Guided By Voices: Briefcase (Suitcase Abridged: Drinks And Deliveries) (2000)

TOTAL SCORE: 54, AVG: 2.84

Each of the (as of today) four Suitcase boxsets have a corresponding LP compilation that highlights some of the best songs from the set, as well as has a bonus track or two not found in the associated boxset. These are cleverly called Briefcase. I calculated what my highest possible score for the first Briefcase would have been if it contained my highest-rated songs from Suitcase plus the bonus track, and it would have had a total score of 73 and average score of 3.84. Therefore in my view, the best tracks from Suitcase do add up to a very good one-disc sized album. Also, it means that Pollard and I either have different opinions on what the best songs are, or there was more of an intention for Briefcase to survey the Suitcase boxset, and not necessarily be a "best of". What might be annoying for fans, and especially those that do not collect vinyl or missed the boat on limited prints like this, is that the bonus song on Briefcase is better than every other song on Suitcase...

Sensational Gravity Boy was originally released on the compilation album Red Hot & Bothered: The Indie Rock Guide To Dating in 1995 under the moniker Freedom Cruise (check it out on YouTube here). It is a cool song with a great chorus, but it is this Refraze Version on Briefcase (and subsequently re-released on the Crickets compilation) that is just absolutely amazing! There are a few things that really bring out the melody in the Refraze version: 1) the tempo is a bit quicker, 2) the vocals have an electronic effect to them that really fits the song, and 3) the backing vocals stand out more. This is straight-up "best of Bob" stuff, and it may be the best song that fans don't know about.

Either Briefcase or Crickets is essential to get a copy of Sensational Gravity Boy, but otherwise, I'm not sure if there is any reason to have a copy of Briefcase outside of collector's needs if you already own Suitcase. From a track listing perspective, I can't argue with the listing. I might have added Supermarket the Moon and Pink Drink, but I'm sure everyone would come up with their own version of Briefcase was different from one another. 

Here is the ranking:

Among Bob's Best

02 Bunco Men

14 Sensational Gravity Boy [Refraze Version]

Gems

18 Wondering Boy Poet

Almost Gems

06 Spring Tigers

09 Ha Ha Man

19 Oh, Blinky

They're Good

05 James Riot

11 Shrine To The Dynamic Years (Athens Time Change Riots)

15 Cruise

They're OK

01 The Kissing Life

03 Let's Go Vike

07 Taco, Buffalo, Birddog And Jesus

12 Tobacco's Last Stand

13 Settlement Down

17 Turbo Boy

Could Live Without

04 Sabotage

08 Hold on to Yesterday

10 Rainbow Billy

16 The Flying Party

Toss-Offs & Throwaways
-- none

Given the scoring above, the album would get 54 points total (and an average of 2.84).