Mag Earwig!

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"Blessed is the way to a man's heart
Quite so even out of dreadlock
But the bastard of an ex-warhorse kicks
And I smiled like an electric child"

Bob does an impression of a Baby crying. Reminds me a lot of the classic Bee Thousand/Bushes/Lanes era. A fun 40 seconds.

Bomb In The Bee-Hive

Taken from "Mag Earwig" 1997

"Here I go around the blame
Here I go with hand over flame
Down on the floor at 9:00
A scene not fully recognized
At precisely 9:00
Here I go with clapping hands
Here I go with "still no plans"
Illuminate the mystery
The film is not for view
The film is not for you."

Good song from Mag Earwig but not one of Bobs best. Sort of middle era, middle of the road Bob and doesnt really build to its potential. Lovely thrashy ending though with some great guitars and drum rolls.

Choking Tara

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"Days into weeks
She rattled my mind
We stayed out all week
And got happy this time
She fills empty space
I kinda need it that way
Crybaby says bye to me
I can't imagine that all our troubles will go away
But I could catch her and break the falls
I could snatch her with breaks and claws
Today when every "fake it"
Decides to make it
They just can't take it away
Shove it, cus I'll just stay
Like an ugly unwanted stray
Don't care what you say"

A short song with lots of different versions. This is the classic album version with echoey vocals. A great song and a must for any Guided By Voices compilation tape. "Days Into Weeks, You Rattled My Mind". You did indeed Bob.

I Am Produced

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"I am pressed, printed, stomped
And strategically removed
I am everybody
Insane without innocence
I am trapped, tricked, packaged
And shipped out
I am produced
I am produced
Pressed, printed, stomped, tripped
Trapped, tricked, packaged, shipped..."

Is this Bobs song about the pressure of being on a major label? Or just mans place in society these days? A classic song with a great message. Quite dark but a belter when done Live especially.

The Colossus Crawls West

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"It's too late now she's got me dreaming
Without you there is no truth according to me
Inside and around me tears got me drinking
Without you there is no scope in the morning for me
One of these days in the night
Old enemies will come back to fight
And since you would then disagree
We will be skinned alive
When full colored kings arrive
And teach then we will all we know
Bring popcorn for Geronimo
And dance with our freshly made friends
Ignoring the old ones - the boring and cold ones
And when the colossus crawls west
Jazz bastards will fall and confess
We all love you so and
You rock is paradise plastic
It's cheap and fantastic!"

A proggy warbly beginning for this song with odd chords and trickily guitar then builds up a bit and is quite a cool little song. Nothing too memorable but pretty cool.

Bulldog Skin

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"I played the part
I played the start
I made a table out of clay
I placed my hands upon the plans
I waited for a proud display
I played around
I heard the sound of certain trouble on the way

I got bulldog skin

I took a car
I drove it far
I dug the quality of steel
I crashed my nerve
I made it swerve
I made it back - was no big deal
I tasted blood
A date with scud
And now I don't know how to feel

I got bulldog skin"

This was one of Guided By Voices biggest hits but personally not one of my favourite songs. It has its moments but there is something very basic and Oasis about this song. It is classic rock and roll I suppose but it just doesn't do it for me. And that video, that annoys me too.

Can't Hear The Revolution

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"Can't hear the revolution
God rolls the sun
As he walks down the highway
I have kissed you - you will leave
And the friction in the morning
The friction 'round suppertime
Can't hear the revolution"

A robotic guitar sound starts this song and a very brit-pop ish Chorus and then Bob talks in the style of someone saying a prayer and a repeat of the Chorus and we are done. A small odd song that mixes the more Hi-Fi parts of GBV with a hint of the old Lo-Fi oddness.

Not Behind The Jet Fighter

Taken from "Mag Earwig" 1997

"Militant babies came to me
And tole me "Don't be afraid to try"
Phenomenal stuntkids in the street
Popping out of the black ghost pie (it pleases the chef)
Fearless ones-cracked up Jack and Jill
They're down there in the bunker still
You look like a sniper anyway
I'm not behind the fighter jet
I'd much rather back a simple girl
I've seen your plan and it's all wet
A noseload of prophecies coming to me
Caught in the trap where bravery steps
A wounded mercenary bleeds
In the hall of fantastically fine things
Where the path of glory leads
Lately I think it's grown too hard
Coming up with the winning card
But who's gonna beat them in their own backyard"

A Strong Rock song from Guided By Voices with good crunchy production which help the song fly. The Chorus is just superb with a punchy vocal and guitar combo. I miss Bobs more Rocking side. Although I enjoy his later Solo work it would be nice to have some Kicking Punchy Rock with a great melody and Chorus. We shall have to see. Shame the song seems to fade when its just getting going.

Are You Faster?

Taken from "Mag Earwig" 1997

"Near a distant sea
Her clear yellow eyes
Are opening to pink and black skies
And soon they are blinking
With compound camera eyes
Are you faster
Than the eyes of the car-people?
Styled in silver
Are you able to roam
Faster then the lighthouse keeper credits you?"

A multivocaled short piece from Mr Pollard. The multiple vocals sung slightly at different times remind me of "People are Leaving" a bit but this song is more traditional GBV affair and has a great "Yea!" scream from Bob toward the end. A short song but stuffed with interesting and odd ideas.

Knock 'Em Flyin'

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"When you're called to the plough
You will always slide inside her
If you work really hard
You will lose yourself and wrong her
Wait a little longer
Plough when you feel it
It's your right-tonight
And take it slow
If you grow it will you try it
You'll be so inspired to go out
And bring back the only one who matters anyhow"

A lovely stop starty but well produced mini-classic from Guided By Voices. The song, as is the way with a lot of Pollard tracks, is very staccato at the start but eventually gets going towards then end, just as the fade begins. Hes a crazy guys that Pollard, loves to mess with us. The lyrics to me come across very saucy and could be interpreted in a very sexual way. Or is it someone just enjoying a bit of farm work?