1996 record from
Guided By Voices, put out on
Matador Records, catalogue number OLE161-2.
Under The Bushes..., produced by Kim Deal, ushers in a new era of GBV wherein the band, for the most part, stows their 4-track recorders for the relative luxury of more conventional studio amenities. The result here in this pivotal transitional stage is a very clear representation of the band's characteristic fuzz: hi-fi lo-fi rock, if such a thing is possible. This is also the end of the Tobin Sprout era: Sprout writes four songs, by the next album (1997's Mag Earwhig!) is merely a guest player, and on 1999's Do The Collapse is out of the lineup completely.
This album has the distinction of being a split between many a hardcore GBV fan, many of whom are too "indie" to admit that they like the new "polished" sound. I see it as a necessary evolutionary step. The songcraft is still superb, and the production value helps bring Bob Pollard's mock-British accent lilting above the tunes.
Track List:
- Man Called Aerodynamics
- Rhine Jive Click
- Cut-Out Witch
- Burning Flag Birthday Suit
- The Official Ironmen Rally Song
- To Remake The Young Flyer
- No Sky
- Bright Paper Werewolves
- Lord of Overstock
- Your Name Is Wild
- Ghosts of a Different Dream
- Acorns & Orioles
- Look at Them
- The Perfect Life (an instrumental)
- Underwater Explosions
- Atom Eyes
- Don't Stop Now
- Office Of Hearts
- Big Boring Wedding
- It's Like Soul Man
- Drag Days
- Sheetkickers
- Redmen And Their Wives
- Take To The Sky
Note: the back of the CD incorrectly lists the album as ending at Office of Hearts. See holliman's writeup below for why.