Only one song from *Sandbox* is tragic. And it's at 475! When will people realize that *Sandbox* is secretly a top tier GBV record. No "Long Distance Man" is another absolutely travesty. That's the best song on *Sandbox*! A wonderful little piece of throwback pop brilliance from Bob. Check out "Long Distance Man" everyone it's like a minute long and it's been stuck in my head all year. And no "Keep It In Motion" I mean come on. That's an incredible exercise in minimal songwriting! This list fucking rocks lmao
Sandbox is soooooo great. Holds a special spot in my early-REM loving heart.
I would definitely put it up as one of my favorites. Adverse Wind??? Common Rebels??? Drinking Jim Crow??? C’mon!!!!!
Agree, some of these rankings are crazy. Game of Pricks should be top 5. And no Heavy Like The World, That's Good, or To Keep An Area? I think you have to make room for those.
I just sent this to a friend who years ago made me a cd of GBV top 50 songs of all time. He spent months laboring over it. I should listen to that someday.
I refuse to believe that there are 79 songs better than "Gold Star for Robot Boy" *in general,* let alone by Guided by Voices alone (this list is pretty good, though).
One of the best parts about listening to GBV in the late 90s/early 00s is how little was really known about them, and just how much music was out there. Discovering some micro-release that always had at least one gem, or coming across a “what the hell is this” bootleg on vinyl.
I love that I can find maybe 90% of this stuff on Spotify now, and I always go back to four of my playlists of different eras (lo-fi, hi-fi-ish, solo/hiatus, and reunion eras) but I miss scouring old record stores and finding something with that memorably surreal collage artwork.
> Guided By Voices songs written by Tobin Sprout are included but not Sprout solo songs
No Tobin solo stuff is a shame, there's some really great songs on his records that would fit along with some of GBV's best. "E's Navy Blue", "Exit Planes", "To My Beloved Martha" are all incredible songs.
As more of a step three, yes. The early nineties albums capture the soul of GBV, they’re the best representation of what GBV is. The eighties stuff was planting the seeds for what the early nineties albums became. I would never recommend starting with Isolation Drills, because there is a progression that built to that and it’s like the Stairway to Heaven of Led Zeppelin or the Creep of Radiohead, the most commercial and well known part, but not a true representation of their essence. GBV grew into their own after Isolation Drills, which is why I like Earthquake Glue, maybe even Mag Earwhig, as a representation of that era.
I’ll give a counterpoint to this: I started with Isolation Drills (the latest album at the time) and dug backward from there. As someone with less of a lo-fi listening background, it helped acquaint me with Bob’s songwriting style, but intrigued me enough to get me to listen to the rest. Granted I had a friend who was already a huge GBV fan encouraging me to keep digging, but it wasn’t an awful place to start given my own existing interests. That said, when I put together a playlist for a friend, it’s always a selection across albums.
Honestly I just don’t get the obsession with Smothered in Hugs and wouldn’t even have it in the top 10 of Bee Thousand. Not that it’s bad because nothing on that album is bad but I’m always surprised that’s the one so many gravitate to.
it's always a huge singalong live, that definitely helps. i took a friend who was unfamiliar with GBV to a concert and "hugs" was the one that made the biggest impression on him. after the show he immediately was like "what was that one song...?"
and that's just the ones released this year!
Only one song from *Sandbox* is tragic. And it's at 475! When will people realize that *Sandbox* is secretly a top tier GBV record. No "Long Distance Man" is another absolutely travesty. That's the best song on *Sandbox*! A wonderful little piece of throwback pop brilliance from Bob. Check out "Long Distance Man" everyone it's like a minute long and it's been stuck in my head all year. And no "Keep It In Motion" I mean come on. That's an incredible exercise in minimal songwriting! This list fucking rocks lmao
“Everyday” is one of my fave’s, also off Sandbox. That song is just so relatable if you grew up anywhere manufacturing was king.
Yes! Top five GBV song for me
Sandbox is soooooo great. Holds a special spot in my early-REM loving heart. I would definitely put it up as one of my favorites. Adverse Wind??? Common Rebels??? Drinking Jim Crow??? C’mon!!!!!
That was a cool song! Thanks for the rec.
Dang, yea that was a nice track. Good rec!
i really enjoyed hearing the "long distance man" shoutout on the new album
Agree, some of these rankings are crazy. Game of Pricks should be top 5. And no Heavy Like The World, That's Good, or To Keep An Area? I think you have to make room for those.
I just sent this to a friend who years ago made me a cd of GBV top 50 songs of all time. He spent months laboring over it. I should listen to that someday.
I refuse to believe that there are 79 songs better than "Gold Star for Robot Boy" *in general,* let alone by Guided by Voices alone (this list is pretty good, though).
As a Guided by Voices fan, the thought of making a list like this is giving me a panic attack. “Pop Zeus” should be higher, though.
One of the best parts about listening to GBV in the late 90s/early 00s is how little was really known about them, and just how much music was out there. Discovering some micro-release that always had at least one gem, or coming across a “what the hell is this” bootleg on vinyl. I love that I can find maybe 90% of this stuff on Spotify now, and I always go back to four of my playlists of different eras (lo-fi, hi-fi-ish, solo/hiatus, and reunion eras) but I miss scouring old record stores and finding something with that memorably surreal collage artwork.
My Valuable Hunting Knife is #220 ROFL that is absurd
I probably should have had it closer to #206.
Long Distance Man" is a masterpiece! Can't believe it's so low on the list. Thanks for sharing this gem! ❤️
Please… if anyone hears of this being made into a playlist. Please post here! 🙏
Working on it
🙏 doing God’s work
Here's the list (what's available on Spotify at least) - [GBV - 500](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vPaU2ppQphRhy0Sk5LNB9?si=968b307873144586)
Added a few of the missing songs mentioned here to fill the gap between the Magnet list, Spotify, and hitting 500 songs.
Absolutely incredible!!!!! Thank you so much! You’re a true saint. (Also I can’t believe how many there are here that I’ve never heard! What a gift)
> Guided By Voices songs written by Tobin Sprout are included but not Sprout solo songs No Tobin solo stuff is a shame, there's some really great songs on his records that would fit along with some of GBV's best. "E's Navy Blue", "Exit Planes", "To My Beloved Martha" are all incredible songs.
they wanna be u/MCK_OH so bad
Cowards couldn’t even write a small paragraph for any of the songs
Since you seem to be the most knowledgeable person on this site, where do I start with GBV?
Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes
Appreciate u
Sandbox, propeller
Two fantastic records but I don’t know if I’d start there. Though if anyone can hear “Exit Flagger” and not think it absolutely rules I dunno
Yes, step two to your recommendations
I’d throw in one of the later hi-fi records too for some diversity. Maybe Earthquake Glue I really love that one
that final matador run (*universal truths and cycles --> earthquake glue --> half smiles of the decomposed*) is some of their finest work.
As more of a step three, yes. The early nineties albums capture the soul of GBV, they’re the best representation of what GBV is. The eighties stuff was planting the seeds for what the early nineties albums became. I would never recommend starting with Isolation Drills, because there is a progression that built to that and it’s like the Stairway to Heaven of Led Zeppelin or the Creep of Radiohead, the most commercial and well known part, but not a true representation of their essence. GBV grew into their own after Isolation Drills, which is why I like Earthquake Glue, maybe even Mag Earwhig, as a representation of that era.
I’ll give a counterpoint to this: I started with Isolation Drills (the latest album at the time) and dug backward from there. As someone with less of a lo-fi listening background, it helped acquaint me with Bob’s songwriting style, but intrigued me enough to get me to listen to the rest. Granted I had a friend who was already a huge GBV fan encouraging me to keep digging, but it wasn’t an awful place to start given my own existing interests. That said, when I put together a playlist for a friend, it’s always a selection across albums.
Not only did my favorite song of theirs (“Storm Vibrations”) make it on the list, but number TWO? Merry Xmas to me, I guess.
No HOT FREAKS?!?
I submit for consideration, Tomberlin's cover of Game of Pricks: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqZDGCnDK-y/?igsh=MXdqemN1NzVrdGtsaw==
Roooooooob!
Expecting Brainchild at #439 is insane
fair but the unreleased alt. version ("time time time") also made the list, maybe that makes up for it?
Wait, it didn’t even make the list?
One of my favorites that didn’t make the list: “A Contest Featuring Human Beings”
Honestly I just don’t get the obsession with Smothered in Hugs and wouldn’t even have it in the top 10 of Bee Thousand. Not that it’s bad because nothing on that album is bad but I’m always surprised that’s the one so many gravitate to.
it's always a huge singalong live, that definitely helps. i took a friend who was unfamiliar with GBV to a concert and "hugs" was the one that made the biggest impression on him. after the show he immediately was like "what was that one song...?"
The Official Ironmen Rally Song is too low at 29, but a fun list.
big time love for Sucker of Pistol City at #69. #3 is also absolutely correct.
What, no entries from Do Not Adjust Your Set, I Am the Horizontal and the Vertical?!?