Why in the name of all that is holy do people like Guided by Voices?

1. Robert Pollard is a drunken bafoon. 2. He releases tons of albums each year, many of which are of poor quality and very inconsistent. 3. The songs he writes can oftentimes be short, nonsensical, having shoddy production. 4. The band is a rotating cast of characters so pretty much it's all about Bob, all the time.

Yes, I quite like all these things. The live shows are entertaining, if you like that sort of thing. The songs are fun and you can sing along, it's like jock jams or a lofi Queen for indie kids.

I think they're great cos I love Pollard's songs. pretty simple, I guess. if you don't, then you don't.

As far as "rotating cast of characters," the lineup went through a complete overhaul in '97 or so, but has been remarkably consistent save for the drummers. bob writes all the songs though, so I guess it is all about him. Get "Bee Thousand" or "Under The Bushes.." and you'll hear what I think makes them amazing.

Q. Why in the name of all that is holy do people like Guided by Voices?
A. No-hassle tune excellence.

Similarly, Bob Pollard's output could be edited down as such:

1. Alien Lanes
2. Bee Thousand

(nb: i own several gbv albums.)

I enjoy the live show too. Mostly for the fact that they play lots of upbeat numbers, one right after another, and focus on being entertaining (instead of just "doing their thing and if anyone likes it that's a bonus.") But the last time I saw them I started to feel sorry for Pollard. He just looked like such a pathetic drunk up there, an overgrown child. He never missed a note or a lyric, so the music didn't suffer, but I just hated to see him making an idiot of himself. It's one thing to be 22-year old Paul Westerburg drunk in a wading pool, but Pollard has kids in college. He should have moved on a long time ago.

(xpost haha Ned and a good 30 of them will be "That's because they picked the wrong songs, maaaaan...")

My goodness, the meme is at least that old! Ack!

x-post, do you any other similar indie rock Matos? Maybe it's just not your thing.

Hey, this stuff was selected by the man himself so you KNOW it's dubious!

i'm enjoying the newie a lot - nothing is really standing out for me but there's only one howler (noble insect)

lol
55K
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guided-By-Voices-GBV-custom-made-Eames-Drumset-used-on-Bee-Thousand-and-many-o-/121195596623

why not just contact jay carney or steven soderbergh directly

haha, seriously
i doubt carney has that kind of disposable cash though

Wow, what's the retail on that kit as is?

So... this blew up

https://www.facebook.com/gvbdrumauction/posts/450322931745459

lol. wonder what the "(you know, the J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story)" was.

Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 20:37:53 -0700
From: Kevin Fennell
Subject: Re: From Bobby

Bob, I thought that it would be best to respond to you voice-mail message via e-mail to avoid any argument or confrontation. I just don't feel comfortable being attacked or having to explain myself, it's bullshit. You obviously are pissed about my decision to sell my drums or maybe my asking price. If you recall I did mention that I would most likely be selling them but I wasn't sure how to go about it at the time.

After rejoining the band, I was hopeful that we would be more active regarding playing out and having the opportunity to earn money. As a result, I passed on two full-time job opportunities at OSU to make sure I was available for the band but we only played 2 shows this year, with no mention of anything in the future. That's just it, there has never really been much communication and I guess I'm tired of being "on call" at the drop of a hat.

It seems to me that we are not on the same page and maybe my expectations exceeded yours. I think it's unfortunate that you have any issue with me selling what belongs to me. I went out of my way to make sure that I did not use the band name for personal gain. I only stated the facts about my history with the band on E-Bay. You know that I have devoted a large part of my life to the band and have been loyal from the beginning. It's too bad that same loyalty was never reciprocated and I think you know what I mean.

Maybe it's best that I resign my position at this time. I don't feel that I need to ask your permission about personal decisions ie: the asking price for my drums. If that's the case, it's better that we part company now.

Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 8:24AM
From: Bob Pollard
Subject: Re: From Bobby

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for responding and there will be no argument or confrontation. There was no attack. There was simply a statement and observation by all, and you don't realize how many, that you have made a fool of yourself by your asking price. First of all, most people would like to know who the fuck you think you are and who you think Guided By Voices is that you can warrant that kind of asking price for your fucking drums. And yes, you did mention the band and use the band as a selling point. You said, "These were the drums that were played on Bee Thousand" and other albums. Should I ask for $50,000 for the metal trash can I banged on My Valuable Hunting Knife? Do you see the absurdity and where it can go from there? You don't have to ask for my permission to sell your shit but you do my friend, have to ask permission to use the name Guided By Voices as I own it.

You can call it resigning if you want but you were already fired. I've been wanting to do that for a long time. You're an amateur, you play too fast (which is the sign of an amateur). I've asked you to slow down and get behind the music but I can tell that you don't know what I'm even talking about. You know, I diligently sought you out for this reunion thing. I said I wouldn't do it if I couldn't find all four of the original members of the so-called fucking Classic line-up which is a laugh to begin with. I employed the assistance of others to find you. Now, I'm regretting that I ever did that. I could have gotten Jim MacPherson or Kevin March and no one would have given a shit, it would have all been the same.

I owe no sense of loyalty to you whatsoever. 100% of the gratitude should come from your end. Good luck in gouging someone for your fucking drums and don't ever fucking bother me again.

Bob

PS - Oh yeah, and calling it "being on call at the drop of a hat" for the exorbitant amount of money that you received for these calls is the epitome of biting the hand that feeds you. Do not delude yourself, Kevin, that people gave a shit who was behind that drum kit. And if you have a problem with me you can call me or meet me face to face if that's what you fucking want. Not just myself, but others, know you to be a rude, opinionated and insufferable individual. The little anecdote that you told about J Mascis in Denver (you know, the J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story) was the final straw anyway. And you know what most people can't believe about you asking $55k for your drums, minimum? Is that you're not even on drugs anymore.
Like · Reply · 9 · October 22 at 6:58am

Wow, what's the retail on that kit as is?

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, October 17, 2013 11:56 AM (1 week ago)

lol. wonder what the "(you know, the J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story)" was.

― how's life, Thursday, October 24, 2013 1:40 PM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Just any old day for J

sadly predictable correspondence there

i wonder what the jobs he passed up at OSU were

sadly predictable indeed. but also, of course, private. i can't imagine why any of those involved, even the aggrieved party, would want to make this correspondence public.

Not sure I understand Bob's argument- do you really need permission of the name owner to sell any memorabilia with the name on it?

Yeah I don't understand the motivation to make this public either...

Bob is mean.

i guess it's to show that bob is a dick?

I'm sure it's complicated, Kevin has a history.

who doesn't already know that? bob is a lovable narcissistic dick.

Now that this is public the fans get to provide all of the context that is missing!

I'm going to print out this email and try to get Bob to autograph it.

Then sell it on ebay

for $55k

Reserve not met.

^next album title

J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story

^next album title

Ugh, that correspondence, guys in bands being horrible to each other but not actually in person, what a novelty

Upcoming release:

J Mascis "who gives a fuck" story

1. Being on call at the drop of a hat
2. Too fast (which is the sign of an amateur)
3. $50,000 for the metal trash can
4. There was no attack
5. See the absurdity (and where it can go from there)
6. So-called fucking classic
7. Sense of loyalty
8. I said I wouldn't do it if I couldn't
9. A laugh to begin with
10. Asking price
11. You have made a fool

hahahaha!!

that's making me want to record one of those songs, which in the spirit would sound super shitty and be recorded in a midwestern basement on the most rudimentary of recording devices available to me (my phone)
"4. there was no attack" is my track of choice

Yeah, track 4 is the hit! "$50,000 for the metal trash can" is the rambling nonsense at :34 in length.

Jesus that was depressing. The FB link is dead now; those excerpts are from the FB page or what?

They are, yes.

You're welcome for the copy/paste.

B-)

(hilarious post btw, Evan)

Ha, thanks! Also for pasting, should have known it would get deleted.

God, lesson is as old as the internet: Don't have contentious conversations in email (or text, or writing, etc).

"a laugh to begin with" is a gorgeous acoustic ditty with bob and toby singing together about god knows what the fuck.

"you have made a fool" is, for better or worse, their new "hold on hope."

Got to LOL at Bob Pollard berating someone else for being amateurish

"being on call at the drop of a hat" is a surprisingly good electronic album opener that fools you into thinking this album is going to be their kid a, which of course it isn't.

"I was available for the band but we only played 2 shows this year,"

to be fair, each show was 400 hours long.

"So-called fucking classic" is even shorter and more ironic than "Hit" off of Alien Lanes

glad this got explained because the links I'd seen were to the fb page which was gone by the time I clicked on it. Bob sounds like a dick to to be perfectly honest, that is a ridiculous auction price and no-one gives a shit who drums for GBV.

I think they should let a fan be their drummer.

fennell was the first drummer i ever saw gbv play with and he was most definitely a part of the reason i fell in love with them. he's still my fave gbv drummer. neither he nor pollard seems like they'd be all that fun to be in a band with though.

gotta love that pollard has a 7-inch called "return of the drums" due out in november. seriously.

If I'm not mistaken, he's got a fairly large Guided By Voices tattoo taking up the length of his arm. Wondering if he's regretting that now.

lol Lech

I wonder when he got the tattoo. This isn't the first melodramatic falling out these two dudes have had.

Guys, this is just another classic rock tribute from them, a tribute to The Byrds dust up in which David Crosby the drummer "Michael, play drums right!"

Listening to Lamb lies down on broadway a few times & it seems like a strong influence on GBV?

i think pollard has copped to being a 70s peter gabriel / genesis fan