Doing the Collapse

By Lindsay Bianchi
lbianchi@TheCitizenNews.com

Tonight at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Guided By Voices will play one of their last shows in this area. Robert Pollard, the guiding force behind GBV has decided to call it a day with the release of the bands last album, “Half Smiles of the Decomposed.”

Pollard said he wanted to end the band on a high note, considering this last effort the perfect GBV album.

As a major force of the Lo-Fi movement in this country, this group of basement rockers from Dayton, Ohio are the ultimate self-made success story.

Releasing their own limited EP in 1986, “Forever Since Breakfast,” Pollard, along with some of his buddies began to create some of the most heartfelt and original songs in recent rock history.

Although their earlier efforts are decidedly uneven sounding at first, the tendency for Pollard to include every bit of the band’s output on each release, repeated playing reveals a very special talent.

I picked up the groups 1997 release, “Mag Earwig!” because I liked the cover and the band’s name. It was part of a pile of new albums I purchased out of curiousity.

At first GBV didn’t grab me. I thought I had wasted my money once again. It sat there next to my stereo waiting to be traded for something better.

Then I decided to give it one more listen. I have been a rabid GBV fan ever since.

Their music is Beatle-esque in its complexity. Inspired and unique, the catalog of songs that have been racked up over the last 18 years is prolific to say the least.

Pollard started this project when he was still teaching high school English and finally left that career behind to pursue his dream job full time.

Not content to have just one band,a string of side projects too long to list here make exploring this musical genius’ output a real treasure hunt.

I was lucky enough to see them perform at the original Cotton Club several years ago.They are so in tune with their fans that the atmosphere is like a party at Bob’s house. They love rock and roll and it shows in every song that is pulled out of their huge repertoire.

For those new to this great American sound, a best of CD “Human Amusement at Hourly Rates” is available with 32 hand-picked favorites.

A DVD “Watch Me Jumpstart” chronicling the bands tenth release “Under the Bushes Under the Stars” (one of my faves) is also a good place to begin.

A box set entitled “Box” released in 1995 is a great bargain. It contains the band’s first five albums proper plus an extra LP of rarities. “Devil Between My Toes,” “Sandbox,” and “Same Place the Fly Got Smashed” are early classics in the GBV catalog.

The album that brought them critical acclaim, “Bee Thousand,” has just been re-released in a special 3 CD set, tripling the amount of material to pour over.

These are just a few samplings of Pollard and company’s output. There are import only collections, many more EPs and a bunch of singles available.

It’s really sad that a band of this caliber comes and goes without any recognition from institutions like the Grammys or rock radio, but then again, they wouldn’t be nearly as cool as they are.

It isn’t the first time a seriously talented group of rockers have flown under the radar and it won’t be the last.

You can’t find brilliant, uncompromising art like this on commercial radio.

Even the multiple channels of satellite radio seem to miss the point. This is something you have to discover for yourself. Luckily it’s still out there on little shiny discs and vinyl.

“Do the Collapse,” which was hailed as the last great rock album of the millenium is my personal recommendation for those new to this amazing catalog.

Produced by Rick Ocasek of The Cars, “Collapse” it is their most polished effort. “Teenage FBI” is a great single.

It starts off the record on a high note leading into a collection with just enough quirkiness to be different, but still accessible to new ears.

Yes, I’m a nut about GBV. I have most everything they did on vinyl.

I only hope that Robert Pollard has some other band up his sleeve to carry on his musical visions. From the evidence of the last two decades, I’m sure he is not ready to sit on his laurels.