Guided By Voices -- For All Good Kids

When a band performs live, they will usually try to duplicate the sound of their album. Of course, that is not the case with Guided By Voices live LP _For All Good Kids_, because their album sounds are impossible to duplicate. Tape hiss wouldn't be very desirable live, anyway. What Guided By Voices does on this LP is prove to the world that they can flat-out rock. There are 17 songs included on this LP, and every single song is performed to near-perfection. Bob Pollard is in fine form, the guitars are loud and crisp, and you can actually hear the bass and drums most of the time. Here is a song-by-song review of the LP:


SIDE A:

1. "Don't Stop Now" (King Shit and the Golden Boys):  A fully electric
version of this song, plus no fret-buzzing.  This song is supposedly going
to be on _Under the Bushes, Under the Stars_.  I'll be looking forward to
that! 

2. "King and Caroline" (Alien Lanes):  Basically just a lead in for the
next song, even though it could stand alone as its own song if "Motor
Away" wasn't so good. 

3. "Motor Away" (Alien Lanes):  One of my favorite GBV songs, and the 2nd
best version of it that I've heard.  I like how the second guitar comes in
on the second verse, making it louder than the first verse. 

4. "Gold Star for Robot Boy" (Bee Thousand):  Before this song is played,
the famous "This song does not rock..." line is spoken by Bob.  Then they
play the hardest rocking tune on the album. Go figure! 

5. "Hot Freaks" (Bee Thousand):  A slowed down version from the one on the
album.  I still love the line "With a wet spot bigger than a great lake." 

6. "Game of Pricks" (Alien Lanes):  GBV continues to rock out in fine form.

7. "Echos Myron" (Bee Thousand):  Another rocker, and another one of my
favorites.  Great backing vocals on this one! 

8. "Redmen and Their Wives" (New):  I had never heard this one before. 
Bob introduces it as a "long song."  I really like this song, because it
gets louder and louder until it ends.  This could be the best SIDE A I've
ever heard. 

SIDE B:

1. "Pimple Zoo" (Alien Lanes):  The guy in the crowd finally gets his
wish, and GBV romp through this song. 

2. "Smothered in Hugs" (Bee Thousand):  Another great BT song.

3. "Johnny Appleseed" (Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer):  I've never
heard the original version, so I have nothing to compare it to.  A
"drinking" song.  It's sounds like an Irish folk song with distortion. 

4. "Deathtrot and Warlock Riding a Rooster" (King Shit and the Golden
Boys):  A fully electric version (no two fingered piano on this one).  Is 
the line "Mudhens of Toledo" in the background?  

5. "Weed King" (Propeller):  The only _Propeller_ tune on this album, and I
think they could have picked a better one.  They play this song very slow. 
You can tell on this song that the alcohol is starting to affect Bob and
the boys. 

6. "Postal Blowfish" (King Shit and the Golden Boys):  A one chord
masterpiece!  This one's supposed to be on _Under the Bushes, Under the
Stars_ as well. 

7. "Drinker's Peace" (Same Place the Fly Got Smashed):  I love this song,
and this version is better than the original.  This is the most relaxing
tune on this album.

8. "Break Even" (Grand Hour):  One of only two songs on that album that I
listen to.  There are so many changes in this song!  Many other bands 
would make 4 or 5 songs out of the same riffs, but not GBV!

9. "The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory" (Bee Thousand):  A great
version of this song. Once again, the background vocals are great (I have no
idea how they can sing that high!).  A fitting conclusion to the album. 

The cover is an action-photo of Bob in the air; WAY UP in the air, with
"For All Good Kids" in stars-and-stripes lettering. Otherwise, there is no
track listing or any writing on the sleeve or cover.  I suggest getting
this album, even though it may be difficult.  I got my copy from Luna
Music. 

Take me on a Blatant Doom Trip!

Jason Smith -- jasosmi@siue.edu