Suitcase 2-American Superdream Wow [Box set]

Guided by Voices | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Recordhead Records
• ASIN: B000AYEIPY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,185 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Eleven months after his band Guided By Voices' final show, Robert Pollard releases four more discs of outtakes, one-offs, live tunes and ephemera, to complement the original Suitcase box set. The format's the same as the first one: four discs in a box with a booklet, each CD containing twenty five tunes. The songs are even numbered beginning with 101, leading the listener to believe there might be a third volume in another five years. The amazing thing is not that there are still so many unreleased tunes in the solo Pollard/ GBV vaults, but how engaging this stuff is despite fidelity that at times is atrocious. Pollard seems to be equally reviled and admired for his ability to write dozens of catchy and surreal pop ditties in one day, but it's clear he knows which tunes are the best. There is much here for fans, such as the late ‘80s tune "Rocket Head," which later evolved into "Teenage FBI," but this unbelievably strong box is worth it for the meticulous fake band ephemera included in the booklet alone. –Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Enough's Enough?, January 13, 2006

By 

James B. Nipe (bridgewater, va United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Suitcase 2-American Superdream Wow (Audio CD)

Look...I really love Robert Pollard! I REALLY do! I have dozens of GBV/Pollard discs. They're/He's easily my favorite artist of the past twelve years or so. And I truly enjoyed the first Suitcase. I still listen to it on a fairly regular basis. But this new collection truly seems (to me at least) to lend credence to some critics' belief that Pollard is in serious need of an editor. I know...as even Bob says, if ya don't want it then don't buy it. But I did want it and I did trust Bob that my $45 would buy lots of good stuff. For the first time ever, I feel more than a little let down with a GBV/Robert Pollard release. Very few of the songs on Suitcase 2 have caught my interest, even after repeated listens. It's not a matter of atrocious sound...I love lo-fi and in fact, would rather listen to 'old-skool' GBV, Pavement, Book of Kills, Rob Christensen, Daniel Johnston, et al...but this four disc set comes perilously close to scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel. That said, there are still some really good songs scattered throughout, but nothing as good as the best stuff on Suitcase 1. The most interesting thing about Suitcase 2 are the several tracks which are clearly early blueprints for later GBV classics, most notable being "Rocket Head" which later morphed into "Teenage FBI". In the end, though I don't think this is a very good collection, I'd still buy it if you're a big GBV fan. While it won't set your world on fire, there's probably a few tracks on it that will make you smile and the package is pretty cool as well.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Each one will be worse than the one before!", July 27, 2006

By 

G. Preston (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Suitcase 2-American Superdream Wow (Audio CD)

That's *almost* an exact quote from Bob Pollard about the Suitcase series. I thought it was just a joke at the time, but there's definitely some truth there! It could be argued that each Suitcase will be more *amusing* than the previous one, but we'll have to wait for #3 to make that distinction. Personally, I really like about 50% of the first Suitcase, and closer to about 20% of what's here. I don't regret the purchase though- "I am Decided", "Your Charming Proposal", "Invisible Train to Earth" and the versions of "Perch Warble" and "Dusty Bushworms" here are all really, really good. Plus there seems to be a good recording of a very early (Forever Since Breakfast early) live show spread throughout, with songs that haven't appeared elsewhere. But the large majority of "songs" here are just complete throw-aways: weird (sometimes cool) tape collages, solo (sometimes interesting) guitar instrumentals, noisy and inebriated jam sessions with Bob improvising lyrics, etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of these people who says Pollard "needs an editor"; a talent like his should not be censored or compromised in any way, imo. But with this, the whole point is that it's scraping the bottom of the barrel as it were, so it shouldn't be too surprising that much of this falls into the "somewhat amusing" category rather than the "simply amazing."

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a second opinion, January 15, 2006

By 

Daniel Jircitano "www.knerd.com/~sashwap" (pa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Suitcase 2-American Superdream Wow (Audio CD)

i actually dig this release a lot more than suitcase 1. though suitcase 1 had many amazing songs, including my favorite GBV song ever ("sing it out"), suitcase 2 is entirely more listenable. there are many highlights and not as many that drag (which makes suitcase 1 a rather spotty listen for me). the bulk of this set is stuff from the 80's that tends to eclipse the tracks that ended up on GBV's 80's albums. the only songs i could do without are most of the 2005 demos, which sound like they were intended for the suitcase (that defeats the purpose, right?).

favorites include two from 1992: "drugs and eggs" is an infectious little ditty with such a beautiful melody it's astounding that it was never released. "heavy crown" is a hard rocker that sadly lacks a band (another acoustic gem). a bit of melody from the latter song later showed up on the GBV hit "everywhere with helicopter" but this song is ten times better.

my advice is that if you don't own suitcase 1, get 2 first. 2 is more accsessible. both are fine purchases for a GBV nut, and provide hours of listening. the fun is sifting through the wreckage and discovering the good stuff.