C or D : Guided By Voices.

like as long as you were into GBV deeper than bee thousand/alienlanes you'll find something to enjoy on these new records i think

Ok. I'm a serious old timer at this point, I'll give it a try!

I only listened to the first of the three new ones and wasn't into it. maybe I'll give Bears For Lunch a shot.

The first one is definitely the worst. Class Clown is my favorite so far, but still giving Bears For Lunch time to sink in.

I bought all GBV, and most side projects, through about 2006, but I've heard most everything since. I'm a big Pollard apologist. But... the only ones from the 2000s that I honestly keep going going back, not out of sheer obligation, are:

Keene Brothers
Moon
Go Back Snowball
Hold on Hope EP
Suitcase #1
Live at the Wheelchair Races
Crickets

Wow same list for me but I would add 'waving at astronauts' by lifeguards & 'let it beard' by Boston spaceships & 'new theory of everything' by mars classroom

Oh you said 2000s - my bad

i actually liked Normal Happiness a bunch, am i the only one?

No, I think Normal Happiness is great, lots of great pop moments on that record though it does tail off a bit on the second side...

I find that a lot of Bob's albums are major growers. Songs that feel kind of awkward at first turn out to be brilliant after a few listens. I had From A Compound Eye for a few years before I really got into it. Now I think it's one of the best things he ever put out...

I'm looking forward to his latest project Sunflower Logic. Songs recorded in his new home studio with his brother, Greg Demos, and another guy. Due out in February, And in January we get GBV's Down By The Racetrack EP!

going through the post-reunion albums right now on spotify - already 4 full-lengths and 1 EP - dudes are still crazy huh?

anyway...unfortunately for them Let's Go Eat the Factory, the one that got the most attention by virtue of being the "reunion album" -- so far at least -- seems to be BY FAR the worst...about halfway through The Bears For Lunch right now (third full length post reformation) and it's a damn good GBV album

gonna make a "best of reunited GBV" spotify mix i'll post

I keep meaning to make a "best of re-united GBV" playlist but haven't gotten around to it yet. I probably prefer the pre-split Stadium Rock Years to the super lo-fi stuff, so these may not be for me.

this band is getting so much more complicated than i ever would have imagined, and it was complicated to begin with

one thing that's also very evident - MAN it's good to have tobin sprout back in the band, his songs really help break up the albums in a nice way

I probably prefer the pre-split Stadium Rock Years to the super lo-fi stuff, so these may not be for me.

Of the new albums, I'd rank them thusly: 4 > 3 > 2 > 1

In fact, I don't rank Let's Go Eat the Factory at all. It's trash.

yeah only pulled a few off that one on this playlist

I don't rank Let's Go Eat the Factory at all. It's trash.

there's a live version of "god loves us" on youtube, from central park, that's kinda great, but the album version is kinda weird in a not so good way.

well, here's the results of my listening today, the highlights of guided by voices classic lineup 2.0!

http://open.spotify.com/user/matthelgeson/playlist/6pNdtcAVo6SVin1hcF594M

that's some serious public service. thanks! if you haven't yet you might want to check out bob's recent solo album, honey locust honky tonk , which is pretty top shelf

Agreed. Some not just good, but GREAT songs on HLHT.

mix is still 33 tracks but i'm sure that's down by 2/3rds or more

this band is getting so much more complicated than i ever would have imagined, and it was complicated to begin with

Haha. Go read our favorite Circle thread and read about Jussi's plan for Falcon (ex-Circle) and Circle (ex-Falcon), then let me know if GbV still feels complicated!

I probably prefer the pre-split Stadium Rock Years to the super lo-fi stuff, so these may not be for me.

― michaellambert, Tuesday, July 30, 2013 2:19 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

you will like the title track from class clown spots a ufo which sounds almost like a song written during that era

Ironic as "Class Clown Spots A UFO" is just a re-recording of "Crocker's Favorite Song" a Bee Thousand era (earlier?) outtake... unless that's what you were trying to say.

ha i was thinking last night about putting together a best of of the reunion albums.. though matt's playlist will be hard to beat

nah honestly i don't know GBV trivia like that, just the real stompy handclapping thing reminded me more of an isolation drills era song

electricsound - you could totally make a shorter one like a real one album length greatest hits...this was more just me listening to them all and doing a thumbs up/thumbs down "i want to hear this song again" or not....it could be way better if i resequenced it i bet

I have all 4 reunion albums and like them in places but do find them a bit of a slog to listen to at times. I'd agree that there's been an improvement since '...Factory'. Listening to the last track on 'Bears', which i like.

I've not really dipped into the recent Pollard solo stuff.

I've not really dipped into the recent Pollard solo stuff.

As you might have guessed, there's a lot of it. And some of it isn't worth the effort. But for serious Honey Locust Honky Tonk is so soooo good.

down to a shortlist of 55, should come as no surprise that most of the easy culls were from factory

thanks so much for the playlist

this band is getting so much more complicated than i ever would have imagined, and it was complicated to begin with

Haha. Go read our favorite Circle thread and read about Jussi's plan for Falcon (ex-Circle) and Circle (ex-Falcon), then let me know if GbV still feels complicated!

― JACK SQUAT about these Charlie Nobodies (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, July 30, 2013 5:26 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark

I have, and it's no consolation, I'm afraid.

this is the best i could do for a 20-track distillation of the 4 reunion albums. i had to leave off at least 5 songs that on a different day could have been on here

flunky minnows
class clown spots a ufo
everywhere is miles from everywhere
keep it in motion
the challenge is much more
you can fly anything right
king arthur the red
finger gang
the unsinkable fats domino
be impeccable
waving at airplanes
jon the croc
roll of the dice kick in the head
with glass in foot
skin to skin combat
no transmission
billy wire
hangover child
white flag
trashcan full of nails

hmmm apparently bears for lunch is my fave

you might as well tell us the other five

ok

xeno pariah, smoggy boy, chain to the moon, have a jug, chocolate boy

I'm sorry, that list has no Islands (She Talks to Rainbows) on it, so it's incomplete.

that was a late cut

Ironic as "Class Clown Spots A UFO" is just a re-recording of "Crocker's Favorite Song" a Bee Thousand era (earlier?) outtake... unless that's what you were trying to say.

Crocker's has always been one of my favourite GBV songs, ever since I got the first box set.

But I feel like I've heard so many songs by GBV now I honestly couldn't tell you with any confidence what my favourites were. You're right about Let's Go Eat The Factory, but Old Bones crushes me every time I hear it.

I played my old vinyl of Jellyfish Reflector yesterday morning, that's sublime GBV IMHO

I would have to include Imperial Racehorsing on any list of the best post-reunion stuff. Otherwise, that's a pretty good list!

Not sure if it's just because it was the 1st, but I've played _...Factory_ way more than the others.

I like Factory the best, and still play it moderately often. I was kind of surprised that most people seemed to prefer what came after.

This Spotify GBV playlist has made my week. Thanks!!!

also "waking up the stars" is insanely good

I really should be contributing to this thread revival but I never checked out the rest after being deflated by one listen to Factory when it came out. I'm a classic era super fan btw.

The new albums are like saying "here, you can have all this delicious ice cream in every flavor you can imagine, but first you have to eat this bowl of dogshit (i.e. Factory)!"

Yeah, I'll absolutely check out the others. That seems to be a majority opinion.

"Dropping the Bomb" on Suitcase 3 is freaking wonderful. Beautiful (!) harmonies. At a minute-and-a-half, I kinda wish it went on for another...minute.