Opinions are like Guided By Voices fans.... encounter too many of them in one week and a feeling of overwhelmedness will engulf your entire being. Still, here's another take on one of the most prolific bands of all time...
'Under The Bushes, Under The Stars' is the underrated one. While apparently the transition from their 4 track home set up to the professional studio was an arduous experience for the band (and lead to the end of the classic GBV line-up), you wouldn't know it from these recordings.
I know a lot of romanticism around this band relies on the lo-fi charm, their identity as midwestern underdogs etc. I love that narrative too but this record sounds warm, rounded, and captures the immersive and exciting feeling of seeing a loud guitar band in a small room.
Listen to 'Your Name Is Wild' and tell me it doesn't have a 'Here Comes The Warm Jets'-like quality more guitar music should strive for!
- Nic
'Under The Bushes, Under The Stars' is the underrated one. While apparently the transition from their 4 track home set up to the professional studio was an arduous experience for the band (and lead to the end of the classic GBV line-up), you wouldn't know it from these recordings.
I know a lot of romanticism around this band relies on the lo-fi charm, their identity as midwestern underdogs etc. I love that narrative too but this record sounds warm, rounded, and captures the immersive and exciting feeling of seeing a loud guitar band in a small room.
Listen to 'Your Name Is Wild' and tell me it doesn't have a 'Here Comes The Warm Jets'-like quality more guitar music should strive for!
- Nic