The Great Blake Street Canoe Race

Taken from "Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia" 1989

"Jumping around
Thinking about our daily lives
Here on the ground
Falling apart before our eyes
News is not news
Learn something old every day
Issues repressed
Morning's we fake our minds away

Chorus: Oh please don't misuse this information now
Oh try not to swallow too much pain, it's only order

Rushing through time
Following footsteps out of here
Signals ahead
Better repay your debts this year
I guess I'll go
On with my sad and troubled ways
Hands on my hips
Questioning each and every face
Chorus"

What was the Great Blake Street Canoe Race? Sounds like a fun event to see. This is classic early sounding Guided By Voices but that odd follow production sound but a good song and the early sounds of the Indie Rock Monster that GBV was to become. Nice song.

Navigating Flood Regions

Taken from "Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia" 1989

"Spy ??shouting?? the crew let's string him up
Wise up to the captain where's my coffee cup
And it's been an adventurous day
The ship floats but it won't float away
Let's us stay
Don your favorite costume here we go
Belt a song if you're not real long and slow
And you doing a wonderful job
Shaping up with a competent mob
It's your job
It's as long as wide and just beginning
Been around for aeons just like me
Grab your money and let's go for all the winnings
Cast your soul into the jagged sea
It's the number on your head
Now you're dead
Stuff you down the barrel of a cannon
Let you see the world as something to see
Take you to the corners of the playground
Let you watch the traffic through the trees
It's the number on your head
Now you're dead
And we run as the war trumpet blows
And the judge with the list of no-shows"

Today is a bit of a cheat. Its usually a random Bob track but today we are having huge floods. The back garden is waist deep, the water is an inch under my front room floor boards and the street outside is a huge fast flowing river. Its scarey. How appropriate to be navigating Flood Regions. A very Who-alike guitar and vocals begin this classic from the formative years of Guided By Voices. A great lyric and hook and we are off Navigating the untold flood regions of Bobs imagination. A Fantastic Song that I think bob was still playing right till the end of GBV. Done. Now I'm off to bail out the 4 inches of water in my back room.

Chief Barrel Belly

Taken from "Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia" 1989

"I get mad at this world
Sit up and scream about it
Every dog has its day
And now they dream about it

Chorus: He said love is the one thing
We needed in this world to be happy

Got a mouth full of teeth
Got to end this searchin'
I got down on my hairless knees
For a tax reduction

Chorus, repeat"

A memorable early Guided By Voices with strange vocals but a fantastic chorus that stands out as one of the best of the "Box" set of early GBV albums. The lyrics in this song are very strong and feel like someone angry at the world and just asking for some good luck and happiness. Though I'm not sure where hairless knees come into it. Good song.