Guided by Voices: A Brief History: Twenty-One Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll (Paperback)

~ (Author), Steven Soderbergh (Foreword)
Key Phrases: cheerleader coldfront, paper werewolves, following bonus track, Monument Club, Bee Thousand, Cobra Verde (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Greer's celebration of Guided by Voices (and, therefore, of all things Robert Pollard) is an admirer's sincere, cocoonish labor of love, committed to telling how Pollard/GBV "came to be considered by some one of the truly great artists of our time." The keenness of Greer's interest ensures a detailed retelling of GBV history, from its start as a Dayton, Ohio, garage band (Pollard was then a fourth-grade teacher). Musicians have come and gone, but besides inspiring an impressive list of other acts, GBV has endured as one of the longest-running nineties indie-rock aggregations. Mainstream acceptance has been elusive, but reading Greer makes one think that overwhelming success could destroy the band's particular appeal. Of course, not a lot of discouraging words appear here, but those interested in maverick performers who fashion careers by persevering at rootsy, highly idiosyncratic music may consider the Pollard/GBV story hard to beat, especially when told as enthusiastically as Greer tells it. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

Guided by Voices was one of the most popular indie-rock bands of the 1990s. Critics internationally have lauded the band’s brain trust, Robert Pollard, as a once-in-a-generation artist. Pollard has been compared by The New York Times to Mozart, Rossini, and Paul McCartney (in the same sentence) and everyone from P. J. Harvey, Radiohead, R.E.M., the Strokes, and U2 has sung his praises and cited his music as an influence. But it all started rather prosaically when Pollard, a fourth-grade teacher in his early thirties from Dayton, Ohio, began recording songs with drinking buddies in his basement. James Greer, an acclaimed music writer and former Spin editor, enjoys a unique advantage in having played in the band for two years. This personal connection grants him unparalleled insight and complete access to the workings of Pollard’s muse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press, Black Cat (October 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802170137
• ISBN-13: 978-0802170132
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #284,446 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subspace Biographies, indeed, October 10, 2005

By	Skybot "PB Class of '95" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

A must-have for the members of various Guided by Voices fanclub/cults such as Postal Blowfish, Disarm The Settlers and Strong Lions. Spouses/significant others who have been amused or abused by the band and their fanatic following will no doubt enjoy as well.

And if reading the above paragraph makes no sense, then you Must Buy this book. Compulsive GbV fans of course will HAVE to get a copy, but others should read if they want a glimpse into the story of Wondering Boy Poet Robert Pollard. A great xmas gift for the indie music fan.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Human amusements, March 9, 2006

By	greyhound1954 "greyhound1954" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This is a pretty good book, sez this non-obsessed GBV fan. Greer's intro was too cute by half, and fortunately he tones his writing down a bit for most of the book. Unlike other reviewers, I found Greer's fawning was balanced by many examples showing that Robert Pollard is a flawed individual. I enjoyed the contributions by Pollard's son. I didn't think much of the analysis of songs because Bob's answer for half of them is that they were about nothing. One correction for the author: The Denver show at which Buffalo fell off the stage was not held at night or in a club; it was held in late afternoon in a parking lot. I was there.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bus Will Get You There Yet, January 15, 2006

By	John A. Nieves - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Here it is. One volume with a large enough slice of the trials and tribulations of the indie rocks own musical cornucopia, Robert Pollard. This book traces GBV from first to last, including coverage of the legendary last show (New Year's Eve 2004/Chicago). The book is witty, funny and easy to read. The introduction is written by the director of "Traffic" and is one of the most original and entertaining introductions I have ever read. For those of you that love Bobby & GBV, this is essential. For those of you who don't know them "Come on, come on, the club is open."