Current Release
Half Smiles Of The Decomposed
ole-612 CD
Street Date: Aug 24, 2004
MP3
Bio
 
 


Here is the last Guided By Voices album. Not in the sense of "Here is the previous Guided By Voices album," but in the sense of "final." If it’s true in movies where the voice-over says "You never really appreciate something until it’s gone," and the credits roll, and you leave the theater with little bits of popcorn stuck to your shoes, then you will soon appreciate Guided By Voices. Because following this album and its ensuing tour, the band will be gone. After twenty-odd years, twenty-odd lineups, and twenty-odd albums, EPs, singles, triples, stolen bases, misdemeanor convictions, and broken hearts, Dayton, OH’s fortunate sons are taking leave of your senses. [...]

News
01/26/05 — Report on the final show
Travelers from all over the globe (and Illinois) rang in 2005 and rang out the career of Guided By Voices, this past New Year's Eve at Chicago's Metro. For those of us who weren't there, the tears flowed fast and furious, though perhaps that had something to do with being maced by one of the neighbors.

Life goes on, however, and GBV's recent appearance on PBS's "Austin City Limits" (which aired last weekend) was even more documentary evidence that the rock universe is a poorer place without this great band.

GBV guitarist extraordinaire Doug Gillard has a solo appearance planned for SXSW on March 19 at the lovely Friends nightclub, playing alongside Chris Brokaw, fellow Ohioans Moviola and Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves.

11/08/04 — Many new GBV Days proclaimed across America
The joingbv.com campaign is now at 3000 signatures and has successfully persuaded many of America's mayors to honor the band on their final tour across the country with a GBV Day in each of their towns.

The complete list is as follows (note that there were changes in Texas due to the rescheduled tour dates):

October 1 - Houston, TX GBV DAY
October 22 - Newport, KY GBV DAY
October 23 - Cleveland, OH GBV DAY
October 25 - Bloomington, IN GBV DAY
November 5 - Austin, TX GBV DAY
November 6 - Dallas, TX GBV DAY
November 11 - San Diego, CA GBV DAY
November 12 - Los Angeles, CA GBV DAY
December 30 - Chicago, IL GBV DAY

Scans of many of the official proclamations may be found here. More will be posted as they come in.

10/01/04 — GBV DAY declared in Houston, Austin and Dallas!
The petition is working — the mayors of Houston, Austin and Dallas have each proclaimed GBV DAY in their cities, as follows:

October 1 - Austin, TX GBV DAY
October 2 - Houston, TX GBV DAY
November 6 - Dallas, TX GBV DAY

Keep those signatures flowing so we can get more cities on board. Stay tuned for pictures of the proclamations, and other cities as they get announced.

In other news, the four canceled shows have been rescheduled for November. All tickets will be honored at the new shows, or refunded at point of purchase. See the tours page for details.

09/03/04 — New album out — GBV karaoke pics — and sign the petition!
GBV's triumphant CD/LP, 'Half Smiles Of The Decomposed' was released the monday before last, and we hope it is currently decomposing in your CD player at this very moment (courtesy of DisintegratingDisc technology). We're currently spearheading an effort to have an official GBV Day declared in each city the band are hitting on their farewell tour and you can take part in this noble endeavor at joingbv.com.

Our man on the scene Euvin Weeber reports on the post-show insanity following GBV's recent free concert at New York's Chelsea Piers:

"The 'Half Smiles' karaoke release party at Tonic was a resounding success, sold out within the first hour. In addition to traditional GBV fans, and die hard postal blowfish members being able to croon their favorite GBV tunes with a live band, other appearances included:

    Mark Ohe doing "Over The Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox":


    Yuka Honda doing "Watch Me Jumpstart"
    Elizabeth Sharp (Ill Ease) doing "Motor Away"
    Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) doing "Teenage FBI"
    Chris Lombardi doing "A Salty Salute"
    Chris Lombardi and Bob Pollard doing "The Official Ironmen Rally Song"

The following sequence shows the audience's excited reaction to Chris's assistance in this interpretation



    Miwa Okumura doing "Surgical Focus":



    Jenn Lanchart, Sonya Kolowrat, and Lucy Hurst doing "Glad Girls"
    Sujan Hong doing "Echos Myron"

"Matt Sweeney came out, but I didn't see him do a song, James Iha came out too. Chan didn't show up unfortunately.

"MC Rick Shapiro was highly successful in pissing the whole crowd off, with people yelling 'go back to drugs!'"

08/30/04 — Sign the petition for GBV Day in your city
Go to joingbv.com to sign the petition to get your city to declare a GBV Day in evvery city on the Electrifying Conclusion tour. Better yet, spread the word and win a trip to see GBV play their final show on New Year's Eve in Chicago.

07/19/04 — The Electrifying Conclusion Tour
As we count down the hours and minutes prior to the August 24 release of the final-ever Guided By Voices album, 'Half Smiles Of The Decomposed', we're happy to be the 7th or 8th media outlet to announce the dates for The Electrifying Conclusion - Guided By Voices' Farewell Tour.

Aug. 19 - Hudson River Rocks, New York (free admission)
Sept. 9 - Paradise, Boston
Sept. 10 - Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia
Sept. 11 - 9:30 Club, Washington D.C.
Sept. 28 - Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, N.C.
Sept. 29 - 40 Watt Club, Athens, Ga.
Oct. 1 - Engine Room, Houston
Oct. 2 - Stubb's BBQ, Austin
Oct. 3 - Gypsy Ballroom, Dallas
Oct. 21 - Al Rosa, Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 22 - Southgate House, Newport, Ky.
Oct. 23 - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
Oct. 25 - Bluebird, Bloomington, Ind.
Oct. 26 - Majestic Theatre, Detroit
Nov. 11 - Canes, San Diego
Nov. 12 - Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles
Nov. 13 - The Fillmore, San Francisco
Nov. 15, 16 - Berbati's Pan, Portland
Nov. 17 - Neumos, Seattle
Dec. 3, 4 - Irving Plaza, New York
Dec. 12 - Beacham Theatre, Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 30, 31 - Metro, Chicago

06/09/04 — New bio, MP3
We've posted the new bio, which also starts directly above this paragraph and continues when you click the ellipse. In addition, both we and gbv.com have posted MP3s from the new album, which you can reach from the music page.

06/01/04 — Summer dates
As we continue to gear up for the release of the last-ever Guided By Voices album, 'Half Smiles Of The Decomposed' (August 23 in Europe, August 24 in North America), the band prepare to hit the road for the following summer dates:

Thu, June 17 - Champaign, IL - The High Dive with The Waxwings
Fri, June 18 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's Oasis with The Waxwings
Sat, June 19 - Lawrence, KS - Wakarusa Festival with The Donnas & others

GBV will also be playing a free outdoor concert just days prior to the release of 'Half Smiles', Thursday August 19 at Hudson River Rocks (Pier 54, Hudson River Park, Public Pier 54, 13th St. & West Side Highway). All ages are admitted, so whether you're foetal or close to decomposing, you won't be thrown into the Hudson by overzealous security. We hope.

04/26/04 — GBV call it quits
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."

04/07/04 — New Robert Pollard solo album
We'll have some news shortly regarding the new GBV full-length, but until next time, you'll be more than stoked (stoked, psyched, it's all the same thing) to learn that Robert Pollard has a new solo album landing on Fading Captain this May 3. 'Fiction Man' was recorded in Kent, OH with compatriot Todd Tobias. You can check out an MP3 from the solo project here.

03/10/04 — Back on Mars
Apparently, GBV are in heavy rotation on Mars:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol61

That's the good news. The bad news is that NASA's faves also include the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Now might be a good time to petition your legislators to cut the space program's funding.


02/02/04 — Back in the studio
Guided By Voices recently returned to Waterloo Studios (parts of Universal Truths and Cycles was recorded there) in Kent, Ohio to record songs for their next full length release. The band recorded 15 songs with Todd Tobias once again in the producer's chair. The album should be out on Matador in the second half of 2004.

Never one to wait until the next GBV release, Bob was in Kent this past weekend working on his next solo album, Fiction Man. The album is due out on Fading Captain in March. In the same vein as Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department, Bob wrote all the songs, while Todd Tobias plays all the instruments.

01/28/04 — Rescheduled dates
Several of the January dates had to be cancelled due to injury: these have now been rescheduled for March, as follows:

Fri-Mar-05 Dallas, TX Trees
Sat-Mar-06 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
Mon-Mar-08 Columbia, MO Blue Note
Tue-Mar-09- St Louis, MO Mississippi Nights
Thu-Mar11 Columbus, OH Little Brother's
Fri-Mar-12 Louisville, KY Headliners
Sat-Mar-13 Bloomington, IN Bluebird

12/16/03 — if their van could talk...
...it would say, "I prefer Shell Optimax, thanks." As the world gets hip to the splendor of GBV recordings old and new, the band hit the road this January for the following dates:

Thu-Jan-08 Nashville, TN Exit In
Fri-Jan-09 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club
Sat-Jan-10 Gainesville, FL Market Street Pub
Mon-Jan-12 Orlando, FL The Social
Tue-Jan-13 Jacksonville, FL Jackrabbits
Wed-Jan-14 Tallahassee, FL Beta Bar
Fri-Jan-16 Houston, TX Engine Room
Sat-Jan-17 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
Sun-Jan-18 Dallas, TX Trees
Tue-Jan-20 Columbia, MO Blue Note
Wed-Jan-21 St. Louis, MO Mississippi Nights
Fri-Jan-23 Louisville, KY Headliners
Sat-Jan-24 Columbus, OH Little Bros

12/15/03 — Two new MP3s
Mosey on over to the music page to check out two new MP3s: "The Best Of Jill Hives", included on both the current 'Earthquake Glue' album and the new "Best of Guided By Voices" album; and an alternate version of "Of Mites and Men" recorded this past July; the original song is also on 'Earthquake Glue'.

 12/01/03 — Can't find "My Kind of Soldier" on the DVD?
Struggling to find the "My Kind of Soldier" video on the 'Watch Me Jumpstart' DVD? Due to a manufacturing error, "My Kind of Soldier" is not listed in the menu in the "Music Videos" section, but it actually is there as an "easter egg". In order to play it, follow these instructions:

1) Go the "Music Videos" section of the DVD
2) Scroll down to the "Bulldog Skin Video" and then hit the "left" cursor on your remote
3) You should see a small red dog highlighted in the left-hand corner of your TV screen
4) Click "Enter" on your remote and the "My Kind of Solider" video will start playing.

11/05/03 — First MP3 from box set
If Ted Turner were still in charge, this wouldn't have happened: CNN recently made history by putting GBV and Obie Trice in the same sentence. See for yourself:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/24/gunit.50cent.reut/index.html

After watching Willy Wonka on cable while recovering from a cold, the idea resurfaced and there we have it. Now, we may not be giving away a fly-in to Detroit or a diamond chain necklace but what we do offer is something that will expand your mind - the Hardcore UFO's box set.

As comprehensive as Bobbito's recent book, Where'd You Get Those?: New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987, the GBV box set is thoroughly fascinating, factual, and worth every hard earned penny. Why expect anything less from a band who The Wire's John Mulvey wrote: "The recorded work of Dayton, Ohio's Guided By Voices ranks as one of the most daunting in contemporary rock; seemingly infinite library of semi fi anthems, one minute epics and rockist pranks, where every fleeting idea is memorialized as a song." He said some less than complementary things, too, but that's why we're not giving him a free box. How's that for a rockist prank? But seriously, not only is this box a wonderful testament to Bob Pollard's past, present and future status as one of modern rock's most powerful minds, the packaging (an 84 page book with tons of great photos, super liner notes from Matt Sweeney, TJ Lax and Byron Coley) is the kind of thing you just can't get from Kazaa. (and if turns out you can, please think about what you're doing to our Christmas).

And because we value our customers, we're offering an 15 month Guided By Voices calendar free with purchase at the Matador Store. Bob's so prolific, he needs another 3 months in the year to cram everything in.

09/26/03 — First MP3 from box set
From the unreleased studio songs disc in the box set, 'Delicious Pie and Thank You For Calling', check out the first MP3 to be posted from the set. Posted simultaneously with gbv.com.

09/05/03 — 'Hardcore UFOs' Box Set, Best of GBV, DVD
On November 4th, Matador will be releasing "Hardcore UFOs", the definitive Guided By Voices box set of 5 CDs plus 1 DVD in deluxe slipcase with 48-page perfect-bound booklet. Over 142 songs.

 


Hardcore UFOs: Revelations, Epiphanies and Fast Food in the Western Hemisphere 5 CD + DVD BOX SET

CONSISTING OF:

• The Best of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements At Hourly Rates, a CD consisting of the band's greatest songs from 1987 through 2003, selected and sequenced by GBV's Robert Pollard

• Watch Me Jumpstart, a DVD including an expanded version of the 1996 documentary of the same name directed by Banks Tarver, now also containing extra footage, plus multi-angle live material and all of the band's promotional video clips

• Live at the Wheelchair Races, a CD of unreleased live material from throughout the GBV career, selected by Rich Turiel and Robert Pollard from hundreds of tapes of unreleased live material

• Delicious Pie and Thank You For Calling, a CD of unreleased studio material selected by Robert Pollard

• Demons and Painkillers, a CD compiling all the band's Matador Records out-of-print singles, b-sides and compilation tracks

• Forever Since Breakfast, the first ever CD release of GBV's incredibly rare debut EP, originally released in 1986

In addition, 'The Best of Guided By Voices' CD and the 'Watch Me Jumpstart' DVD will be available separately. The 'Best of Guided By Voices CD" will be at a special low price, with a different sequence from the version contained in the box set.

08/22/03 — Winner of "Family Feud" sign contest
We are pleased to announce that of everyone who preordered the record, Michael Garvis is the lucky winner of the GBV "Family Feud" sign.

08/18/03 — Full album stream available now!
Stream the entire 'Earthquake Glue' album courtesy of our friends at Apple and QuickTime:



08/08/03 — "My Kind Of Soldier" video posted
Check out the "My Kind Of Soldier" video posted today on the GBV music page. Directed by Adam Levite and featuring legendary St. Louis personality "Beatle Bob".

07/30/03 — GBV gives you TWO chances to win
As most of you know already, 25 lucky purchasers of the first edition of 'Earthquake Glue' will find a "golden ticket" inside entitling them to a free copy of the upcoming GBV Box Set. NOW we've added a second prize. Everyone who preorders 'Earthquake Glue' from the Matador Store or Insound will automatically be entered into a competition on GBV.com to win the GBV sign from the Strokes video 'Someday', filmed on the set of 'Family Feud'. This applies to those of you who have already preordered. And please note, there's a nice preorder discount off our already-low prices.

   This golden ticket, available to 25 lucky purchasers of the first edition of 'Earthquake Glue', entitles the bearer to a free copy of the 'Hardcore UFOs' box set when it comes out.
     
  This handsome piece of furniture from the 'Family Feud' set was featured in the Strokes' "Someday" video and will go to a lucky random person who preorders 'Earthquake Glue' from Matador or Insound.

07/09/03 — GBV to headline Magnet 10th Anniversary Show
MAGNET's 10th ANNIVERSARY SHOW:
Guided By Voices/Shins/My Morning Jacket
Friday, September 5
Ages 18 and over
Tickets available via www.musictoday.com, www.ticketmaster.com and the
Trocadero box office (12-5, Tuesday-Saturday)

05/19/03 — Simultaneous new MP3s with gbv.com
Two brand-new songs from the upcoming 'Earthquake Glue' album, available today from Matador and gbv.com. Download "My Kind of Soldier" from us, and then go to gbv.com to get "I'll Replace You With Machines".

02/03/03 — A virtual plethora of Bob Pollard projex
A virtual plethora of Bob Pollard projex this time around. Let's recap everything we should've told you about at Xmas time :

1) Circus Devils - The Harold Pig Memorial (Fading Captain #25). Robert Pollard + Todd & Tim Tobias. A concept album (surprise!) about a late, lamented biker.
2) Robert Pollard - Motel Of Fools (Fading Captain #26). Another mind-blowing solo effort from Pollard + past/present GBV associates.
3) Phantom Tollbooth - Beard Of Lightning (Off Records). Phantom Tollbooth's finest album, 1988's 'Power Toy', by the original PT trio of Dave Rick, Gerard Smith and Jon Cotes is reimagined by Robert Pollard adding new vocals and lyrics. Who amongst us has not wondered what that album would've sounded like if Bob had travelled back in time and forced his way into the studio?

Phew. Exhausted yet? We hope not, because later this year we'll be unveiling a brand new Guided By Voices studio album, 'Live Like Kings Forever'. When we inevitably call it the best GBV album since whichever GBV album-is-your-favorite, we'll mean it more than ever.

10/11/02 — Contest winners, pictures and memoir
Check out the pictures and read a brief memoir of the "Guided By Bob" Contest from the lucky five winners. Click here.

08/01/02 — brewery tour rescheduled ... ...to august 9.
Shout Magazine's "Guided By Bob" tour of the Brooklyn Brewery, that is. A UK single of "Back To The Lake" is out later this month to coincide with GBV's UK tour which also features dates at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The new Strokes video for "Someday" (note to those with good taste: this is a Strokes song, apparently) prominently features the members of GBV in some sort of "Family Feud" type face-off with the members of the Strokes. At least that's what it says here. None of this ever would've happened if Richard Dawson was still alive.

05/24/02 — Universal Truths Preview!
Listen to the upcoming GBV album, Universal Truths and Cycles, in its entirety and then send the link on to your friend. They’ll love you for it. All you need is Flash.

05/03/02 — GBV Limited Edition Singles
In celebration of Guided By Voices upcoming release, Universal Truths and Cycles, on Matador Records, the Fading Captain Series announces a very special set of 7" singles...

The Universal Truths and Cycles Singles Set: 4 limited edition 7" singles from Guided By Voices (2,500 copies of each). Each single will feature a different A-side from the album and a different B-side otherwise unreleased. Starting May 21, one single will be released every week to retail outlets leading up to the release of Universal Truths and Cycles on June 18.

And the fine folks at gbv.com are offering a special deal. If you mail order a set of all four singles, they'll ship all four to you at once on May 21. They’ll fill you in on the details.

04/26/02 — Pollard and Co. will be making the scene with former SportsCenter anchor Craig Kilborn’s late nite program on June 17 (CBS). We tried to get them booked on Keith Olbermann’s show, but apparently it was taken off the air a long time ago and no one bothered to tell us about it (thanks). The following day, June 18, Guided By Voices will be performing at the Los Angeles branch of the sprawling Amoeba Records superstore. A similar appearance at the SST superstore was cancelled on account of my busting out of a weird 1980’s time warp. Boy were the haircuts severe in those days. Look out for an import CD5 of “Everywhere With Helicopter” and way too many live dates all throughout the summer.

03/26/02 — Guided By Voices signs to Matador
Didn’t we already run this story in 1995?
Guided By Voices have announced that the group’s next album ‘Universal Truths And Cycles’ will be released on Matador Records, worldwide, on June 18.

The album, recorded November through January at Cro-Magnon Studio (Dayton,OH) and Waterloo Studio (Kent, OH), features 19 songs (clocking in at 46 minutes).

A preview track, “Everywhere With Helicopter” is currently available on the Noisepop Festival benefit compilation ‘Ten Years of Noise Pop’ on Amazing Grease Records.

Guided By Voices rang in New Years 2002 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, co-headlining with the Strokes in a event that could’ve been billed “Soul Returns To Harlem,” had the posters shown up in time. The band’s 2001 album ‘Isolation Drills’ made the year end top 10 list of numerous journalists, respected and otherwise. and was picked by CDNOW as #1 ‘best record you didn’t hear in 2001.’ Which doesn’t really make sense as we heard it, you heard it, and CDNow heard it (this category should be resevered for very very quiet recordings).

Earlier in 2001, GBV singer/leader/songwriter Robert Pollard (a former Ohio school teacher who began his rock career in his late 30’s) turned down a lifetime achievement award from the Dayton Music Hall of Fame, stating that “the award was premature as he hasn’t peaked yet and his best work was yet to come.”

Pollard released three GBV albums and two solo albums on Matador between 1995-98, before parting in 1999 for TVT Records.

States Pollard: “TVT gave us great enthusiasm and support, and the opportunity to make albums with producers Rob Schnapf and Ric Ocasek, and it was an immeasurable experience. TVT was also kind enough to keep the door open for us this past month when we spoke with other labels.”

“It’s great to be reunited with our good friends at Matador, fellow rock geeks with the same basic philosophy on record artistry. We are very happy getting back to autonomously making records ourselves and have the ball back in our court,” says Pollard.

“We’re looking forward to getting the record out worldwide on June 18.” The band hasn’t had a simultaneous worldwide release in all the territories since GBV’s UK label Creation shut down in 2000, shortly following the band’s ‘Do The Collapse’ album.

Said a Matador spokesperson “our excitement about this new deal is only slightly dampened by Bob calling us ‘geeks.’”

The big story with ‘Universal Truths And Cycles’ is that it melds old and new GBV approaches to spectacular effect. The album combines the spontaneous feel of early GBV classics with lessons learned in the big studios with Ocasek and Schnapf. The album includes both lo-fi and ‘mid-fi’ tracks recorded by the band and by Pollard with an acoustic guitar, as well as full-blown ‘big rock’ recorded in a 24-track studio, including complex and creative arrangements with the string quartet Invert. Most importantly, ‘Universal Truths And Cycles,’ the group’s 13th record, is GBV’s catchiest album yet.