When I first wrote about Mag Earwhig! I noted that it might be the best introduction to Guided By Voices. It is a transition record that is truly mid-fi being pressed by the lo-fi stylings of the classic lineup and the Doug Gillard featured lineup that would last until the "final" album in 2004 and mostly feature a more hi-fidelity recording quality. In my opinion Mag Earwhig! is so good that it should be in any conversation about the greatest GBV album of all time...
Sometimes I think it comes down to the glue songs, or those songs that on their own can be flippantly discarded, but they add detail and character to an album. On Mag Earwhig! the glue songs are not as strong or interesting as, say, the ones on Bee Thousand. Or in other words, Bee Thousand's worst songs are better than Mag Earwhig's worst songs. And honestly it was tough to decide which songs, if any, to put on the "Among Bob's Best" list, and I know it is ironic to have chosen I Am a Tree, which is actually Gillard's song. On another day, I may have chosen any of the "Gems" listed as "Among Bob's Best" (except for Bulldog Skin probably).
I'm not sure if there is a GBV album that has a more unclear place among the catalog, as it can be considered anywhere from the very best, to an unwanted change in direction. It is a step up in fidelity, yet there is this metallic sheen the numbs the overall sound. For me, it is clearly among the best GBV albums, and completely essential for anyone getting into the band. Here is the updated ranking:
Among Bob's Best
03 I Am a Tree
Gems
02 Sad If I Lost It
05 Bulldog Skin
09 Not Behind the Fighter Jet
13 Little Lines
20 Mute Superstar
Almost Gems
07 I Am Produced
12 Portable Men's Society
14 Learning to Hunt
17 Now to War
18 Jane of the Waking Universe
19 The Colossus Crawls West
21 Bomb the Bee-Hive
They're Good
06 Are You Faster?
08 Knock 'Em Flying
10 Choking Tara
15 The Finest Joke Is Upon Us
They're OK
01 Can't Hear the Revolution
Could Live Without
04 The Old Grunt
11 Hollow Cheek
16 Mag Earwhig!
Toss-Offs & Throwaways
-- none
-- none
Given the scoring above, the album would get 76 points total (and an average of 3.62).
1 comment:
I'm probably in the minority but I am a tree does nothing for me.
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