From Everybody’s News, Issue 462, July 18–24, 1997
(reproduced without permission)

GUIDED BY VOICES
Mag Earwhig!
(Matador)

 The days of soul-slopping and four-tracking are over for GBV. Even cleaner than their previous LP Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, Mag Earwhig! features Bob Pollard at his songwriting best along with an entirely new lineup (complete with pristine guitar tones and solos) that maintains the strange, in-between flavors of GBV. Admittedly, the previous GBV incarnation is missed (though Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell and Kevin Fennell do make guest appearances). However, Pollard’s new team exudes a raw freshness.
 Mag Earwhig! presents the diverse feel that some of us have grown to dig (lots), from the classic GBV anthemic sounding "Sad If I Lost It" to the quiet, cynical wisdom of "I Am Produced", from the rock ‘n’ roll strut of "Bulldog Skin" to the eerie, haunting beauty of "Learning To Hunt" and "Now To War". "Portable Men’s Society" is strange and thunderous, "The Old Grunt" is just weird, "Jane of the Waking Universe" is another classic fare featuring Pollard’s old cronies. I could easily and happily describe in detail each tune on the LP, but our sweet music editor would frown upon the length. So, what I’m saying is, "BUY THIS DISC!" Sonically electric, strange and acoustic, eccentric and eclectic, Mag Earwhig! is still Guided by Voices, only cleaner. And despite the changes and studio-ness, GBV is one of the only bands that has not let this reviewer down, live or on record...so get Magged! (Matador Records, 625 Broadway, 12th Floor, NY, NY 10012)

 —Filbert Eggplant
 (Guided by Voices play Bogart’s Fri., July 25)