like at the height of my GBV obsession in the 90s, but consider to be really middle-of-the-pack now.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:33 (twelve years ago) link
definitely sexless
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:34 (twelve years ago) link
I always thought it was "Setlist" until I read the lyrics.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:34 (twelve years ago) link
thought "gold star..." would be higher for some reason? (it was my #2)
xp it's totally "settlers"!
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:34 (twelve years ago) link
"Disarm The Sexless" was a often-used teenage username of mine iirc, uh oh, really? "Settlers"?
― fear itself (Ćwen P.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
(no ribbing pls)
feels heretical to say but I'm not all that into Echos Myron.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:38 (twelve years ago) link
Well I always heard it as settlers, but don't have it from an "official source"
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:38 (twelve years ago) link
i had at least two GBV-related screen names: AlwaysCrushMe and uh something else
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
i also once had my AOL account suspended because i put the lyrics of "hit" in my profile ("faggots" and "shit" were both violations of terms of service)
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
11. "Don't Stop Now" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [418 points, 17 votes, 2 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u30i19DhXxc
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
It is 100% disarm the settlers.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:43 (twelve years ago) link
another great song that i didnt vote for
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:44 (twelve years ago) link
Echos Myron used to be my favorite GBV song. I wanted to open a record store and call it Burrito's Myron. Ha, a record store. That would never work these days.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
Maybe I'll just forego the business of posting the top 10 and let everyone imagine the top 10 as they'd like it to be? No, I won't. I'll kick it off in a little bit.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:55 (twelve years ago) link
Don't Stop Now - not one of my favorites. I like the early version on Devil Between My Toes.
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:56 (twelve years ago) link
For a long time, I used to call my fantasy baseball team Academy of Lies.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 16:57 (twelve years ago) link
Most of the top 20 is under the cut now, so here's a refresher for latecomers:
20. "The Brides Have Hit Glass" (Isolation Drills, 2001) [327 points, 13 votes]19. "Hardcore UFO's" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [331 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 vote]18. "Gold Star for Robot Boy" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [344 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 vote]17. "Teenage FBI" (Wish in One Hand 7", 1997 / Do the Collapse, 1999) [345 points, 15 votes]16. "Weed King" (Propeller, 1992) [358 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote]15. "Quality of Armor" (Propeller, 1992) [365 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote]14. "The Best of Jill Hives" (Earthquake Glue, 2003) [370 points, 17 votes, 1 #1 vote]13. "If We Wait" (Sunfish Holy Breakfast, 1996) [375 points, 14 votes, 4 #1 votes]12. "Echos Myron" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [395 points, 17 votes]11. "Don't Stop Now" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [418 points, 17 votes, 2 #1 votes]
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:00 (twelve years ago) link
10. "The Official Ironmen Rally Song" (Under the Bushes Under the Stars, 1996) [423 points, 17 votes, 2 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmcINr4JKA
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:01 (twelve years ago) link
great video
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:02 (twelve years ago) link
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:02 (twelve years ago) link
Okay so...I imagine people just don't have much to say about that one anymore other than "it's good" (and are choosing not to say anything instead). On to #9!
9. "The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [432 points, 18 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aLLnGagilU
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:22 (twelve years ago) link
Ironmen is another one of those tracks that could have been iconic for any other group but is almost a dime a dozen for Pollard.
Love the vocal delivery on Goldheart and the flute(?) in the background. It does remind me of Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner though...
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:25 (twelve years ago) link
i forgot to vote for that one too, yikes
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:27 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, not much to say once you get up to these top ones. This was on my ballot. It's a good song, my second favorite on Bee Thousand.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:27 (twelve years ago) link
GMQD is such a great belter, you know I like those. I didn't vote for any of these though :-/
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
ha at the reunion shows my wife was like "why does everyone go nuts for this song? it's so slow." weirdo prog singalong. love this shit.
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:29 (twelve years ago) link
I just checked them now 'cos I'd always heard it as 'settlers' - however I now realise I was totally wrong about the second line, which I was 100% convinced was "the neutron drivers"!
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:29 (twelve years ago) link
RE: Teenage FBII like that the DTC youtube wasn't posted. The overwhelming simplicity of the bass and rhythm guitar on that song distracts me to the point of not liking the song at all
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:30 (twelve years ago) link
I just remembered listening to "Ironmen" again how much I love the lyric "happy little babies with red cheeks / you will rock them gently out of sync".
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
Allright, my #6 and #4 posted right after ech other. I'm afraid that my #5 won't place...
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
Just heard the original 'Teenage FBI' for the first time. How can anyone like this better?!? Where is that phat keyboard? It's only good because the song is brilliant.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:43 (twelve years ago) link
ā Jeff, Thursday, September 29, 2011 4:57 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark
Haha, I still call my fantasy team Skills Like This...
― ColinO, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:43 (twelve years ago) link
8. "Smothered in Hugs" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [454 points, 19 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aWZ3ycJkC0
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:44 (twelve years ago) link
Just heard the original 'Teenage FBI' for the first time. How can anyone like this better?!?
Okay, imagine hearing it in 1997 for the first time and waiting two years to get a big, great-sounding studio version of it...and then being met with a corny sub-Rentals keyboard pop romp.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:45 (twelve years ago) link
I actually think Smothered drags a bit. Still a good song but not one of my faves.
― ColinO, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
XP Man, that keyboard is the best thing in the GBV catalog!
But you might be right, because I was just going to post this:
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:47 (twelve years ago) link
i love the DTC production
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:47 (twelve years ago) link
I really love this kind of dragging and now I wish I had put "Smothered" on my ballot
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:47 (twelve years ago) link
I actually think Smothered drags a bit. Still a good song but not one of my faves
Totally OTM.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:47 (twelve years ago) link
^ This
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:48 (twelve years ago) link
I don't like that keyboard bit in Teenage FBI either. a too-obvious Ric Ocasek addition imo
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:49 (twelve years ago) link
Teenage FBI is polarizing. Wasn't these a big controversy as to which version was included on the greatest hits.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:50 (twelve years ago) link
ā dmr, Thursday, September 29, 2011 4:56 PM (51 minutes ago) Bookmark
You mean King Shit And The Golden Boys of course...
― ColinO, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:50 (twelve years ago) link
Next seven songs:
TractorScientistMotorPricksNeptuneExit FlaggerHunting Knife
― ColinO, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:53 (twelve years ago) link
Smothered in Hugs was my #1I've probably played it on repeat for hours before. It takes me to a warm fuzzy land that I don't mind zoning out to
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:54 (twelve years ago) link
Love how drawn out the phrasing is on 'Smothered', would have been in the 20-30 range for me.
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:54 (twelve years ago) link
Frankly I'm amazed at the number of high-placing songs that I don't know. I mean, I thought I knew the GBV'iverse pretty well, but 'Jill Hives', 'If We Wait' and 'Brides Have Hit Glass' are all new to me.
I have to say that 'Jill Hives' is very lovely, though.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:55 (twelve years ago) link
High five to my other "Offical Ironmen" #1 voter!
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:55 (twelve years ago) link
SPOILER
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:55 (twelve years ago) link
xp exit flagger awful bliss
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:56 (twelve years ago) link
No way.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:57 (twelve years ago) link
The next is the highest placing track to not have any first place votes (which is surprising in itself)...
7. "I Am a Scientist" (Bee Thousand, 1994 / I Am a Scientist, 1994) [470 points, 21 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc-IXlravj0
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:57 (twelve years ago) link
I knew this would place top ten, so I didn't vote for it. It's ok. I know people love this song though.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:58 (twelve years ago) link
Big school should pop up
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:59 (twelve years ago) link
I think this is one of the first GBV songs I ever heard, because they were playing a live session on a Dutch radio show and I can't imagine them not playing 'Scientist'.
The day after the broadcast I got the album, together with Weezer's blue album. Oh 1994...
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
Who was this, btw?
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:03 (twelve years ago) link
Scientist was my #2...in a different mood it would have topped
― da croupier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:07 (twelve years ago) link
I like this song and voted it #18, perhaps I should have thrown my points to something else that needed it more though. Great song anyways.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:08 (twelve years ago) link
6. "Exit Flagger" (Propeller, 1992) [514 points, 21 votes, 1 #1 vote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCFyN5kpeX8
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:11 (twelve years ago) link
"I'm not gonna race you today" has sort of become my position on life.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:13 (twelve years ago) link
wow, picture me absolutely surprised. I had no idea this one is such a big deal in the GBV catalogue? for me it's not even a highlight on Propeller
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:13 (twelve years ago) link
cool video
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:16 (twelve years ago) link
There's my #1. I was wondering if there was much love on ILM for this. I think #5 is a perfectly respectable showing.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:16 (twelve years ago) link
oops, sorry #6.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:17 (twelve years ago) link
Misheard lyrics, part 362: 'Extra daggers'...
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:17 (twelve years ago) link
I had no idea this one is such a big deal in the GBV catalogue?
definitely one of their anthems
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:21 (twelve years ago) link
I'm (pleasantly) surprised it made it so high though
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:22 (twelve years ago) link
yeah
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:23 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, 'Exit Flagger' regularly shows up in their encores with the other "hits."
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:24 (twelve years ago) link
Listening to these songs in countdown order I notice that most Bee Thousand tracks work far better in context of the album than as stand-alone songs.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:26 (twelve years ago) link
5. "Over the Neptune / Mesh Gear Fox" (Propeller, 1992) [634 points, 23 votes, 3 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSd-80X-GEo
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:40 (twelve years ago) link
kisses to the crying cooks
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:42 (twelve years ago) link
YES!! I have nothing to say aside from this song RULES SO HARD.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:43 (twelve years ago) link
I'm much greater than you think.
People will roll their eyes, but I say it came in TOO LOW!
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:44 (twelve years ago) link
I always thought he said "I'm much cleaner than you think". I found it hilarious and now I'm sort of disappointed.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:44 (twelve years ago) link
Hey maybe it's cleaner! I have no idea! I always thought greater because that is my personal motto.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
I really don't get all this Propeller love, but I have to admit this version is better than the one on Fast Japanese Spin Cycle.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
missed loads of the last unveiling, but am psyched to see the final countdown while cooking :-)
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
:)
I love OTN/MGF so much! It was my #3
Time's wastin' man, you're not gonna live forever.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:46 (twelve years ago) link
I really wish I had voted for this. It's a great song. Guess it didn't need my votes.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
Officially:
I'm much greater than you thinkI'm swimmer in the drinkI'm much greedier than you thinkI'm slammer in the drink
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
That's just kooky.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:48 (twelve years ago) link
I'm a-slanderin' the drink
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:49 (twelve years ago) link
While realizing you're not the most diehard of fans, I find it completely bonkers that you like the band yet don't embrace Propeller with wide open arms. It's amazaing. I'm sad this song is only #5 and I'm sad Propller was only the #3 album. Ties would've been preferrable.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:50 (twelve years ago) link
that was my #1
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
I would love to read the responses on whatever is the big GBV fan board to these results!
― Iago Galdston, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
I'm landing them pretty fast now. all scorers but the following for me
a good flying birdnon absorbingthings i will keepvaluable hunting knife -loudgame of pricks (loud)they're not witcheshold on hope
three of the above are cert. top fives.
I feel I may have lost:
a good flying birdnon absorbingthings i will keepthey are not witches
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:54 (twelve years ago) link
a good flying bird was in it upthread
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:55 (twelve years ago) link
While realizing you're not the most diehard of fans, I find it completely bonkers that you like the band yet don't embrace Propeller with wide open arms.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:55 (twelve years ago) link
propellor has enough mediocre-for-gbv tracks that i don't consider it in their top tier
the good songs are really good though
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
XP: Also, most songs on Propeller tend to remind me of other, sometimes later, GBV songs.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
dunno, it seems weird to me to see all these do the collapse + beyond tracks up high. i like that era of the band, but it just does not compare to what came before.
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
Propeller is so fucking great. Love the Matt Sweeney (?) essay in the greatest hits about listening to it for the first time. "Am I high?! Who are these guys?!"
tylerw otm.
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:59 (twelve years ago) link
wait, sure it does!! there are lots of great songs on the later albums. (stinkers too, mind you, but lots of great ones!)
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:59 (twelve years ago) link
secret star for one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZIi97N5sFM
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:00 (twelve years ago) link
yes i have posted that beforebut it is just that good
4. "My Valuable Hunting Knife" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [702 points, 26 votes, 3 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A8LyAqtaa0
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:02 (twelve years ago) link
Un-fuck-with-a-ble
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:03 (twelve years ago) link
My fandom didn't start till the DTC era, so I think that would certainly affect my voting. Even though my first albums were the ones from the 90s.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:03 (twelve years ago) link
iirc THIS was the first song of theirs I fell in love with. I heard a song from King Shit on a CMJ sampler and went out and bought Alien Lanes. This one slapped me around a little and then gave me a kiss.
Also? This marks the transition to where songs are on at least half or more of the ballots submitted.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:03 (twelve years ago) link
Hmmm, interesting. That song never really clicked with me.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
there seems to be a lot less consensus on the later stuff though
like i was pretty sure "Surgical Focus" would place if "Chasing Heather Crazy" and "My Kind of Soldier" did but maybe people just didn't spend time with Do the Collapse
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
there are good songs on the later albums but I don't consider much of it to be THEE GREATEST OF GBV. (many xposts)
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
Surgical Focus hasn't placed yet, has it?
I don't know if I still want it to place, this high :-/
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:05 (twelve years ago) link
nah it's not gonna, there's 3 dead locks left
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:05 (twelve years ago) link
My DTC hopeful was Things I Will Keep
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:05 (twelve years ago) link
With this GBV poll I have absolutely no clue what dead locks are
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:06 (twelve years ago) link
I still have the 7" of Surgical Focus with the oogling eyes staring into my abyss though <3
clap clap
fond memories of sock hop dancing to "hunting knife" with my friend rebecca and being the only two people dancing and not caring
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:07 (twelve years ago) link
This was the first GBV song I ever heard. Still love it.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:07 (twelve years ago) link
final 3 ... game of pricks? tractor rape chain? motor away? those are my guesses.
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:08 (twelve years ago) link
My guess is 'Awful Bliss' instead of 'Tractor Rape Chain'. There's not enough Tobin in the top 10.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:09 (twelve years ago) link
no way does awful bliss make it over tractor rape chain
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
Motor Away must be in there for sure. I'll guess Surgical Focus now, too. Mystery third left.
This is where I realize my number #2 and #1 aren't going to place ;_;
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
i still say #1 is Dragons Awake!
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:11 (twelve years ago) link
"hunting knife" was my #1!
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:11 (twelve years ago) link
I, for one, am really shocked "Awful Bliss" didn't make the top 60. the final three is pretty much obvious now.
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:12 (twelve years ago) link
Surgical Focus?! Really?! No way. Game of PricksMotor AwayKing and Caroline? Did that one already place?
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:12 (twelve years ago) link
3. "Tractor Rape Chain" (Bee Thousand, 1994) [765 points, 28 votes, 4 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ6yS71j-cw
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:13 (twelve years ago) link
I would like to hear a bluegrass take of this song
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:15 (twelve years ago) link
Awesome. I do wish Glenn Campbell had covered this instead of Hold On Hope.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:15 (twelve years ago) link
Johnny, you should reveal #2 and #1 at the same time. Once #2 comes up it will be obvious which one will win it.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
Hunting Knife is a perfect track, almost too perfect - I prefer the messier ones. I imagine that TRC would be a lot less popular than it is if the lyrics were different, which of course isn't an argument that it's overrated but IMO it's a less anthemic track than people give it credit for.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
ā righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, September 29, 2011 9:15 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark
YES! <3
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
that said TRC is Chumbawumba-level catchy.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:18 (twelve years ago) link
it's a less anthemic track than people give it credit for
the way it crescendoes on "PARALLEL lines ... BETTER yet" is pretty anthemic
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
I listened to a long bluegrass cover of Witchita Lineman last night. I'll have to share the link with yall if you're interested
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
By the way, what is a tractor rape chain?
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:21 (twelve years ago) link
You don't want to know.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:22 (twelve years ago) link
I have no idea.
oh, you know
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:23 (twelve years ago) link
the acoustic intro of TRC is so classic, it shouldn't work as a lead-in to the song but it does! that's genius right there.
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:23 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, great guitars all the way through.
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:24 (twelve years ago) link
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
Which is to say that I also have no idea.
speed up slow down go all around yeah <-- kind of stupid, but sounds good with that melody because it's only such a tune that will carry a song called "tractor rape chain" into the hearts of the people
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:26 (twelve years ago) link
the idea that you can "get wet" on it is what intrigues/disturbs me most about it
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:27 (twelve years ago) link
in the first place it's probably just paranoia
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:27 (twelve years ago) link
I had heard it was inspired by some news of the weird article about a farmer who tried to do autoerotic asphyxiation by tying something to his tractor wheel. Maybe that's BS, I dunno.
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:27 (twelve years ago) link
Ohio's motto is "the heart of it all"It's a thing I know, it's a thing I believe in.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:28 (twelve years ago) link
always thought of it as a chain of tractor's raping the earth or something? i dunno about the rest of it
― bluelips, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:29 (twelve years ago) link
"Big School" isn't going to be appearing now :(
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:30 (twelve years ago) link
dmr, that story is too great not to be true; it's a thing I believe in.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
game of pricksmotor awaymotoraway
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
not gonna google it to verify tbqh (xp)
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
so its motor away and game of pricks?i hold on hope that Hold On Hope isnt gonna win this
― nostormo, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
Big School was my #10. Surprised it is no where in the top 60. It always seemed to be the most requested song at shows that was never played.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
auditorium/motor away! can't separate them
― bluelips, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:33 (twelve years ago) link
a chain of tractor's raping the earth or something?
That makes sense considering Bob's lyrical interests in "earth"/"planet"/etc.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:33 (twelve years ago) link
READY?!!!!!!! drumroll please...
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
ptptptptptptptptpptptptptptpt
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
i'm afraid to f5
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
2. "Motor Away" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [802 points, 33 votes, 4 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN3gmKltn88
1. "Game of Pricks" (Alien Lanes, 1995) [1,091 points, 38 votes, 8 #1 votes]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zRmp_RrEMA
Thanks Johnny!!!!!!!!!!! great job!
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
aaaaaaa, that's just the right result!
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
no surprises
― nostormo, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
hooray, same #1 as the poll I did 4 years ago. And Game of Pricks was my #1. All is right in the world.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
and thats good
My #1 won at least
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah Pollard refers to something along those lines in an interview in the 33 1/3 book.
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
WOW! It won by almost 300 points.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
same results in the Alien Lanes poll, too.
i wanna ask you a question: what is the best song in GBV's Alien Lanes?
― nostormo, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
"Game Of Pricks" was my #1 of course, as it was the first GBV song I fell in love with! you could never be stroooooong, you can only be freeeeee....
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:37 (twelve years ago) link
Am disappointed there weren't more bob solo tracks. Definitely deserve to be in the top 60.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:37 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah 'Game of Pricks' was #1 for me too. Cool!
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:37 (twelve years ago) link
Am disappointed there weren't more bob solo Tobin tracks.
Atom Eyes?Awful Bliss?To Remake the Young Flyer???
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:38 (twelve years ago) link
"Pricks", in terms of sheer songwriting, is probably the best thing he ever wrote.
ā tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Sunday, July 18, 2010 2:33 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
This guy knew what he was talking about, whatever happened to him?
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:38 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah that's domination. But it deserves it!
Actually these were my #1 and #4
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:38 (twelve years ago) link
Johnny #1 for even bothering with this at all, but also for ensuring proper results. The time came, and he added up the numbers. A man of energy.
Satisfying result, I'm pleased. Live versions of Game of Pricks are good enough to make my head pop clean off.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:40 (twelve years ago) link
So who else voted for "Official Ironmen" as their #1? So curious.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:40 (twelve years ago) link
I had a load of Bob solo tracks then ditched them to make it less complicated
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:41 (twelve years ago) link
thanks for organizing Johnny!
― skip, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
I won't divulge people's ballots, but anyone who wants to share theirs is welcome to.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
Game of PricksSubspace BiographiesThe EnemySHOCKER IN GLOOMTOWNThe Official Ironman Rally SongEchos MyronSubmarine TeamsWeedkingBig SchoolMotor AwayWatch Me JumpstartCloser You AreI Am A ScientistCut-Out WitchTwilight CampfighterTight GlobesGet Under ItA Salty SaluteThings I Will KeepThe Best of Jill Hives
boom
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks so much Johnny Fever. There will always be a place for this poll in the Superior Sector Janitor X of my heart.
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
thank yo Johnny for this poll! it's been such fun to participate. well, the only thing that disappointed me was the placing of "Awful Bliss". I thought it's a kind of a consensus that it's a top Tobin?
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:43 (twelve years ago) link
Yes Johnny, thanks a lot!
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:43 (twelve years ago) link
Hey, I had a great time doing this. While the Pavement poll was a fun and uniting exercise, they've always been a band I just kind of like. GBV is a band I spent many years loving whole-heartedly. Now that the poll's done, I feel like I've sent a firstborn off to college or something.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:44 (twelve years ago) link
the one bob solo song that immediately comes to mind for me as being up there with the best of the best is "get under it"
― bluelips, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:44 (twelve years ago) link
Are people really that unfamiliar with Uncle Dave or was it just not in the top20 running for you guys?
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:44 (twelve years ago) link
now it's time for a Summer Babe vs. Game Of Pricks poll
― nostormo, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
My ballot:
1. "The Official Ironmen Rally Song"2. "The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory"3. "Teenage FBI"4. "My Valuable Hunting Knife"5. "The Best of Jill Hives"6. "Tractor Rape Chain"7. "Don't Stop Now"8. "Glad Girls"9. "Bulldog Skin"10. "Game of Pricks"11. "Dayton, Ohio-19 Something and 5" - GbV & Airport 512. "Chasing Heather Crazy"13. "Exit Flagger"14. "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows"15. "Jane of the Waking Universe"16. "Girls of Wild Strawberries"17. "Motor Away"18. "Do the Earth"19. "Everywhere with Helicopter"20. "Cut-Out Witch"
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
Oh right! You all probably want to see the full list of results: http://home.earthlink.net/~pauletc/gbv.htm
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
Here's my ballot. Tracks in bold didn't place.
1 - Blimps Go 902 - Game of Pricks3 - The Key Losers4 - The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory5 - Indian Fables6 - The Official Ironmen Rally Song7 - Motor Away8 - To Remake the Young Flyer9 - Short on Posters10 - Awful Bliss11 - Always Crush Me12 - Hardcore UFO's13 - I Am a Scientist14 - My Impression Now15 - Teenage FBI16 - Underwater Explosions17 - Blatant Doom Trip18 - Everywhere With Helicopter19 - Dusted20 - Atom Eyes
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
I've never heard Uncle Dave. And it was never played live.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
1.weedking2. a good flying bird3. tractor rape chain4. my son cool5. game of pricks6. gold star for robot boy7. unleashed! The large hearted boy8. I'll replace you with machine9. glad girls10. my kind of soldier11. smothered in hugs12. quality of armor13. man called aerodynamics14. a salty salute15. motor away16. chicken blows17. watch my jumpstart18. bulldog skin19. over the neptune/mash gear fox20. hardcore ufo's
― nostormo, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
"Twilight Campfighter" was in my Top 20 (several xposts)
My favourite Bob solo track is "Psychic Pilot Clocks Out". Then "Girl Named Captain". Then "Subspace Biographies".
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
"Uncle Dave" has never been recompiled anywhere beyond a fan comp, so I think its understandable that most people haven't heard it.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
I'm happy with this result. don't stop now was my no. 1 (KSATGB version) here's my list.
don't stop nowbig boring weddingover the neptune/mesh gear foxtractor rape chainsubspace biographiesa big fan of the pigpenunleashed the large hearted boya salty saluteexit flagger14 cheerleader coldfrontlittle whirlhardcore ufossmothered in hugshot freaksi am a scientistgame of prickscloser you arepop zeusofficial ironman rally songpantherz
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:48 (twelve years ago) link
my heavily AL-slanted, wildly diverging away from consensus ballot looked like that:
Game Of PricksChasing Heather CrazyI Am A ScientistAwful BlissWhen She Turns 50(I Wanna Be A) DumbchargerMy Feet's Trustworthy ExistanceWatch Me JumpstartPerch WarbleMotor AwayPimple ZooLittle WhirlThe Official Ironmen Rally SongDrinker's PeaceCigarette TricksA Good Flying BirdEx-SupermodelMy Valuable Hunting KnifeTractor Rape ChainBlimps Go 90
and, as seems to be the case with all the polls so far, I do not agree with myself today. like, very much.
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:48 (twelve years ago) link
my ballot1. If We Wait
2. Dusted [fast japanese spin cycle version]
3. Tractor Rape Chain
4. Peephole
5. Yours To Keep
6. Echoes Myron
7. Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory
8. A Good Flying Bird
9. Motor Away
10. Weed King
11. Cut Out Witch
12. Exit Flagger
13. Drag Days
14. Kisses to the Crying Cooks
15. Do The Earth
16. I Am A Scientist
17. A Salty Salute
18. As We Go Up We Go Down
19. Over The Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox
20. Awful Bliss
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:48 (twelve years ago) link
well have to do this again after the new GBV record Lets Go Eat The Factory be released in 2012
― nostormo, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:49 (twelve years ago) link
Listen to Uncle Dave on youtube. It's awesome. It was supposed to be on the 2nd album - the one that got scrapped
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:49 (twelve years ago) link
1. Learning To Hunt2. Choking Tara3. Acorns & Orioles4. Teenage FBI5. Your Name Is Wild6. Ghosts Of A Different Dream7. Jane of the Waking Universe8. The Official Ironmen Rally Song9. Not Behind the Fighter Jet10. Motor Away11. I Am A Tree12. Chasing Heather Crazy13. Hardcore UFO's14. 14 Cheerleader Coldfront15. Sad If I Lost It16. Now to War17. Glad Girls18. Things I Will Keep19. They're Not Witches20. Hollow Cheek
THANKS FOR DOING THIS PAUL! Had a great time! <3
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:50 (twelve years ago) link
I was the only vote for 'Lethargy'? Really? I didn't know that song was not that well-liked. I think they've played it at every show I've seen.
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:51 (twelve years ago) link
... kinda had a lot of good ones to choose from
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:53 (twelve years ago) link
Ha! So many songs with just one vote. Glad I'm not the only one. I guess some of the songs I voted for just so I could register my love for them officially. (Everyday, Earful O'Wax for instance)
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:55 (twelve years ago) link
If We WaitWeed KingOver the Neptune/Mesh Gear FoxDon't Stop NowShocker in GloomtownQuality of ArmorDayton, Ohio 19 something and 5An Earful O' WaxThe Hard WayWe've Got AirplanesHuffman Prairie Flying FieldLiquid IndianGold Star for Robot BoySubspace BiographiesEverywhere with HelicopterSecret StarLifetime for the MavericksDrag DaysGame of PricksPendulum
Barely made it: Barricade
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:56 (twelve years ago) link
1-20:
Game Of PricksMy Son CoolShort On PostersThe Brides Have Hit GlassDon't Stop NowMy Valuable Hunting Knife (Tigerbomb version)Closer You AreI Am A ScientistKnock 'Em Flyin'Motor Away14 Cheerleader ColdfrontInterest PositionHey Hey, SpacemanGold Star For Robot BoyCircus WorldIf We WaitLook At ThemDusted (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle version)Not Behind The Fighter JetStrawdogs
Yeah thanks for running this Johnny, it's been great.
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:57 (twelve years ago) link
At least one other person voted for Learning to Hunt, my number #!
― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:57 (twelve years ago) link
Interest Position
Oooh, that's a good call
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:57 (twelve years ago) link
1. Watch Me Jumpstart2. Shocker in Gloomtown3. Hot Freaks4. Weed King5. Tractor Rape Chain6. My Impression Now7. Postal Blowfish8. Exit Flagger9. I Am a Scientist10. Motor Away11. The Closer You Are, The Quicker It Hits You12. Quality of Armor13. Smothered in Hugs14. If We Wait15. A Salty Salute16. Indian Was an Angel17. Glad Girls18. Game of Pricks19. Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox20. Echos Myron
Albums1. Alien Lanes2. Bee Thousand3. Propeller4. King Shit & the Golden Boys5. Under the Bushes, Under the Stars
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:59 (twelve years ago) link
Echoing everyone else's thanks for doing this, Johnny. That was quite an undertaking. Here's my ballot.
1 Exit Flagger2 Glad Girls3 Motor Away4 A Salty Salute5 The Brides Have Hit Glass6 My Valuable Hunting Knife7 Hot Freaks8 14 Cheerleader Coldfront9 Game of Pricks10 Watch Me Jumpstart11 It's Like Soul, Man12 Bulldog Skin13 Tractor Rape Chain14 Lethargy15 Wished I Was A Giant16 Echos Myron17 The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory18 Little Whirl19 Your Name is Wild20 Quality of Armor
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:59 (twelve years ago) link
Four votes for The Hard Way!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 19:59 (twelve years ago) link
can we do a song titles poll next
― ciderpress, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:03 (twelve years ago) link
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Animated-Flag-Ohio.gif
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:03 (twelve years ago) link
am i the only one who voted for "drag days"?
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:05 (twelve years ago) link
11 It's Like Soul, Man
I voted for this too. Sad it didn't make the countdown.
Also, very sad my #1 didn't make the countdown (only one of two that didn't). Gonna play it again for y'all in the event I didn't evangelize hard enough about it the first time...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=254k6ThzW0E
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:05 (twelve years ago) link
I voted for Drag Days!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:07 (twelve years ago) link
ah you did! high five! that song is unreal.
― tylerw, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:08 (twelve years ago) link
72 Drag Days 5 84
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
no one voted for "ester's day" :(
― k3vin k., Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:15 (twelve years ago) link
johnny did you post a full list?
― k3vin k., Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
Tbf, I wish I could have voted for a lot of things.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
no one else voted 'heavy metal country'??
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
20 was a low number.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:17 (twelve years ago) link
Hey who voted for "Demons Are Real"?
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:17 (twelve years ago) link
Again, full list link: http://home.earthlink.net/~pauletc/gbv.htm
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:22 (twelve years ago) link
It's mentioned before, but I'm really shocked that we seem to live in a world in which only four people, including myself, voted for 'Awful Bliss'.
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:22 (twelve years ago) link
^^ OTM. you people have no hearts!
― V79, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
I dunno man. It's like the 15th-best song on Bee Thousand. sorry.
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
no way
― k3vin k., Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
mine
Motor Away"Wished I Was A Giant"Smothered In HugsI Am A TreeI Am A ScientistWatch Me JumpstartTractor Rape ChainDon't Stop NowTeenage FBIBulldog SkinJane Of The Waking UniverseA Salty SaluteAs We Go Up, We Go DownThe Official Ironmen Rally SongGame Of PricksThe Goldheart Mountaintop Queen DirectoryChasing Heather CrazyHot FreaksSotQueen Of Cans And Jars
― Euler, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:26 (twelve years ago) link
WAY
― dmr, Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:26 (twelve years ago) link
Who else voted for We've Got Airplanes?
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:29 (twelve years ago) link
ā queen latifah approximately (donna rouge)
That Tractor Rape Chain lyric might have to do with crying. 'Paper Girl' has a lyric that goes "don't cry too much you'll get all wet"
― āŁ„ļ»» ļ»āŁ„Ļ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:29 (twelve years ago) link
mine (which in retrospect, largely makes little sense, but i kinda rushed it):
1. my valuable hunting knife (alien lanes version) (40)2. gold star for robot boy (36)3. heavy metal country (33)4. my impression now (30)5. do the earth (28)6. exit flagger (26)7. your name is wild (25)8. shocker in gloomtown (24)9. game of pricks (23)10. dayton, ohio, 19 something and 5 (22)11. drinker's peace (21)12. quality of armor (20)13. watch me jumpstart (19)14. hardcore ufo's (18)15. i am a scientist (17)16. dusted (16)17. postal blowfish (15)18. choking tara (mag earwhig! version) (14)19. perhaps now the vultures (13)20. unleashed! the large hearted boy (12)
― queen latifah approximately (donna rouge), Thursday, 29 September 2011 20:35 (twelve years ago) link
my highest not to chart was 'a big fan of the pigpen' i can see why it wouldn't be popular but it is a permanent ear worm for me. "to think on one's feet, defeat on one's brain/the popular mechanics are at it again". then later, "BABADABADABADABADA"
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Thursday, 29 September 2011 21:01 (twelve years ago) link
hahai thought it was"to feed on one's brain"
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
give me time to LIGHT a sentimentaltorchtonight
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 21:20 (twelve years ago) link
hmm, other places have it as "Oh, to speak on one's feet, To beat on one's brain". so.. who knows.
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Thursday, 29 September 2011 21:30 (twelve years ago) link
Honestly thought Goldheart Mountaintop (my #1) had a chance of coming in first. Guess I (slightly) overestimated the love for that song. Can't argue with this outcome though. Would've liked to see Pop Zeus place... Super glad to see I'm not the only one who voted for Tight Globes, Make Use, He's the Uncle. Thx Johnny!
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:07 (twelve years ago) link
I voted for Tight Globes. High 5.
― Jeff, Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
Sorry I didn't vote in this, would have place Johnny Appleseed pretty high alongside Motor Away, Smothered in Hugs, Chicken Blows, Always Crush Me
― Cosmo Vitelli, Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:16 (twelve years ago) link
I looooove Pop Zeus. Have long wondered if it's "electric noose, paper boy" or "electric newspaper boy" and I like it equally both ways.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:20 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks, Johnny! And hats off to the fellow "Second Spurt Of Growth" voter--my favorite discovery from the past few weeks of GBV exploration.
― bentelec, Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:40 (twelve years ago) link
comments and whinges: very happy to see brides have hit glass in there. my favourite song from my #3 GbV album, gets me every time
echos myron seems WAYYY too low imo. smothered too but i would say that as it was my #1 (hi captain)
where the heck is pendulum?!?
game of pricks and hunting knife the two most overrated tracks in their catalogue but maybe i just felt that way after years of overexposure to these tracks
― minge beat (electricsound), Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:41 (twelve years ago) link
where the heck is pendulum?!?At the bottom of my ballot, but it was on there!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 22:59 (twelve years ago) link
it was my #5, i've loved it since i first heard it on box abridged
― minge beat (electricsound), Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:12 (twelve years ago) link
my ballot fwiw
1 smothered in hugs2 the brides have hit glass3 echos myron4 shocker in gloomtown5 pendulum6 my impression now7 unleashed! the large hearted boy8 gold star for robot boy9 break even10 tractor rape chain11 exit flagger12 gleemer (the deeds of fertile jim)13 hardcore ufos14 expecting brainchild15 captain's dead16 run wild17 kicker of elves18 the best of jill hives19 dodging invisible rays20 matter eater lad
― minge beat (electricsound), Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:13 (twelve years ago) link
oh! you're the one who voted for break even. good choice! i also love matter eater lad. they played that on the reunion tour i saw last year and i had never seen it live before. the crowd went nuts.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:15 (twelve years ago) link
grand hour was the first GbV i heard, so shocker & break even hold a v special place for me
― minge beat (electricsound), Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:18 (twelve years ago) link
ubuts/melodic/melancholic heavy ballot:
1 Redmen and Their Wives2 My Valuable Hunting Knife3 Motor Away4 Game of Pricks5 Don't Stop Now6 Chicken Blows7 Cut-Out Witch8 Always Crush Me9 Now to War10 Smothered In Hugs11 Burning Flag Birthday Suit12 The Key Losers13 Acorns & Orioles14 Mute Superstar15 The Colossus Crawls West16 Kiss Only the Important Ones17 Office of Hearts18 A Salty Salute19 Sad If I Lost It20 Look at Them
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:20 (twelve years ago) link
(YES I PUT CHICKEN BLOWS AT #6 AND ACORNS AND ORIOLES AT #13, IF I HAD MY TIME OVER ... )
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:21 (twelve years ago) link
game of pricks and hunting knife the two most overrated tracks in their catalogue
pricks yeah, hunting knife nah? idk, pricks *feels* overplayed but it's not like i hear either of them on the radio ever. i guess pricks was played over the end credits of that one episode of (uk sitcom) the it crowd. they're both great examples of how bob could write a totally solid pop song, hunting knife is a little more structurally complex, lyrically i think they're both some of his most concise & evocative efforts.
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:31 (twelve years ago) link
Abbreviated ballot from a major fan of a few songs, casual fan of the band itself:
1. "Motor Away" (40)2. "Subspace Biographies," Robert Pollard (36)3. "Gold Star for Robot Boy" (33)4. "Little Whirl" (30)5. "Tractor Rape Chain" (28)6. "My Son Cool" (26)7. "Hardcore UFOs" (25)
― clemenza, Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:34 (twelve years ago) link
.. also the hi-fier versions of pricks & hunting knife (on the tigerbomb ep & doubtless other places inc. the hunting knife video upthread) >>>>>>>> the origiinal album versions.
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:42 (twelve years ago) link
that is true
― whiney g. aimhouse (electricsound), Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:47 (twelve years ago) link
"and then i will run and then i will, and then i will hide and then i will..." damn. it doesn't get any better than that. for real.
― ledge, Thursday, 29 September 2011 23:49 (twelve years ago) link
For all of the alien lanes love on here, I was the only one to pick striped white jets? It didn't even crack the top200?
― BrianB, Friday, 30 September 2011 00:22 (twelve years ago) link
no one has mentioned 'the who vs porky the pig'
― calstars, Friday, 30 September 2011 00:56 (twelve years ago) link
1. Game of Pricks2. A Salty Salute3. Dusted4. Redmen and Their Wives5. Exit Flagger6. Huffman Prairie Flying Field7. Dayton, Ohio (19 Something and 5)8. I Am a Scientist9. Don't Stop Now10. Chicken Blows11. Long Distance Man12. At the Farms13. Motor Away14. The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory15. Weedking16. Hot Freaks17. Closer You Are18. The Best of Jill Hives19. The Hard Way20. As We Go Up, We Go Down
― Bastards of Young Dro, Friday, 30 September 2011 03:56 (twelve years ago) link
sprout's songs on B1000 got absolutely hosed, wow, wtf
― k3vin k., Friday, 30 September 2011 04:21 (twelve years ago) link
they're kind of slight to warrant a vote when the vote is only 20 songs! at least that was my mentality. i love him as a person, at least.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Friday, 30 September 2011 04:24 (twelve years ago) link
I'm proud to be the only voter for "Cocksoldiers and Their Postwar Stubble". I am perplexed that "Peep-Hole" placed and "Awful Bliss" did not.
1. Motor Away2. Over The Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox3. My Son Cool4. The Official Ironman Rally Song5. Tractor Rape Chain6. My Impression Now7. Blimps Go 908. Smothered In Hugs9. Don't Stop Now10. Indian Fables11. It's Like Soul Man12. Non-Absorbing13. Cocksoldiers and Their Postwar Stubble14. The Closets Of Henry15. To Remake The Young Flyer16. How's My Drinking17. Donkey School18. A Salty Salute19. Exit Flagger20. If We Wait
― purrington, Friday, 30 September 2011 06:41 (twelve years ago) link
Even though I didn't vote for "Awful Bliss"
― purrington, Friday, 30 September 2011 06:44 (twelve years ago) link
btw
it's totally "settlers"!
you people are nuts! srsly. undeniably an 'x' sound in there.
― ledge, Friday, 30 September 2011 08:22 (twelve years ago) link
i always heard 'sexless' and 'neutron' as well
― whiney g. aimhouse (electricsound), Friday, 30 September 2011 08:39 (twelve years ago) link
Dear ILX.
I never 'got' GBV before, in fact the only album I have and have hung onto was Do The Collapse, bought as a kid when 'Teenage FBI' was all over the radio. However I have been following this thread, and I think now, I 'get' it.
― Franz Kappa (S-), Friday, 30 September 2011 11:11 (twelve years ago) link
Huge GBV fan, so much so that putting in a ballot would have been way too difficult. Would struggle to narrow down if someone asked for a 100 songs, but just to chip in...
It's "Electric Newspaper Boy". The Settlers/Sexless debate still crops up in the GBV online communities from time to time (but not as much as the "filed"/"fired" from "Subspace Biographies").
― Wandering Boy Poet, Friday, 30 September 2011 12:26 (twelve years ago) link
Uhhhhh, all of those albums have lyric sheets though
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Friday, 30 September 2011 12:29 (twelve years ago) link
... errrrrrrrrrr, does "Alien Lanes" have a lyric sheet? I can't remember.
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Friday, 30 September 2011 12:39 (twelve years ago) link
my copy does
― ciderpress, Friday, 30 September 2011 12:56 (twelve years ago) link
I'm proud to be the only voter for "Cocksoldiers and Their Postwar Stubble".
This was hovering at the bottom of my list for a long, long time.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 30 September 2011 13:04 (twelve years ago) link
It's totally "filed"! ...Right? Not coincidentally, /l/ and /r/ (as speakers of American English know it -- that's not the official IPA symbol) are both approximants although they are articulated differently. We would only know the real truth if we lived inside Pollard's mouth.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Friday, 30 September 2011 13:38 (twelve years ago) link
I would have pushed "Things I Will Keep" into the top 50 but I think that may be it. Love the guitar chords in that song.
― skip, Friday, 30 September 2011 13:54 (twelve years ago) link
didn't have a chance to chime in yesterday but "Don't Stop Now" is so great because of its dignity: the characters are low, drunks, deadbeats, there's a million of us, we're king shit, nobodies: but the big chiming chords are stately, they say: we are holding their heads up; they should strut like cocks of the block, they are the top of the line big daddies, they are worthy: don't stop now. I love that song so much.
― Euler, Friday, 30 September 2011 14:38 (twelve years ago) link
my 20, songs that did not appear in the ilx 60 highlighted:Quality Of ArmorI Am A ScientistExit FlaggerGame Of PricksEchos MyronLittle WhirlMy Thoughts Are A GasQueen Of Cans And JarsGleemer (The Deeds Of Fertile Jim)Dodging Invisible RaysPeep-HoleMy Impression NowBig Boring WeddingTractor Rape ChainUnderwater ExplosionsAtom EyesNow To WarMotor AwayMan Called AerodynamicsSmothered In Hugs
― da croupier, Friday, 30 September 2011 15:21 (twelve years ago) link
Mine ...
1 Motor Away2 Game of Pricks3 Hot Freaks4 I Am a Tree5 Hardcore UFOs6 Pop Zeus - Robert Pollard and Doug Gillard7 My Valuable Hunting Knife8 Echos Myron9 Buzzards and Dreadful Crows10 I Am a Scientist11 Long Distance Man12 Tractor Rape Chain13 Everywhere With Helicopter14 Cutout Witch15 Exit Flagger16 Demons Are Real17 Gold Star for Robot Boy18 Underwater Explosions19 Glad Girls20 Dayton, Ohioā19 Something and 5
Five best albums1 Bee Thousand2 Alien Lanes3 Mag Earhig4 Under the Bushes, Under the Stars5 Live at the Wheelchair Races
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Friday, 30 September 2011 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
i totally lurked this thread b/c the thought of compiling a ballot made my brain go crazy... but thanking u, johnny
― rip van wanko, Friday, 30 September 2011 15:58 (twelve years ago) link
Here's my ballot:
Dusted (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle version)Quality Of ArmorMy Valuable Hunting KnifeDayton, Ohio in 19 Something and FiveGlad GirlsOver The Neptune/Mesh Gear FoxThe Official Ironmen Rally SongIndian Was An AngelTractor Rape ChainMy Impression NowPendulumBlimps Go 90Buzzards and Dreadful CrowsEchoes MyronOld BatteryTeenage FBII Am A ScientistGleemer (The Deeds of Fertile Jim)Game Of PricksTrap Soul Door
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 30 September 2011 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
Indian Was an Angel was my only one that didn't make the top 60. Should have voted for Tight Globes but I decided to cut out solo stuff.
― dmr, Friday, 30 September 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
Old Battery! Interesting choice. Why did you choose it? I like to hear why people like songs as much as I like knowing which songs they voted for.
Amazingly, I haven't exhausted my willingness to talk about this yet.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Friday, 30 September 2011 17:31 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks for doing all the work on it, Johnny.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Friday, 30 September 2011 17:33 (twelve years ago) link
great poll!
I seem to have lost my ballot, which I would've posted otherwise, but I know I was the only vote for "girl named captain," "little lies" and -- shockingly to me -- "johnny appleseed." that one's a top 10 for me and I always thought it was a fan favorite. hmmm.
― fact checking cuz, Friday, 30 September 2011 17:59 (twelve years ago) link
"little lines." oops. but "little lies" will be on my fleetwood mac ballot.
― fact checking cuz, Friday, 30 September 2011 18:00 (twelve years ago) link
yeah -- johnny appleseed! buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzzi did not vote for that but it is a great little tiny song
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Friday, 30 September 2011 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
Old Battery! Interesting choice. Why did you choose it?
They really nail the early REM sound on that one. And like all great GBV songs, it's catchy as hell.
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 30 September 2011 18:10 (twelve years ago) link
― Volvo Twilight (p-dog), Saturday, 1 October 2011 09:49 (twelve years ago) link
My Thoughts Are A Gas
I voted for this too!
― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Saturday, 1 October 2011 12:12 (twelve years ago) link
If I'm not mistaken the What's Up Matador? version of "Gas" isn't even listed in the discography of Jim Greer's GBV book. It's crazy!
And thanks, Johnny!
― da croupier, Saturday, 1 October 2011 13:04 (twelve years ago) link
It's probably been posted already on one of the two threads, but here's "Gas" again. The poster put up art for Tonic & Twisted Chasers, but this is the far superior version found on the "rarities" disc of the What's Up Matador comp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKsPHJNjnBU
― da croupier, Saturday, 1 October 2011 13:05 (twelve years ago) link
Here's my ballot. I purposely didn't consider any non-GBV Pollard song, because it took me long enough to decide among the GBV ones. Songs that came closest to making the cut but didn't include June Salutes You!, Twilight Campfighter, Johnny Appleseed, Office of Hearts, Unspirited, If We Wait, Scalding Creek, Non-Absorbing, Jar of Cardinals, Sad if I Lost It and Scissors.
1. A Salty Salute2. Peephole3. My Impression Now4. Over the Neptune / Mesh Gear Fox5. I Am a Scientist6. Exit Flagger7. Tractor Rape Chain8. Game of Pricks9. Spring Tiger10. The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory11. Big Boring Wedding12. He's the Uncle13. The Ascended Master's Grogshop14. 158 Years of Beautiful Sex15. Echos Myron16. Surgical Focus17. The Brides Have Hit Glass18. Liar's Tale19. Dusty Bushworms20. The Closets of Henry
― erasingclouds, Saturday, 1 October 2011 14:53 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks Johnny! My ballot:
1. Tractor Rape Chain2. Game Of Pricks3. Over The Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox4. The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory5. Motor Away6. Weedking7. Big Boring Wedding8. My Valuable Hunting Knife9. Redmen And Their Wives10. Hardcore UFOs11. Bright Paper Werewolves12. Make Use13. Marchers In Orange14. Fly Into Ashes15. Fair Touching16. Pendulum17. Dayton, Ohio-19 Something And Five18. Rhine Jive Click19. Gleemer20. Do The Earth
I decided against any Pollard solo material but couldn't resist Make Use. Good times...
― ColinO, Saturday, 1 October 2011 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
Marchers In Orange is a good one, first time I've seen that mentioned
the colors we wear in our dreams, the flags we fly in our films
― dmr, Saturday, 1 October 2011 17:36 (twelve years ago) link
passed someone on the street at like 1AM the other night who had earbuds in and was singing 'motor away' off-key and/or drunkenly
― ciderpress, Monday, 3 October 2011 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
I'm working my way through Propeller and Vampire on Titus. Would definitely have put "Quality of Armor" up near the top with "Motor Away" and "Robot Boy." Played it four times on the way home tonight--I want my makeshift band to do it next spring at a school assembly. (We did "Subspace Biographies" last year; I've been waiting forever for an ex-student of mine to upload it to YouTube--students in the audience need to be blurred out--and if he ever does, I'll post it here.)
― clemenza, Monday, 3 October 2011 21:38 (twelve years ago) link
22 year old Daytonian pees his pants during this installment of "A Day in the Life of Mitch Mitchell"
Guided By Voices probably means more to this town than any other rock band in the Gem Cityās history. In case youāve been living with your ears closed for the past 30 years, or youāre new to the area, Guided By Voices is one of the seminal bands of the original wave of indie rock that followed the grunge movement in the mid-1990s. Most of the bands from that era have either morphed into new, albeit perhaps less-than-stellar incarnations of their previous glory, or faded into obscurity in the torrential pace of media consumption that revels in the hype of a new artist as fast as they cast them aside as one- or two-hit wonders.Not GBV. Firmly placed atop the best-of list of many music critics, the albums Propeller, Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, Under The Bushes Under The Stars, a host of singles and EPs remain influential, essential and relevant even today. These are the albums of the so-called Classic Lineup; its present incarnation containing Robert Pollard, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos, Tobin Sprout and Kevin Fennell.After touring the festival circuit this summer, Daytonās Guided By Voices found the crowds to be larger and more fervent than ever in their appreciation for the music. Somehow, along the way, the band secretly recorded the material for what would become a full album of brand new songs to be released in January 2012. The reunited Classic Lineup laid down all the tracks, utilizing many of the very same recording techniques that made those early albums so endearing to the ears. Letās Go Eat The Factory proves, beyond disbelief, that GBV is back and back for good.Thereās really no reason a veritable rock star should donate his time to a lowly 22-year-old reporter with a receding hairline writing for an alternative weekly newspaper. And yet that is precisely what makes GBV different. The band, like their music, is eternally accessible. Whether itās the annual Heedfest where GBV acolytes from across the globe converge on Dayton for a weekend of sightseeing and drunken carousing with their heroes, or my own chance encounter with Mitch Mitchell at Frickerās on Woodman, the impetus for this story. I was finally able to track him down at Blind Bobās on Sept. 24.The question on everyoneās mind: Will Guided By Voices tour again in support of the new record, and the subsequent record to be released in May?Mitchell replied with a wink. āI canāt say for sure if weāre going to tour, but if we do tour it will definitely be in support of the new material, because it sounds great live and that was the idea this time around.āāOn this past tour,ā said Mitchell, āwe played a lot of the bigger venues, and thatās nice because more people get the chance to come hear the music, but we still want to play the smaller venues along the way too. Iām just hopeful for some demand for the new record, and even if there isnāt weāll just keep putting out records.āItās strange hearing Mitchell speak with such humility. Demand? For the first GBV record in nearly a generation? It just demonstrates that the true focus of the band has always been recording, and the writing and recording process.āI always looked at it as an opportunity to record music and listen to finished recordings,ā said Mitchell. āAnd thatās what great about Bobās (Pollard) phenomenal writing talent. I think he writes a song every day at least. As long as he keeps doing that, Iāll be happy.āLooking at Mitchell, with tattoos extending from his wrists to his neck, surrounded by an entourage of well-wishers, musicians and female admirers, itās hard to imagine him as anything else than a bona fide Dayton deity of rock. It wasnāt always this way though ā Mitchell used to work as a truck driver, a job he says heād probably still be doing if it werenāt for Guided By Voices.āIāve always liked to travel,ā said Mitchell, āand itās kind of similar to being in a band since you get to see so many places all the time.āSince GBV ācame of ageā when the band members were all in their 30s, those long years of working and drinking and making records in garages and basements served to remind the band of the hard work that goes into hard-won success. Mitchell is imbued with a contentment and wisdom of someone who is master of his craft, and happy to give anything he can to the fans and to the town he calls home. Mitchell is still the consummate gentlemen ā politely offering a light to any lady about to spark up a cigarette, and patiently listening as the drunks try to get close and tell stories of their own ā too shy to talk to him unless thoroughly dosed with liquid courage. Itās a bit surreal. Mitchell says he has to pinch himself sometimes to make sure heās not dreaming.āListening to our records, which I still do, feels like an out-of-body experience,ā said Mitchell, ābecause Iām a part of the recording but the music also affects me on a personal level, in my personal life as well.āGBV is a band of musicians who make music that they actually like, not products to make money, and to that they owe their endurance.āItās real, itās fucking real, and everyone can relate to reality,ā said Mitchell.And indeed, amid a flood of artists peddling their castrated eunuch rock ā the kind preferred by the stale tastemakers of this generation of critics ā Guided By Voices has a new record on the horizon, at a time when a fresh breath of power chords, high kicks and testosterone is desperately needed.āItās time for some good music again,ā said Mitchell. āWe canāt let it die. We gotta make it live.ā
Not GBV. Firmly placed atop the best-of list of many music critics, the albums Propeller, Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, Under The Bushes Under The Stars, a host of singles and EPs remain influential, essential and relevant even today. These are the albums of the so-called Classic Lineup; its present incarnation containing Robert Pollard, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos, Tobin Sprout and Kevin Fennell.
After touring the festival circuit this summer, Daytonās Guided By Voices found the crowds to be larger and more fervent than ever in their appreciation for the music. Somehow, along the way, the band secretly recorded the material for what would become a full album of brand new songs to be released in January 2012. The reunited Classic Lineup laid down all the tracks, utilizing many of the very same recording techniques that made those early albums so endearing to the ears. Letās Go Eat The Factory proves, beyond disbelief, that GBV is back and back for good.
Thereās really no reason a veritable rock star should donate his time to a lowly 22-year-old reporter with a receding hairline writing for an alternative weekly newspaper. And yet that is precisely what makes GBV different. The band, like their music, is eternally accessible. Whether itās the annual Heedfest where GBV acolytes from across the globe converge on Dayton for a weekend of sightseeing and drunken carousing with their heroes, or my own chance encounter with Mitch Mitchell at Frickerās on Woodman, the impetus for this story. I was finally able to track him down at Blind Bobās on Sept. 24.
The question on everyoneās mind: Will Guided By Voices tour again in support of the new record, and the subsequent record to be released in May?
Mitchell replied with a wink. āI canāt say for sure if weāre going to tour, but if we do tour it will definitely be in support of the new material, because it sounds great live and that was the idea this time around.ā
āOn this past tour,ā said Mitchell, āwe played a lot of the bigger venues, and thatās nice because more people get the chance to come hear the music, but we still want to play the smaller venues along the way too. Iām just hopeful for some demand for the new record, and even if there isnāt weāll just keep putting out records.ā
Itās strange hearing Mitchell speak with such humility. Demand? For the first GBV record in nearly a generation? It just demonstrates that the true focus of the band has always been recording, and the writing and recording process.
āI always looked at it as an opportunity to record music and listen to finished recordings,ā said Mitchell. āAnd thatās what great about Bobās (Pollard) phenomenal writing talent. I think he writes a song every day at least. As long as he keeps doing that, Iāll be happy.ā
Looking at Mitchell, with tattoos extending from his wrists to his neck, surrounded by an entourage of well-wishers, musicians and female admirers, itās hard to imagine him as anything else than a bona fide Dayton deity of rock. It wasnāt always this way though ā Mitchell used to work as a truck driver, a job he says heād probably still be doing if it werenāt for Guided By Voices.
āIāve always liked to travel,ā said Mitchell, āand itās kind of similar to being in a band since you get to see so many places all the time.ā
Since GBV ācame of ageā when the band members were all in their 30s, those long years of working and drinking and making records in garages and basements served to remind the band of the hard work that goes into hard-won success. Mitchell is imbued with a contentment and wisdom of someone who is master of his craft, and happy to give anything he can to the fans and to the town he calls home. Mitchell is still the consummate gentlemen ā politely offering a light to any lady about to spark up a cigarette, and patiently listening as the drunks try to get close and tell stories of their own ā too shy to talk to him unless thoroughly dosed with liquid courage. Itās a bit surreal. Mitchell says he has to pinch himself sometimes to make sure heās not dreaming.
āListening to our records, which I still do, feels like an out-of-body experience,ā said Mitchell, ābecause Iām a part of the recording but the music also affects me on a personal level, in my personal life as well.ā
GBV is a band of musicians who make music that they actually like, not products to make money, and to that they owe their endurance.
āItās real, itās fucking real, and everyone can relate to reality,ā said Mitchell.
And indeed, amid a flood of artists peddling their castrated eunuch rock ā the kind preferred by the stale tastemakers of this generation of critics ā Guided By Voices has a new record on the horizon, at a time when a fresh breath of power chords, high kicks and testosterone is desperately needed.
āItās time for some good music again,ā said Mitchell. āWe canāt let it die. We gotta make it live.ā
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 4 October 2011 22:31 (twelve years ago) link
He does not actually pee his pants btw, but this made me lol
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Tuesday, 4 October 2011 22:32 (twelve years ago) link
lol at eunuch rock. while i'm not quite as amped up as this dude, i do confess to a slight giddiness at the prospect of new gbv.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 4 October 2011 22:58 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnyEJ36rmDc
GBV in '96 with Matt Sweeney on bass. 2 hours, 5 encores.
― Bastards of Young Dro, Wednesday, 5 October 2011 03:17 (twelve years ago) link
I used to have that on VHS. No clue what happened to it.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 5 October 2011 03:19 (twelve years ago) link
i posted that upthread! i'm in the crowd.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 5 October 2011 04:01 (twelve years ago) link
You guys this is adorable -- early 1983 version of Tractor Rape Chain called "Tell Me". Lots of the same lyrics, but instead of parallel lines, it's "you gotta tell me how you feel about me" You have to listen to it, just do it and thank me later
http://www.jamesgreer.net/2011/10/05/guided-by-voices-tell-me/
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 October 2011 03:48 (twelve years ago) link
i seem to recall an alt version of echos myron with some of the most cheesy and lame lyrics i've heard him sing
― the men who stare at gotye (electricsound), Thursday, 6 October 2011 03:58 (twelve years ago) link
Flowers in your eyesA panoply of flies
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 October 2011 04:02 (twelve years ago) link
"Tell Me" is so cheesy but it's amusing and worth hearing once. Or twice.
Wow, the REM-isms really come out in that early version in a way I'd never picked up from the final incarnation.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 6 October 2011 04:12 (twelve years ago) link
that is awesome
― skip, Thursday, 6 October 2011 14:09 (twelve years ago) link
the thing is, I am not much of a lyrics person and like this almost as much as the original, except for the super cheesy main chorus where the banality of the words is unavoidable.
― skip, Thursday, 6 October 2011 14:10 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, me too. it's just over the line of things that make me a little embarrassed for the person who wrote them, but his voice sounds so good that it's easy to overlook. well, kind of. still, what a treat!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 October 2011 14:20 (twelve years ago) link
eeyowch, just listened to the live "dayton ohio nineteen something" from the spotify playlist -- never heard that version! such a great song. is there a real strawberry philadelphia drive?
― tylerw, Thursday, 6 October 2011 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
"huffman prairie flying field" demo from suitcase 3 -- super fun for playing leg/table/desk drums too if you know the finished version of the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Vw2n0R3Uk
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Sunday, 9 October 2011 20:01 (twelve years ago) link
I am very late but can I sub Mesh Gear Fox for my obvious blooper. Campbell you idiot. You skewed me
a good flying birdnon absorbingquality of armorexit flaggermy kind of soldierwished i was a giantteenage fbithings i will keepover the neptunegold star for robot boyshocker in gloomtownvaluable hunting knifegame of pricks they're not witchescut out witchofficial ironman rally songdont stop nowjane of the waking universehold on hoperaincloud
I forgot to rank them
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Sunday, 9 October 2011 22:37 (twelve years ago) link
kind of a fascinating little glimpse into pollard's process here: http://www.jamesgreer.net/2011/10/13/trendspotter-acrobat/these blog posts greer writes about GBV are so much better than the actual book he wrote about GBV
― tylerw, Thursday, 13 October 2011 16:20 (twelve years ago) link
there's an amazing story by Greer on how he literally drew blood onstage playing with GBV. don't know if he posted this on his blog too, but you can find it in no. 13 issue of Five Dials here -> http://fivedials.com/files/fivedials_no13.pdf
― V79, Thursday, 13 October 2011 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
great story! imagine Bob commanding you to write a song. terrifying.
― spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Thursday, 13 October 2011 20:30 (twelve years ago) link
btw does anyone anywhere keep track of those Greer uploads and, like, rips them to mp3's or something? coz I missed another great one, just thinking that I had a chance to (but didn't) listen to an '83 version of "Tractor Rape Chain" makes me feel sick :(
― V79, Friday, 14 October 2011 00:22 (twelve years ago) link
you didn't listen? i will sing it for you, here:
you gotta tell meeeee how you feel about meyou gottatell meeee how you feel about mejangle jingle doot doot dootthe end
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Friday, 14 October 2011 00:23 (twelve years ago) link
*tries to imagine that* *fails miserably*
― V79, Friday, 14 October 2011 01:07 (twelve years ago) link
lolthat early tractor rape chain was pretty great. not as great as what we know and love, but sort of nice in a bizarre, alt-universe way.
― tylerw, Friday, 14 October 2011 01:47 (twelve years ago) link
Pretty sure Greer said he didn't want people to download them, otherwise he'd stop putting more up, so although they are no doubt out there, it'll probably be on the downlow.
― Wandering Boy Poet, Friday, 14 October 2011 12:50 (twelve years ago) link
Yep, I missed it too. FUCK. Honestly, kind of pissed at Greer for this. I 100% understand not wanting people to download it, fair enough, but can't you at least leave the stream up for a few weeks?
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 14 October 2011 13:12 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2011/10/25/guided-by-voices-new-single-by-original-lineup-the-unsinkable-fats-domino/mp3!
― tylerw, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:42 (twelve years ago) link
!!!
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:51 (twelve years ago) link
listened to that few days before, unfortunately I'm not very impressed by this song :(
― V79, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:53 (twelve years ago) link
Well, it's a minor song in the classic-era catalogue sure, but it still makes me optimistic for the record(s).
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
I'm still very curious to the record too, wonder what Tobin brought to the table
― V79, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
http://gbvsongs.tumblr.com/
^quality tumblr
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:14 (twelve years ago) link
ha, that's awesome. is he doing the whole catalogue? :)
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
man, i missed this poll. :/ cones.
― Little GTFO (contenderizer), Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:18 (twelve years ago) link
those are so great! i wonder how he chooses. does he take requests?
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:19 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, "raincloud", "a salty salute" and "tractor rape chain" are especially great
― Little GTFO (contenderizer), Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:21 (twelve years ago) link
The "it's" in Hunting Knife is driving me crazy.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:23 (twelve years ago) link
yes that is a little painful. photoshop anyone?
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:24 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, that one's really bad overall, though, so no big loss
― Little GTFO (contenderizer), Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:26 (twelve years ago) link
i've never been a big GBV guy but i have to say i've been listening to the best tracks spotify playlist today and it's sounding really good
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 6 March 2012 21:41 (twelve years ago) link
!!!!!!!!!see??
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Tuesday, 6 March 2012 22:49 (twelve years ago) link
new pollard album, mouseman cloud dropping soon -- sounds ... kind of great? as for the latest GBV, i actually like it more and more.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 16:05 (twelve years ago) link
I haven't heard anything off it yet, but I love the cover. I know Pollard loves his collages, but its just such a cool photo for him to use.
http://gbvdb.com/images/robert_pollard_mouseman_cloud_large.jpg
― stan this sick bunt (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 18:19 (twelve years ago) link
I wonder if he is in pinterest.
― Jeff, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 18:22 (twelve years ago) link
On
lol
― stan this sick bunt (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 18:23 (twelve years ago) link
agree, i like that pic of him
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
ā tylerw, Wednesday, March 7, 2012 4:05 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Can't say I'm surprised it sounds kind of great, especially considering how strong Bob's 2011 output was. Waving At The Astronauts, Space City Kicks, New Theory Of Everything, Lord Of The Birdcage, Let It Beard, Capsized!, and Let's Go Eat The Factory were all excellent albums. I can't wait for Mouseman!
― ColinO, Thursday, 8 March 2012 14:32 (twelve years ago) link
Really wanted the classic line up to deliver again.
They didn't
Perhaps I should give it a fifth listen? That's a lot in these hectic times
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Thursday, 8 March 2012 22:26 (twelve years ago) link
i think you should give it another listen! it's a grower.
― tylerw, Thursday, 8 March 2012 22:27 (twelve years ago) link
Ok , I will tylerw.
I'm trusting you
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Thursday, 8 March 2012 22:40 (twelve years ago) link
The only one that grabbed me was Waves by Sprout.
but i only do tunes. Having said that. Pollard's lyrics. FFS.
ignore me, i'm a weirdo
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Thursday, 8 March 2012 22:59 (twelve years ago) link
New GBV single "Keep It In Motion" up at Quietus. Bob and Toby on vocals!
― ColinO, Friday, 9 March 2012 13:33 (twelve years ago) link
http://soundcloud.com/firerecords/guided-by-voices-keep-it-in
Like this at least twice as much as any song on Factory. Hoping Class Clown is their "no fuckin' around" reunion album.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 12 March 2012 14:31 (twelve years ago) link
GBV gets the White House seal of approval, sort of:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/jay-carney-guided-by-voices-press-conference_n_1345403.html
― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 15 March 2012 18:20 (twelve years ago) link
Jay Carney's GBV crush has been documented in the past as well.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 15 March 2012 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
I just learned something unbelievable about a GBV song I thought I knew! According to the gbvdb official lyrics for the original version of "If We Wait", the last line is
We'll all be there
not, as I have thought for literally umpteen years
We'll all be dead
My mind: it is blown.
― Paul Smon (La Lechera), Friday, 23 March 2012 04:53 (eleven years ago) link
Actually, even worse, now that I look, it's (acc to gbvdb) "Then we'll be there"
― Paul Smon (La Lechera), Friday, 23 March 2012 04:54 (eleven years ago) link
are we sure it's not we'll all be dead? that's what i thought it was too! gah!
― tylerw, Friday, 23 March 2012 14:46 (eleven years ago) link
i mean, it's definitely "we'll all be ..." maybe it's a mistake? please let it be a mistake!
― tylerw, Friday, 23 March 2012 14:50 (eleven years ago) link
i know! it HAS to be "dead"!! but i checked and listened to it a few times and it could either pollard using his fake english accent OR a poorly articulated "dead."
i just know that i have been singing "dead" at the top of my lungs for a long time and don't believe i will stop now.
― Paul Smon (La Lechera), Friday, 23 March 2012 15:43 (eleven years ago) link
listening to a stream of Class Clown -- title track is some kind of instant classic.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:26 (eleven years ago) link
Is this a stream you can share with the class?
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:32 (eleven years ago) link
sorry, did not mean to be a tease, it's some kinda password protected thing. i'm sure it'll be available shortly. really sounding good though!
― tylerw, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:38 (eleven years ago) link
Class Clown Spots A UFO is an old GBV song, known as Crocker's Favorite Song on King Shit and the Golden Boys. There's also a version on Suitcase 3. The clip I heard from this newest version sounds fantastic...
― ColinO, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 04:38 (eleven years ago) link
ah ok, knew the title had been around for a while, didn't know it was that song. actually not the *worst* idea pollard's had -- to go back and rework some of those older tunes?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:10 (eleven years ago) link
he's been doing that for ages -- tractor rape chain was one of those!
― Paul Smon (La Lechera), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:47 (eleven years ago) link
right, yeah! see, he should write songs, let them sit around for a decade or so, and then re-write them. instant classics!
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:49 (eleven years ago) link
another great one on the new gbv - Roll Of The Dice, Kick In The Head, 46 seconds of perfection.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link
Hoping Class Clown is their "no fuckin' around" reunion album.
Just now getting around to listening to it. Less fuckin' around than Let's Go Eat the Factory, but still not a terrible lot of umph to it. So this is the sound of old dudes making choons, I guess.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 13 June 2012 05:49 (eleven years ago) link
i like it a lot more than factory so far in general, but sprout's tunes are worse than ever
― sissy space echo (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 05:56 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guided-by-voices-ready-third-album-of-2012-20120727
With a pair of albums already out this year, Guided By Voices releases another new effort this fall ā and plans to put out a new album every six months after that, guitarist Tobin Sprout says.
The Bears for Lunch is due in November, and the band is set to begin work on the next LP, English Little League, in August.
The Bears for Lunch track listing:
"King Arthur the Red""The Corners are Glowing""Have a Jug""Hangover Child""Dome Rust""Finger Gang""The Challenge Is Much More""Waving at Airplanes""The Military School Dance Dismissal""White Flag""Skin to Skin Combat""She Lives in an Airport""Tree Fly Jet""Waking Up the Stars""Up Instead of Running""Smoggy Boy""Amorphous Surprise""You Can Fly Anything Right""Everywhere Is Miles From Everywhere"
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 30 July 2012 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
i'm glad pollard is adhering to the one-album-about-airplanes-every-four-albums rule.
― all the worlds a stage and kitty's just stepped into the spotlight (cajunsunday), Monday, 30 July 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link
good tracklist
― ciderpress, Monday, 30 July 2012 19:03 (eleven years ago) link
I saw them in Philly on their latest tour, and they played "Hangover Child". It was nothing special, but who knows, could be another grower. In general they were very good live, though, way tighter than on the reunion tour (until the 2nd encore or so, but it usually gets ropey way earlier).
So far Class Clown > Factory for me; but both are victims of Pollard's refusal to self-edit, unfortunately.
― cwkiii, Monday, 30 July 2012 19:05 (eleven years ago) link
I don't think the leak of English Little League I just acquired is complete (it's missing some tracks and includes some b-sides, so whatever), but "Islands (She Talks in Rainbows)" is Tobin's best song in a dog's age.
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 14 April 2013 07:57 (ten years ago) link
― What About The Half That's Never Been POLLed (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 14 April 2013 12:53 (ten years ago) link
i had no idea gbv albums COULD leak. i thought they released them 35 seconds after recording them.
― fact checking cuz, Sunday, 14 April 2013 15:29 (ten years ago) link
idk where else to put this where my fellow enthusiasts will appreciate it so i am putting it here1 of my bands has a show wednesday and it's just two of us instead of 3 and i convinced guitar player/singer to cover my 6th favorite gbv song!!i am going to switch best/worst in the second verse because belligerence is truly the worstso excited!!!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 29 October 2016 21:55 (seven years ago) link
Exit flagger
― calstars, Saturday, 29 October 2016 22:00 (seven years ago) link
We thought about it but went with Quality of Armor
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 29 October 2016 22:05 (seven years ago) link
MEAGH GEAR FIX?!?!?!
― calstars, Saturday, 29 October 2016 23:03 (seven years ago) link
sorry I'm . wasted
― calstars, Saturday, 29 October 2016 23:04 (seven years ago) link
Thought about that one but guitarist wanted something peppier. Sorry you're wasted :(
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 30 October 2016 00:54 (seven years ago) link
playing gbv songs with a band sounds like so much fun, totally jealous
― brimstead, Sunday, 30 October 2016 01:34 (seven years ago) link
My old band used to do "big boring wedding" and "tractor tape chain"
Brim are you in NYC? I wonder if we have enough musician ilxors who like gbv who would like to kick out the jams
― calstars, Sunday, 30 October 2016 15:41 (seven years ago) link
How about you Lech?
― calstars, Sunday, 30 October 2016 15:42 (seven years ago) link
I'm in Chicago. You guys should totally kick out some gbv jams.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 30 October 2016 18:13 (seven years ago) link
Lol tape chain
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 30 October 2016 18:14 (seven years ago) link
i am not in NYC but would totally highkick out some gbv jams with ilxors in a neutral safe space
― brimstead, Sunday, 30 October 2016 18:29 (seven years ago) link
I dug their show last summer at Wicker Park Fest in Chicago. Better than when I saw them at Metro in late 90s (too drunk), not as great as a small club in '93 when they were like how I imagined The Who in '68. "Space Gun" from the upcoming album is quite good, and last year's August By Cake has some choons. Belatedly working my way through How Do You Spell Heaven now. Time for a GBV 2010s list/playlist?
― Fastnbulbous, Monday, 29 January 2018 18:30 (six years ago) link
Iām an exclusively pre-Mag Earwig man myself
― calstars, Monday, 29 January 2018 19:07 (six years ago) link