L A Times 2.5 stars May 19, 1997

Known for bringing the sounds of Cheap Trick, the Who and the Beatles into
the basement and mussing them up with sloppy tape whirs, echo-chamber vocals
and wondrous, frayed guitar melodies, the members of Guided by Voices have
been hailed as low-fi heroes. "Under the Bushes, Under the Stars", last
year's album, seemed to be the band's stab at the mainstream, and while it
was accessible, it was met with mixed reviews.

Guided by Voices is now just songwriter Robert Pollard, who's joined by
Cleveland band Cobra Verde for GBV's 12th full-length release. It's a
whopping package of 21 songs that bounce from disjointed sonic haikus to some
piercingly stunning highs. "Sad If I Lost It" and "Learning to Hunt" smack of
Sebadoh's softer moments; "Not Behind the Fighter Jet" and Bulldog Skin" are
courageous despite their half-done feel.

As usual, you have to sort through layers of static, interference and guitar
squeals to get to Pollard's words. When you hear the lyrics for "I Am
Produced"-"I am trapped, tricked, packaged and shipped out"-you understand
his uncommercial love for noise.

This is worth sifting through-if you have the patience. -Sara Scribner