Hometown: Dayton, OH
Year Formed : 1985

Members:
Robert Pollard - vocals, guitar, drums
Tobin Sprout - guitar, vocals, bass
Kevin Fennel - drums
Jimmy Pollard - guitars
Jim Greer - bass
Greg Demos - bass

Related Artists:
Cobra Verde, Doug Gillard; Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout have both released solo albums

Notes:
Begun as a creative outlet for schoolteacher Robert Pollard during the early 80's, Guided By Voices didn't become a bona fide band until the enlistment of Sprout and Mitchell in 1985. Since then the band's been through numerous convoluted line up changes, but Pollard's always remained at the helm. They released six albums through the latter part of the 80's on their own G Records, before recording the brilliant Vampire On Titus for Cleveland's Scat label in 1993. 1994's Bee Thousand earned them rave reviews and a spot on Matador's roster.

Links:
Read our interview with Robert Pollard

gbv.com
center of the gbv universe!
Ralf's GBV
chords, songs lists, pics and more

Principal songwriter Robert Pollard throws The Beatles, The Who and even a bit of Herman's Hermits into his alchemical vat of boiling influences and extracts 28 pithy epiphanies for this 1995 release. He has a knack for distilling '60s Brit-pop down to its memorable essentials, and often achieves in under two minutes what most songwriters can't manage in forty. This album is considered by many die-hard GbV fans to be less focussed than 1994's breakthrough, Bee Thousand, but what Alien Lanes may lack in consistency and cohesion is more than made up for by the strength of the individual tracks.

Take "Chicken Blows," a groggy homage to White Album-era Lennon, or "My Valuable Hunting Knife," which sounds like a lost out-take from Rubber Soul. The album is sure to be remembered for "Watch Me Jumpstart," and the one GbV song everyone knows, "Motor Away," but the Mersey flavored "Game of Pricks" and Sprout's "Little Whirl" are just as infectious. Although unfinished fragments of songs like "King and Caroline" and the subliminal "Cigarette Tricks" hamper the overall flow of the album by their seeming superfluousness, you'll appreciate their inclusion.

If you like Guided By Voices, check out:
The Beatles Revolver
The Who Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
The Creation Making Time: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
Sonic Youth Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star
The Creation Biff Bang Pow! The Complete Collection, Vol. 2
Robert Pollard Kid Marine
David Bowie Hunky Dory

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