Why in the name of all that is holy do people like Guided by Voices?

i am also a super annoying typical gbv lifer, so

great lyrics

i understand why people like magnetic poetry gobbledygook but i dunno why they feel the need to elevate it to the level of 'great lyrics'

pop for perverts--pomo smarty-pants too prudish and/or alienated to take their pleasure without a touch of pain to remind them that they're still alive

it's true that i can't listen to abba without my nipple clamps

"closer you are," "game of pricks," "motor away," etc. all are pretty awesome lyrically

listening to old gbv is like listening to a radio playing a classic rock station that melted in the sun -- if that's not your thing, ok. not sure what being a perv has to do with it.

yep. I've always felt that those best mid-90's albums were like getting bad reception from a station transmitting from another galaxy. The aching of wanting a better signal had something to do with the appeal for me. Not sure how else to put it.

If GBV had been teenage girls singing about how their dish detergent was promoting male hegemony, Xgau would have been all over it. I'm more of a fan of him than of GBV, but occasionally he was an idiot and occasionally GBV were geniuses, and Bee Thousand is one of those times.

i even feel that way about the late 80s albums

i don't understand what's NOT to like about gbv, honestly -- if you like rock music, you are likely to find at least one gbv song that you like, it's inevitable because there are so many, and they are not actually samey if you listen to them all. you may need an interpreter to find your way through the muck, but when you stumble across it, it feels roughly equivalent to finding a piece of solid gold on the floor of a portajohn on your way out. like you may not have seen it on the way in, but you sure as hell noticed it on the way out and -- look at that-- you're surprise rich to boot.

i also think it helps to know how exceptionally grim dayton, oh is, and what it feels like to live in a town like that. knowing that someone was making awesome rock music in his garage after his day job as a 4th grade teacher (and on weekends, of course) is just, i'll admit it, super inspiring to me.

i mean, if anyone really cares why. i don't really care why i like gbv, i just do.

The aching of wanting a better signal had something to do with the appeal for me.

yes.

when i first started reading the board in 2005 i thought the still semi-regular gbv bashing was so odd, i mean who gave a shit about them by that point. like opposing them in 95 because you hated lo-fi or whatever makes sense, but why the seemingly amiable bob pollard became the poster boy for all the failures of indie is a mystery. i guess it had something to do with annoying fans, idk?

The sad thing about Pollard and GBV is that once he had the brass ring in hand, it fell apart. It's a pretty interesting rock and roll story, if nothing else and eventually a screenwriter will either tell the tale or co-op it. I saw them quite a bit, being a Midwestern dude and over a period of years it went from really fun to kind of sad live. The first few times I saw them, I thought it was some of the most concentrated rock and roll joy I have ever seen. The last time I saw them it was really bad and kind of sad. Ever since then I have wondered if Pollard might have had second thoughts on how it all played out.

Are they the second coming of some kind of 60s rock pop? Probably not. Is what they were doing in the early mid 90s kind of interesting in context, I think so. How much it has relevance it has now when you can have a 24 bit 192khz studio in your pocket, I cannot for certain say. I dig the stuff I dig then. Dude needed an editor as it went on, but it all came out I guess.

revive needs some dmr + daddino

idgi either, and i've been around since about 2006? why do people give a shit about hating on gbv? i do remember the sad phase, though, and it was enough to make me jaded enough to not go to the reunion show. i've had my ups and downs with liking them intensely.

still, however much you hate sloppy bellowing moronic drunkard bob pollard, try to imagine this song being sung by a girl in a language that is not english and then tell me it's not a good pop song! it's good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tikguGJKxo

that is a hell of a lot of drums. were they opening for magma or something?

this band had some cool songs imo

no, wait a second. i DID go to the reunion show, i did not go to the "final" NYE show -- and it was in chicago. it was expensive!

I went to the last two Chicago shows and those will be the last ones I attend. FINAL.

revive needs some dmr + daddino

holla

not sure what to say if people are gonna get all "gbv doesn't have hooks" and "I don't really like the Who" up in here

I think the Who comparisons came more from their stage shtick at first (Pollard's high kicks and Daltrey mic swings, Mitch Mitchell doing windmills) but the later hi-fi "we're actually arena rock and not some weird alien idea of arena rock" songs have def. got some explicit Who

actually Demons Are Real off Bee Thousand kinda sounds like the Who

I saw GBV cover Baba O'Reilly as the last (second last?) encore song of a 3-hour set in Baltimore, we had all been at the Preakness drinking since noonish and the show ended at probably like 1 in the morning. We pretty much poured beer on each others heads and sang along really loud.

cool story bro

tbh only thing "demons are real" sounds like is tenacious d

"demons are real" is like ten seconds long. they are standing still

my fondest live GBV memory was when Pollard invited the entire audience onstage to sing "Hot Freaks". Half the room must have gotten up there. Security did not look pleased.

feel like lots of people who "don't get" guided by voices are just kind of uptight

"also a popular musician"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzCKMAcHhAY

I have never actually listened to them before and so went and checked out some youtubes and feel that the Who is all over these guys. They aren't a Who tribute band or anything, but from the 4 songs I listened to the influence is pretty apparent. I fucking hate the Who, but this stuff seems alright, just not something I'd listen to.

I think the Who comparisons came more from their stage shtick at first

No, it's not just that, the way Pollard writes a lot of the songs is similar to Townshend, they've both got a propensity for moving chord shapes up and down the guitar while keeping an open D ringing (technical term anyone?), Pollard does it all the time and Townshend used to

96.

Some of Sprout's songs -- "Waves" especially -- have the sullen loveliness of my favorite GBV moments, but otherwise, the new stuff hasn't quite killed me. And since nearly everything GBV did that I love actively repelled me at first, I take this as a bad sign.

http://www.the-fly.co.uk/news/article/1018159/listen-new-guided-by-voices-album/

That url is deceptive. It's only five tracks from English Little League, but they're batting 1000 with these. Starting to think the reunion was actually worth it!

yeah, these are great, all five of 'em. cribbed from the blueprint of past glories, some will say, but so what? good song is good. esp dig the "sullen loveliness" (daddino otm) of the sprout tune.

And here's some b-sides: http://thequietus.com/articles/12045-guided-by-voices-glue-on-bicycle-english-little-league

"Build A Bigger Iceberg" too good to be relegated to b-side status imo.

i'm enjoying the newie a lot - nothing is really standing out for me but there's only one howler (noble insect)

lol
55K
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guided-By-Voices-GBV-custom-made-Eames-Drumset-used-on-Bee-Thousand-and-many-o-/121195596623

why not just contact jay carney or steven soderbergh directly

haha, seriously
i doubt carney has that kind of disposable cash though

Wow, what's the retail on that kit as is?

So... this blew up

https://www.facebook.com/gvbdrumauction/posts/450322931745459

lol. wonder what the "(you know, the J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story)" was.

Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 20:37:53 -0700
From: Kevin Fennell
Subject: Re: From Bobby

Bob, I thought that it would be best to respond to you voice-mail message via e-mail to avoid any argument or confrontation. I just don't feel comfortable being attacked or having to explain myself, it's bullshit. You obviously are pissed about my decision to sell my drums or maybe my asking price. If you recall I did mention that I would most likely be selling them but I wasn't sure how to go about it at the time.

After rejoining the band, I was hopeful that we would be more active regarding playing out and having the opportunity to earn money. As a result, I passed on two full-time job opportunities at OSU to make sure I was available for the band but we only played 2 shows this year, with no mention of anything in the future. That's just it, there has never really been much communication and I guess I'm tired of being "on call" at the drop of a hat.

It seems to me that we are not on the same page and maybe my expectations exceeded yours. I think it's unfortunate that you have any issue with me selling what belongs to me. I went out of my way to make sure that I did not use the band name for personal gain. I only stated the facts about my history with the band on E-Bay. You know that I have devoted a large part of my life to the band and have been loyal from the beginning. It's too bad that same loyalty was never reciprocated and I think you know what I mean.

Maybe it's best that I resign my position at this time. I don't feel that I need to ask your permission about personal decisions ie: the asking price for my drums. If that's the case, it's better that we part company now.

Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 8:24AM
From: Bob Pollard
Subject: Re: From Bobby

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for responding and there will be no argument or confrontation. There was no attack. There was simply a statement and observation by all, and you don't realize how many, that you have made a fool of yourself by your asking price. First of all, most people would like to know who the fuck you think you are and who you think Guided By Voices is that you can warrant that kind of asking price for your fucking drums. And yes, you did mention the band and use the band as a selling point. You said, "These were the drums that were played on Bee Thousand" and other albums. Should I ask for $50,000 for the metal trash can I banged on My Valuable Hunting Knife? Do you see the absurdity and where it can go from there? You don't have to ask for my permission to sell your shit but you do my friend, have to ask permission to use the name Guided By Voices as I own it.

You can call it resigning if you want but you were already fired. I've been wanting to do that for a long time. You're an amateur, you play too fast (which is the sign of an amateur). I've asked you to slow down and get behind the music but I can tell that you don't know what I'm even talking about. You know, I diligently sought you out for this reunion thing. I said I wouldn't do it if I couldn't find all four of the original members of the so-called fucking Classic line-up which is a laugh to begin with. I employed the assistance of others to find you. Now, I'm regretting that I ever did that. I could have gotten Jim MacPherson or Kevin March and no one would have given a shit, it would have all been the same.

I owe no sense of loyalty to you whatsoever. 100% of the gratitude should come from your end. Good luck in gouging someone for your fucking drums and don't ever fucking bother me again.

Bob

PS - Oh yeah, and calling it "being on call at the drop of a hat" for the exorbitant amount of money that you received for these calls is the epitome of biting the hand that feeds you. Do not delude yourself, Kevin, that people gave a shit who was behind that drum kit. And if you have a problem with me you can call me or meet me face to face if that's what you fucking want. Not just myself, but others, know you to be a rude, opinionated and insufferable individual. The little anecdote that you told about J Mascis in Denver (you know, the J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story) was the final straw anyway. And you know what most people can't believe about you asking $55k for your drums, minimum? Is that you're not even on drugs anymore.
Like · Reply · 9 · October 22 at 6:58am

Wow, what's the retail on that kit as is?

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, October 17, 2013 11:56 AM (1 week ago)

lol. wonder what the "(you know, the J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story)" was.

― how's life, Thursday, October 24, 2013 1:40 PM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Just any old day for J

sadly predictable correspondence there

i wonder what the jobs he passed up at OSU were

sadly predictable indeed. but also, of course, private. i can't imagine why any of those involved, even the aggrieved party, would want to make this correspondence public.

Not sure I understand Bob's argument- do you really need permission of the name owner to sell any memorabilia with the name on it?

Yeah I don't understand the motivation to make this public either...

Bob is mean.

i guess it's to show that bob is a dick?

I'm sure it's complicated, Kevin has a history.

who doesn't already know that? bob is a lovable narcissistic dick.

Now that this is public the fans get to provide all of the context that is missing!

I'm going to print out this email and try to get Bob to autograph it.

Then sell it on ebay