bee thousand (guided by voices)
I really enjoyed this one, it's one of my favorites in a while. This album feels like a secret treasure… I can tell just in the sound of it that this was a big, influential album, underground. There's the fuzzy sound (an inescapable phrase in other reviews- "lo-fi pop"), funny, interesting lyrics, short, disparate songs that fit together in perfect harmony… this is absolutely an example of an album I enjoy more as an album, rather than the songs individually.
This songs on this album seem to emerge from a mysterious otherworld… there's a distance in that lo-fi sound, the way each song begins and ends so differently from the others, hurtling inward and fading away from spaces unknown. "Gold Star for Robot Boy" is one of the tracks that especially evokes this feeling.
There are so many cool, distinct tracks on this one. "Tractor Rape Chain" is the masterpiece… when that song emerges from the indie fuzz of the first two tracks, it truly feels like a revelation. Beautiful, urgent melody (same with the lyrics), and the chorus that evokes (and surely influenced) the high, echoed, barking vocal rhythms of the Shins. "I Am A Scientist" is another classic, nice low guitar, a lovely sing-song melody with smart, interesting lyrics. "Peep-hole" is nice and weird- funny, strange lyrics, a strange, high-lilting sound in the guitars and vocals. "Hot Freaks" wallows in a cool, smooth, sultry low-ness (Louis XIV-esque), and "Echos Myron" definitely reminds me of something Chris would play… maybe a sweeter version of a Pixies song or an influence on Weezer, with the upbeat pop sound and the high harmonies.
Very cool record, and pretty brief. Good one to relisten to now and then, and I'd love to hear more of their catalogue.
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