In 1992 Guided by Voices released Propeller. The only problem was that the album only presses on vinyl was limited to 500 copies. So if you were a Guided by Voices fan in 92', and why wouldn't you be the chances that you had this gem were slim. Original copies of the album start out at $850, and in bassist James Greer's new book "Guided by Voices: 20 Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll" he tells of a story where the album sold for $6,000. Thirteen years after its original release Scat records has reissued the record on cd and vinyl. The holy grail for many GBV fans is finally here, and it is sounding better than ever.
Propeller is a lo-fi indie classic filled guitar solos, pop melodies, breakdowns, fuzzed out guitars, and Robert Pollard's eye for dramatics. The album starts out with a sound collage of crowd chants of "G! B! V! G! B! V!" intertwined with Pollard asking "Is anybody ready to rock". By the way Mr. Pollard the answer was and is always yes. After the sound collage GBV breaks into a huge rock anthem like "Over the Neptune" then transfers into the dramatic "Mesh Gear Fox". I told you Pollard had an eye for the dramatics.
The thumping bass lines of " Lethargy" and "Unleashed! Large Hearted Boy" kick you in the ass and remind you that GBV were first and foremost a rock and roll band here to change everything. Pollard's nonchalant swagger is brought to the forefront in "Lethargy" when he sings "I wish I could give a shit for a little bit". "Unleashed! Large Hearted Boy" equipped with a bouncy bass line, and fuzzy guitars is complemented by Pollard's soothing throaty voice.
Guided by Voices draw from influences ranging from the Beatles, The Who, Cheap Trick, and The Kinks. Those influences peek through on Propeller, than on any other GBV record. "Quality of Armor" has the same pop melodies and harmonies as most early Beatles songs. "Red Gas Circle" is a soft acoustic driven song that is heart wrenching. "Exit Flagger" is what Pollard and co. do best. Write pop songs in a lo-fi kind of way. A song about death in terms of racing is so catchy you'll find yourself singing it all day.
This should have been the breakout Guided by Voices album. The album that put them atop the indie rock mountain. It would have been if there were more than 500 made in 1992. Propeller is a classic rock album from one of the greatest American rock bands. Yes, the album is a little raw and rough and some points, but that is what makes it great. A lo-fi indie gem that can be celebrated 13 years later. Guided by Voices are rock and roll, and they knew it all along. |