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Guided by Voices
I’m in the process of digitizing my 7” collection and recently completed the ‘G’s. Among these were no less than 13 GUIDED BY VOICES and related 7“s that my wife originally bought back when they came out. Here are some of the individual song highlights from these records. This list is dedicated to KEVIN POINDEXTER, who tried (mostly in vain) to turn me onto GBV a while back before I finally gave in a few years ago.
Guided by Voices – “My Valuable Hunting Knife”
This is the opening track on the incredible Tigerbomb 7”. It’s a “professionally” recorded version of a song that was also on Alien Lanes in its 4-track version.
Guided by Voices – “Game of Pricks”
This song, like “My Valuable Hunting Knife”, was “professionally recorded” for the Tigerbomb EP and also appears in a 4-track version on Alien Lanes.
Guided by Voices – “Dodging Invisible Rays”
Possibly my favorite GBV song, this underrated gem is the last track on the Tigerbomb 7”. I should also note that Mr. Poindexter included it on a homemade compilation cd-r he sent to me and when I first heard it, it was an immediate standout.
Guided by Voices – “Teenage FBI”
Not the later album version, this is the 7” version from Wish In One Hand. One of their finest numbers, its only fault is that at a minute and a half it feels over right at the heights of its power-pop ecstasy. It’s always better to leave folks wanting more than to bore them, though!
Guided by Voices – “Bulldog Skin”
From the Matador 7”, this is the version from Mag Earwhig. One of its 2 B-sides, “Singing Razorblade”, is also a standout.
Guided by Voices – “Motor Away”/“Color of My Blade”
I’m nominating both sides of this single well, just because. Do I really need a reason?
Guided by Voices – “The Official Ironmen Rally Song”
From the four-song 7” of the same name, this is the same version that’s on Under the Bushes, Under the Stars or so says the back cover of the 7”. Are there any GBV experts out there who wanna contradict me?
Guided by Voices – “Big School”
From 1993’s Static Airplane Jive 7”, the opening track from the six-song EP is a great preview of the poppy greatness that was to come. I can’t help but singing “Bitch School” (as in the SPINAL TAP song) every time I hear this song, though.
Guided by Voices – “I Am a Tree”
The A-side of the 7” of the same name, this is not only guitarist DOUG GILLARD‘s finest hour but one of GBV’s very best moments, too. I’ll never forget our own JACK RABID shouting endlessly for this song when his band LAST BURNING EMBERS opened for Gillard four years ago in Brooklyn. Thankfully, we got it! This track always comes up on my iTunes “Genius” playlists, too.
Airport 5 – “Total Exposure”
Of the songs on the two Airport 5 7“s in our collection, this one is my favorite.
