Vampire on Titus

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Total Tracks: 18   Total Length: 30:42

eMusic Review

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Greg Milner

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
The weirdest album Guided By Voices ever made.
Label: Scat / Revolver

The weirdest album GbV ever made, Vampire isn't the best place to get your toes wet for the first time. But if you feel like a fuzzbath, by all means, go crazy. Some songs sound like they were not only recorded on a boombox, but on a boombox with a cassette that had been used several times and then left to bake in the sun. Vampire is also GBV's most “metal” album, with songs built around the sort of thick power chords one expects the same fake fans chanting the band's name on Propeller would want to hear.

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I Can't Stop Listening To This One!

Solo500

This is an addictive record. Perhaps if your idea of revelation isn't ELO having an orgasm in a Radio Shack you might have issues with this. So what? It's pennies to buy track one,three and fourteen. My highest recommendation is that you start with those 3, just listen to them at the highest possible volume on repeat for a week or two. Then come back here and get the rest once you have acclimated.

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How does the title explain it all?

davidfromenon

Thomas is a dip shit. If one thing rings true for any GBV record it is that the title does not explain any thing, let alone it all.

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Sometimes called...

Ynyr

the best GBV album. Purity of inspiration, great songs. Yes, it's a little noisy in parts, so is traffic. My god, there's nowhere to start like the beginning. Let it sink in; every great album deserves that much.

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Not the best of the earlier GBV work

Thomas'

Title explains it all. There's a few pretty decent rock numbers on here, and two or three outstanding songs that would make a "best-of" playlist if I were to make one (Wished I Was a Giant, Sot, Non-Absorbing). Unfortunately the crappy, for lack of a better word, recording quality of this album brings it down quite a bit and it is pretty much unlistenable in spots. Pick this up later in your GBV purchases.

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They Say All Media Guide

The home-crafted appeal of Guided by Voices finally reached the general public when Vampire on Titus was released in 1993. The band was on a roll at the time, pumping out creative gems like a band possessed. With one of their very best lineups, they explore the many aspects of their limited production skills without any pretension. Bandleader Robert Pollard found his voice around this time, going from a tuneful yelp to a dark croon effortlessly. And the marvelous Tobin Sprout was still with the band at the time, contributing several memorable songs that mixed up things nicely. Songs float in and out with a tight efficiency that is not typical of many likeminded artists. But without one extra second wasted on a melody, the album’s strengths are only made more evident. Pollard’s voice had never sounded as dark and anxious as it does on “#2 in the Model Home Series,” yet on most tracks he shows an endless optimism that brings to mind Warehouse-era Bob Mould. The beautiful “Marchers in Orange” is where his voice gets its best showcase, wailing away despite the weak production. The band really does display a tremendous amount of power and creativity on this effort, and fans of indie rock should try and find this as soon as possible. Like the Replacements’ Hootenanny or Pavement’s Slanted & Enchanted, this kicked off a several-album streak of brilliance that went unnoticed by the mainstream but collected quite a following in the underground. – Bradley Torreano

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Activity

  • 02.06.12 Guided By Voices is on @RollingStone 's playlist at #6 http://t.co/zSsOmpSh http://t.co/6qjXBh4S
  • 01.23.12 Record Of The Month Club: Let's Go Eat The Factory (complete with Bob portrait) http://t.co/BVM18W5q
  • 01.06.12 Guided By Voices: Don't give up the day job http://t.co/9tTAgANd via @guardian
  • 01.03.12 Soundcheck, Guided By Voices on David Letterman tonight: http://t.co/j3tGa7r6
  • 12.19.11 The Ash Gray Proclamation's review of Let's Go Eat The Factory - http://t.co/V3meOXnJ
  • 12.19.11 Preview the new Guided By Voices album, Let's Go Eat The Factory, on NPR Exclusive First Listen! http://t.co/j9P5N5st
  • 12.19.11 To celebrate the release of Let's Go Eat The Factory, Guided By Voices will be appearing on the Late Show With David Letterman Jan 3, 2012.
  • 12.16.11 Photo: Let's Go Eat The Factory LP sleeve http://t.co/T0jipdZA
  • 12.16.11 Photo: Let's Go Eat The Factory LP stickers http://t.co/eU4FLSux
  • 12.12.11 Let's Go Eat The Factory got a 4.5/5 from The Fire Note http://t.co/NvduPA3I "Already a favorite of 2012!"
  • 12.12.11 Neon Filler calls Let's Go Eat The Factory "a classic Guided By Voices record." 9/10 http://t.co/G0OlK6aS
  • 12.09.11 Download Let It Bear Boombox Demos for FREE! The limited edition CD sold out in one day. Happy holidays from Uncle Bob! http://t.co/12Jjx1SJ
  • 12.09.11 Let's Go Eat The Factory is available for preorder in (CA and the US) on @iTunesMusic http://t.co/OiflA55t
  • 12.09.11 Let's Go Eat The Factory is available for preorder in the US (and CA) on @iTunesMusic http://t.co/ooicSOrt
  • 12.07.11 GBV have not split up & continue to work on new material. In addition to Factory, GBV are at work on another album, Class Clown Spots A UFO.
  • 12.07.11 Unfortunately GBV are canceling Primavera and IBYM due to personal reasons. The band apologizes and thanks everyone for their support.
  • 12.02.11 Magnet magazine recently picked their fave 100 GBV songs of all time. You can hear 92 of them on Spotify http://t.co/9lXU01GB
  • 12.02.11 Guided By Voices are on the cover of Magnet Magazine. Read Factory Men http://t.co/KwBQ52So
  • 12.01.11 Back catalogue CDs from 1997-2009 are now only $5 each! Robert Pollard, GBV, Boston Spaceships, Circus Devils & more http://t.co/iQvGbhK6
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