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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on April 25, 2004, 01:42:00 pm
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http://www.gbv.com./ (http://www.gbv.com./)
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GUIDED BY VOICES
After almost 20 years, assorted lineups, and countless albums, EPs, singles, triples, stolen bases, misdemeanor convictions, and broken hearts, Dayton, OH's fortunate sons are taking leave of your senses. 'Half Smiles Of The Decomposed,' to be released August 24 on Matador Records, will be the final album from Guided By Voices, one of the most acclaimed independent rock bands of all time.
"This feels like the last album for Guided By Voices," explains Robert Pollard, GBV's lone constant member, lead singer, and famously prolific songwriter. "I've always said that when I make a record that I'm totally satisfied with as befitting a final album, then that will be it. And this is it."
'Half Smiles Of The Decomposed' is the band's 15th full-length studio release, following 2003's 'Earthquake Glue' and retrospective box set, greatest-hits, and DVD releases. Although its tour later this year will be the band's last, Robert Pollard will continue writing, recording, and (possibly) touring as a solo artist. "I love the guys in the band, but I'm getting too old to be a gang leader," he explains. "There's a sense of maturity, and even integrity, I think, in continuing as one's own self."
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he talked about it last night at the show, it is disappointing, but it seems like he is wearing down pretty quick, probably better he stop now rather than going on for another 10 years and becoming a joke
(spare me all your all too easy comments about him already being a joke)
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well, he's the only constant member, and he's still going to do solo stuff, so i don't see how much this effects things. but yeah, with the injuries and all, i can see why he'd want to slow down
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Maybe he's on the wagon.
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Originally posted by Jaguär:
Maybe he's on the wagon.
He ain't right now, I can tell you that. ;)
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Originally posted by Bags:
Originally posted by Jaguär:
Maybe he's on the wagon.
He ain't right now, I can tell you that. ;) [/b]
LOLOLOLOL.
Well, I guess that theory is shot to Hell. ;)
How was NYC?
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New York was amazing. They played for three hours, and though there was lots of talk about this being the end, I woke up this morning (with a wee headache) thinking that, while that may be true, we're in for some really INCREDIBLE farewell shows over the next year.
Lots of banter, talk of how great New York is, those pollard-isms -- verbal and physical -- we live for. I got in a fight with an obnoxious New Yorker couple up front who don't realize how a show works. Hello, if the mosh pit pushes us in front of you, you can't complain and tell us how you've been standing there and we can't stand in front of you -- yup, there was some pushing, and the a very drunk Nate Farley (I think) was giving us the peace sign...pretty funny, and a typical GBV story. Maybe I shouldn't have shoved my own sister back at them, though.... ;) Can't wait for the rest of the shows....
Billboard article on last night here (http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000496110)
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It was a good show, lots of new songs played. Also very rowdy in the crowd. I lost my glasses twice before I just stored them away in my pocket. Lefty was brought up in the air to crowd surf while not even trying to, his shoe ended up on stage and had to be retrieved at the end of the night. I don't think anybody was sure whether or not to take Bob's announcement seriously or not, he is always saying stuff like that on stage as a joke. But this time it was real. He definitely is not on the wagon. Apparently the show on Thursday was cut short because he was too drunk to continue. He seems to have more trouble keeping up with the activity of the live shows.
As a solo artist I don't think the show will be anything like it has been in the past, much more mellow.
Strangely Nate gave away one of his guitars at the end of the show. Made me think maybe they are not going to play more shows, apparently Doug Gillard also gave away a pedal board.
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Oddly enough, while I'm trying to keep clovette from being swept up in the jam festival awfulness, I will be lucky enough to catch my one, and likely only, GBV show at the Wakarusa Festival in Kansas in June. While I am not at all looking forward to this trip, seeing GBV in a line-up full of miserable hippies, and the Clov, will be a bright-spot.
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wow, I'm jealous. Despite what you say, there are some excellent bands at that festival. BR549, Split Lip Rayfield, Drive By Truckers, Hackensaw Boys, Bottle Rockets, Spoon, Mindy Smith, Lucero...
Skip the hippie bands; there's enough other good stuff to fill out your schedule.
Originally posted by redsock:
Oddly enough, while I'm trying to keep clovette from being swept up in the jam festival awfulness, I will be lucky enough to catch my one, and likely only, GBV show at the Wakarusa Festival in Kansas in June. While I am not at all looking forward to this trip, seeing GBV in a line-up full of miserable hippies, and the Clov, will be a bright-spot.
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Originally posted by redsock:
Oddly enough, while I'm trying to keep clovette from being swept up in the jam festival awfulness, I will be lucky enough to catch my one, and likely only, GBV show at the Wakarusa Festival in Kansas in June. While I am not at all looking forward to this trip, seeing GBV in a line-up full of miserable hippies, and the Clov, will be a bright-spot.
I just checked that lineup again, Rhett is right, there are plenty of good acts to see. Too bad it is in Kansas.
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yes, that is indeed sad. . .i've forgotten how many times i've seen them live. . .
well, it's been a long and special run for them. my first gbv show was at sxsw in 95 (i think) at the matador night. . .gbv had jim greer on bass, and were the last band that night. . other bands were spoon, railroad jerk, bettie serveert and yo la tengo (hated yo la tengo). over the next 2 years while i finished college, i was able to get the entire band to sign my copy of bee thousand. . .got to go backstage at liberty lunch one night in order to get tobin sprout to sign it. . .even got greg demos to sign it. got to talk with bob, kevin fennel, jim greer and pete jamison for a long time at the sxsw show. . .
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here is a note posted to GBV's listerv by the band's representative -
I think something to note is that part of the way that this announcement was framed is due to the extreme amount of respect that Bob has for the other guys in the band. He loves those guys. Touring in general for Bob was going to be cut trememdously even if the band stayed together. He is still going to be making a ton of music!! He is by no means done. There is a full press release for Half Smiles and here is a quote that I think is important for you all to see by Bob -"I need to get back to a lack of professionalism where there's a certain degree of awkwardness. In order for that to happen, I need to become much more actively involved in the studio."
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This is the best news i've heard all day.....and week.
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PopMatters review (http://www.popmatters.com/music/concerts/g/guided-by-voices-040424.shtml) of the Bowery show on April 24.
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http://tinyurl.com/2dtdq (http://tinyurl.com/2dtdq)
Update: GBV Offers Up Final 'Smiles'
As tipped here last month, Guided By Voices will release its final studio album, "Half Smiles of the Decomposed," Aug. 24 via Matador. The 14-track set was produced by Todd Tobias, who was behind the boards for the group's 2003 album "Earthquake Glue." GBV frontman Robert Pollard recently confirmed the group will split at year's end.
"Half Smiles" is musically of a piece with GBV's past few albums, blending upbeat rockers like "Gonna Never Have To Die" and "Asphyxiated Circle" with more meditative fare such as "Window of My World" and "A Second Spurt of Growth." A snippet from what sounds like a television evangelist can be heard at the beginning of "Sons of Apollo," while keyboards and acoustic guitars underscore the penultimate cut "(S)mothering and Coaching."
Album opener "Everybody Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)" seems to reflect Pollard's decision to dissolve GBV in lines like "This is not my day / nobody really cares anymore anyhow / nobody called again / 'cause they said that I'm too lazy to stay alive."
GBV only has six tour dates on its schedule at present, beginning with a June 4 show in its Dayton, Ohio, hometown. The itinerary is open between mid-June and Aug. 19, when the group will play a free concert on Manhattan's Hudson River Pier.
A spokesperson says a full tour will follow the new album's release. And while Pollard previously said GBV's final gig would be on New Year's Eve in New York, plans are now calling for that show to be held in Chicago.
Here is the track list for "Half Smiles of the Decomposed":
"Everybody Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)"
"Sleep Over Jack"
"Girls of Wild Strawberries"
"Gonna Never Have To Die"
"Window of My World"
"The Closets of Henry"
"Tour Guide at the Winston Churchill Memorial"
"Asia Minor"
"Sons of Apollo"
"Sing for Your Meat"
"Asphyxiated Circle"
"A Second Spurt of Growth"
"(S)mothering and Coaching"
"Huffman Prairie Flying Field"
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Originally posted by pollard:
And while Pollard previously said GBV's final gig would be on New Year's Eve in New York, plans are now calling for that show to be held in Chicago.
yes!!! everything's coming up milhouse!!! i'm gonna be in chicago that week anyway.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
yes!!! everything's coming up milhouse!!! i'm gonna be in chicago that week anyway.
there is a good chance I will be there as well, hopefully they play the abbey pub again, and with tobin sprout again
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Details on the 3lp vinyl re-release of Bee Thousand
Bee Thousand : The Director's Cut
http://www.scatrecords.com/65tracklist.htm (http://www.scatrecords.com/65tracklist.htm)
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Pollard or Bede: do either of you know of any GBV FTP sites? I was trying to download a copy of Edison's Demos, but have had no luck finding it on Soulseek. Any help?
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Originally posted by nkotbie:
Pollard or Bede: do either of you know of any GBV FTP sites? I was trying to download a copy of Edison's Demos, but have had no luck finding it on Soulseek. Any help?
nope, sorry, I have Edison's Demos, but only on vinyl, I hear the new album is on soulseek now
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gbv.com and matadorrecords.com will have two sneak preview MP3s from Half Smiles of the Decomposed around 5 PM EST today.
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So it appears our wakarusa schedule has us leaving before GBV even plays. What a freakin waste. Now I can't even see a decent band, unless I make it to some of the stuff on Friday. Sigh...
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Originally posted by pollard:
gbv.com and matadorrecords.com will have two sneak preview MP3s from Half Smiles of the Decomposed around 5 PM EST today.
Gonna Never Have To Die - http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/guided_by_voices/guided_by_voices_gonna_never.mp3 (http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/guided_by_voices/guided_by_voices_gonna_never.mp3)
Everybody Thinks I'm A Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)
- http://gbv.com/sounds/raincloud.mp3 (http://gbv.com/sounds/raincloud.mp3)
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not bad at all...i hope the rest of the album is as strong. my husband and i are already planning for the new years' show, wherever it may be...i'm hoping for chicago.
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Originally posted by joz:
not bad at all...i hope the rest of the album is as strong. .
It is,best work they've done in a long time IMHO!!
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from GBV's listserv
Just to let you know, so folks can get a handle on what shows they want/need to make in order to see GBV one more time, by July 1 we should be releasing ALL dates for the final GBV tour. The first dates will be in early September with the last show, obviously, being December 31.