Comments for Guided by Voices, Mag Earwhig!

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This is THE lo-fi Sgt. Pepper! The production on this disc is probably my favorite on any GBV disc. Very reverby and psychedelic, with lots of weird sounds in the background that only become more noticable on repeated listenings. It takes a while to click, and it might sit on your shelf for a spell till you finally GET IT, but then the tunes will be cemented to your mind. A classic!

Mag Earwhig! marks the beginning of a new era for GBV, seeing leader Robert Pollard part with his old band and replacing it with the Cleveland-based band Cobra Verde. It also marks GBV`s first full-fledged foray into the realm of production values--most of it was recorded in a 16-track studio (rather than on four-track tape recorder like most of the previous albums). The song styles are more conventional than on past GBV albums, but it`s all good enough to show that Bob has matured without petering out at all (unlike, you know, Lou or Steve--but that`s just MY opinion). Highlights include the pelvis-friendly "Bulldog Skin" (although you have to see the video to understand how fuckin` great the song REALLY is), the chipper, Doug Gillard-penned "I Am a Tree" (Remember that amazing bridge from the Foo Fighters` "I`ll Stick Around"? Imagine a whole song of that.), and, finally and best of all, "The Finest Joke Is Upon Us," a mindblowing series of exhilarating anti-climaxes, featuring the greatest "anti solo" of all time; it alone testifies to Robert Pollard`s position as the True Slanted and Enchanted One. (As for Malkmus, well, he can take a dump in the tub or whatever.) The album is a definate "pick-me-up" record--I walk away from every listen both comforted and excited, and... Aww I ran out of criticial stuff to say, so if you`re a fan of great Beatles/Cheap Trick inspired indie guitar pop you won`t be disappointed, go out and buy it ALL RIGHT ROCK N ROLL!!!