Guided by Voices' Under the Bushes Under the Stars

I was picking through my collection of old CDs the other day and came across the 1996 Guided by Voices album Under the Bushes Under the Stars. Fans of Robert Pollard and the original lineup of Guided by Voices remember this album fondly as the last hurrah for the first incarnation of the band. I have had the CD for a few years and enjoyed it immensely while I was in college. I decided to pop it in my computer to listen and figure out if Under the Bushes Under the Stars stands the test of time.

Robert Pollard's cool and confident vocals resonated as I gave the album a few listens on repeat. The amazing part of this album is that it sticks to the band's indie roots while adopting the amenities of modern rock. Producers Kim Deal and Steve Albini offered steady presences that erred on the side of a free hand for Guided by Voices. Pollard's lyrical genius on songs like "No Sky" and "Lord of Overstock" and the instrumental strengths of Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Dan Toohey and Kevin Fennell are allowed to breathe on Under the Bushes Under the Stars.

There are several reasons why Under the Bushes Under the Stars is a case study for indie bands who want to leave behind lo-fi record making. The album may sound like it is recorded in a 24-track studio but it possesses the attitude of Guided by Voices recordings going back to Static Airplane Jive. Pollard and Company did not mess around with plodding songs and extended guitar solos. Guided by Voices stuck to short, powerful songs that leave an impression when taking individually as well as parts of a whole. This album still does well in terms of downloads and sales to this day because it is a strong album instead of a series of individual hits.

The highlights from Under the Bushes, Under the Stars are too numerous to list in this review. I love "A Man Called Aerodynamics" as the opening track because of its upbeat guitars and poppy lyrics. Pollard's vocals are given a test in "Rhine Jive Click" with lyrical peaks and valleys traversed in a matter of three minutes. "No Sky" is a simple song with well-written lyrics and smooth instrumentals that offer a brief intermission in the middle of the album. A string of powerful songs with clever lyrics begins with "Bright Paper Werewolves," continues through "Lords of Overstock" and finishes with "Ghosts of a Different Dream."

I would disagree with reviewers who have stated that this album is perfect or untouchable from start to finish. There are a few points where I thought the music was not fitting of the band's talents. "The Official Ironmen Rally Song" and "Your Name is Wild" could be seen as the flip side to the simple virtuosity of "No Sky." These songs seem like they would be appropriate for a wedding or high school band to pen with their simple melodies and lyrics.

The fact that a twelfth of a 24-track album bothers me is an indicator of the work's greatness. I have fallen in love with Under the Bushes Under the Stars once again due to the timeless talents of Robert Pollard. I hope that people pick up this album once again and return the prime of Guided by Voices to learn how music can be entertaining, provocative and well crafted without spending millions of dollars.