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'''''Propeller''''' is the fifth [[album]] by [[Dayton, Ohio]] [[indie rock]] group [[Guided by Voices]].
'''''Propeller''''' is the fifth [[album]] by American [[indie rock]] band [[Guided by Voices]].


{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name = Propeller
| name = Propeller
| type = [[Album]]
| type = [[Album]]
| artist = [[Guided by Voices]]
| artist = [[Guided by Voices]]
| cover = guided_by_voices_propeller.jpg
| cover = guided_by_voices_propeller.jpg
| alt = The cover of Propeller #127, a photograph of Robert Pollard, Jim Pollard, and Mitch Mitchell standing in a basement.
| alt =
| caption = Cover artwork from Propeller #127. Left to right: Mitch Mitchell, Robert Pollard, Jim Pollard.
| released = 1992
| recorded = 1991–1992
| released = February 14, 1992
| venue =
| recorded = 1991–1992
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Indie rock]]
| studio =
| length = 36:07
| genre = [[Indie rock]]
| label = Rockathon Records
| length = 36:07
| label = {{flatlist|
| producer = [[Robert Pollard]], Mike "Rep" Hummel
*Rockathon Records
| prev_title = [[Same Place The Fly Got Smashed]]
*Old Age / New Age
| prev_year = 1990
}}
| next_title = [[Vampire on Titus]]
| next_year = 1993
| producer = {{flatlist|
*[[Robert Pollard]]
| misc = {{Extra album cover
*Mike "Rep" Hummel
}}
| prev_title = [[Same Place The Fly Got Smashed]]
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = [[Vampire on Titus]]
| next_year = 1993
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = One of the original handmade covers, used in the 2005 re-release
| header = One of the original handmade covers, used in the 2005 re-release
| type = Studio
| type = Studio
| cover = Prop14-front.jpg
| cover = Prop14-front.jpg
| border =
| border =
| alt = A vibrant collage with superimposed images, including a closeup of a woman's lips, three people standing together, and text that reads “50 eggs.”
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
}}
}}
}}
}}
==Background==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}} <ref>{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r289791|first=Greg|last=Prato}}</ref>
| rev1score =
| rev2 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev2Score = (9.2/10) <ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18242-propeller Pitchfork Media review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307024853/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18242-propeller |date=2008-03-07 }}</ref>
| noprose = yes
| rev3 = [[sputnikmusic]]
| rev3Score = {{Rating|5.0|5.0}}<ref>https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/64376/Guided-by-Voices-Propeller/</ref>
| rev4 = Punknews.org
| rev4Score = {{Rating|5.0|5.0}}<ref>https://www.punknews.org/review/11649/guided-by-voices-propeller</ref>
}}


Conceived initially by [[Robert Pollard]] as a farewell album in the face of years of obscurity and mounting debt, the album ended up "propelling" the band to a higher-profile status and influence, affording a lasting position in the [[indie rock]] canon.
==Description==


While significant portions were recorded in a professional recording studio (though later to be "lovingly fucked with" by Mike "Rep" Hummel, of Mike Rep and the Quotas), the album is notable for being the first of the band's albums to make extensive use of [[Multitrack recording|4-track]] cassette and [[lo-fi]] recording techniques as an aesthetic unto itself. Songs are frequently punctuated by unexpected blasts of noise, awkward tape edits, sped-up or slowed-down vocal or instrumental parts, and other sonic [[bric-a-brac]]. An interesting result of this technique is the [[Introduction (music)|intro]] to the album's opening track, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox". What appears to be the sound of a band taking the stage before a throng of thousands of fans chanting "G-B-V! G-B-V!" was actually created by Guided by Voices in the studio (the band had not played live in years, and never to more than a handful of people at the time of recording). Nevertheless, the inclusion of this clip ensured the canonization of the "G-B-V!" chant, heard at essentially every Guided by Voices concert thereafter, and the entire opening sequence was faithfully recreated at the band's final show before temporarily disbanding in 2004. It has been mainly used during encores at their shows.
Conceived initially by [[Robert Pollard]] as a farewell album in the face of years of obscurity and mounting debt, the album ended up "propelling" the band to a higher-profile status and influence, affording the band a lasting position in the [[indie rock]] canon.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}


== Lyrics and music ==
While significant portions were recorded in a professional recording studio (though later to be "lovingly fucked with" by Mike "Rep" Hummel, of Mike Rep and the Quotas), the album is notable for being the first of the band's albums to make extensive use of [[Multitrack recording|4-track]] cassette and [[lo-fi]] recording techniques as an aesthetic unto itself. Songs are frequently punctuated by unexpected blasts of noise, awkward tape edits, sped-up or slowed-down vocal or instrumental parts, and other sonic [[bric-a-brac]]. An interesting result of this technique is the [[Introduction (music)|intro]] to the album's opening track, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox". What appears to be the sound of a band taking the stage before a throng of thousands of fans chanting "G-B-V! G-B-V!" was actually created by Guided by Voices in the studio (the band had not played live in years, and never to more than a handful of people at the time of recording). Nevertheless, the inclusion of this clip ensured the canonization of the "G-B-V!" chant, heard at essentially every Guided by Voices concert thereafter, and the entire opening sequence was faithfully recreated at the band's final show in 2004.
The first song on the album, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox" is one of GBV's longest songs to this date with a playing time of 5:41.


The cover art also contributed to the album's [[legend]]. Initially self-released only in a limited [[gramophone record|vinyl]] run of 500, each copy of the album received a unique, handmade cover. Decorated by band members, friends and family with myriad methods such as screen-printing, hand-painting, and affixing various found objects (including an empty six-pack carton of [[Natural Light]]) to plain white sleeves, these albums grew in value over the years and as of 2005, were known to have sold for prices in the thousands of dollars. The album was first given a wide release by '''Scat Records''' when it was appended to the CD version of GbV's 1993 album [[Vampire on Titus]]. Later, both albums were given a standalone CD release.

In 2005, a new, non-limited and non-handmade vinyl edition was released, along with an updated CD version using a reproduction of a selection the original covers.

A gallery of original Propeller covers can be seen at the [http://www.gbvdb.com Guided by Voices database.]

==Back to Saturn X Radio Report==
The eleventh song on ''Propeller'' "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" is a collage of many songs Guided By Voices had recorded at the point of the release of the album. Most of the songs were originally going to appear on an album called ''Back to Saturn X'' that was scrapped in favor of ''Propeller'' [http://gbvdb.com/album.asp?albumid=1748]. All of them were later released. They are (in order):
The eleventh song on ''Propeller'' "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" is a collage of many songs Guided By Voices had recorded at the point of the release of the album. Most of the songs were originally going to appear on an album called ''Back to Saturn X'' that was scrapped in favor of ''Propeller'' [http://gbvdb.com/album.asp?albumid=1748]. All of them were later released. They are (in order):


* "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows (Different Version)" (an alternate take of a track later released on ''[[Bee Thousand]]''; this version appears on ''[[Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft]]'' )
* "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows (Different Version)" (an alternate take of a track later released on ''[[Bee Thousand]]''; this version appears on ''[[Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft]]'')
* "Sopor Joe" (released on ''King Shit And The Golden Boys'' a part of the GBV box set ''Box'')
* "Sopor Joe" (released on ''King Shit And The Golden Boys'' a part of the GBV box set ''Box'')
* "Fantasy Creeps" (also on ''King Shit And the Golden Boys'')
* "Fantasy Creeps" (also on ''King Shit And the Golden Boys'')
Line 66: Line 56:
* "Tractor Rape Chain (Clean it Up)" (original, and very different, version of "Tractor Rape Chain," which would later appear in a redone form on ''Bee Thousand''. This version has only appeared on the ''Darla 100 - Sixth Year Anniversary Compilation CD'')
* "Tractor Rape Chain (Clean it Up)" (original, and very different, version of "Tractor Rape Chain," which would later appear in a redone form on ''Bee Thousand''. This version has only appeared on the ''Darla 100 - Sixth Year Anniversary Compilation CD'')
* "Damn Good, Mr. Jam" reprise.
* "Damn Good, Mr. Jam" reprise.

== Artwork ==
The cover art also contributed to the album's [[legend]]. Initially self-released only in a limited [[gramophone record|vinyl]] run of 500, each copy of the album received a unique, handmade cover. Decorated by band members, friends and family with myriad methods such as screen-printing, hand-painting, and affixing various found objects (including an empty six-pack carton of [[Natural Light]]) to plain white sleeves, these albums grew in value over the years and as of 2005, were known to have sold for prices in the thousands of dollars. The album was first given a wide release by [[Scat Records]] when it was appended to the CD version of GBV's 1993 album ''[[Vampire on Titus]]''. Later, both albums were given standalone CD releases.

In 2005, a new, non-limited and non-handmade vinyl edition was released, along with an updated CD version using a reproduction of a selection the original covers.

A gallery of original ''Propeller'' covers can be seen at the [http://www.gbvdb.com Guided by Voices database.]
== Reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}} <ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r289791|first=Greg|last=Prato}}</ref>
| rev1score =
| rev2 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev2Score = (9.2/10) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Deusner |first=Stephen M. |title=Guided by Voices: Propeller |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3602-propeller/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
| noprose = yes
| rev3 = sputnikmusic
| rev3Score = {{Rating|5.0|5.0}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/64376/Guided-by-Voices-Propeller/|title=Guided by Voices - Propeller (Album review ) &#124; Sputnikmusic}}</ref>
| rev4 = Punknews.org
| rev4Score = {{Rating|5.0|5.0}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/11649/guided-by-voices-propeller|title = Guided by Voices - Propeller| date=13 November 2012 }}</ref>
}}''Propeller'' was released to critical acclaim. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Deusner |first=Stephen M. |title=Guided by Voices: Propeller |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3602-propeller/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Punknews.org|title=Guided by Voices - Propeller|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/11649/guided-by-voices-propeller|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.punknews.org|date=13 November 2012 |language=en}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
All songs written by [[Robert Pollard]] unless otherwise noted.
| all_writing = Robert Pollard except where noted
| title1 = Over The Neptune / Mesh Gear Fox
| length1 = 5:41
| title2 = Weed King
| length2 = 2:39
| title3 = Particular Damaged
| length3 = 1:59
| writer3 = Dan Toohey, Tobin Sprout, R. Pollard
| title4 = Quality Of Armor
| length4 = 2:37
| title5 = Metal Mothers
| length5 = 3:18
| title6 = Lethargy
| length6 = 1:20
| writer6 = Jim Pollard, Mitch Mitchell, R. Pollard, Sprout
| title7 = Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy
| length7 = 1:59
| writer7 = J. Pollard, Mitchell, R. Pollard, Sprout
| title8 = Red Gas Circle
| length8 = 1:25
| writer8 = Toohey, Pollard, Sprout
| title9 = Exit Flagger
| length9 = 2:19
| title10 = 14 Cheerleader Coldfront
| length10 = 1:31
| writer10 = Sprout, R. Pollard
| title11 = Back To Saturn X Radio Report
| length11 = 1:33
| title12 = Ergo Space Pig
| length12 = 2:48
| writer12 = R. Pollard, Sprout
| title13 = Circus World
| length13 = 2:40
| title14 = Some Drilling Implied
| length14 = 1:40
| title15 = On The Tundra
| length15 = 2:38
| writer15 = J. Pollard, R. Pollard
}}


===Side A===
== Personnel ==
The credits do not give specific instruments played by each individual, but rather list every performer who appeared on the release in any capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Guided-By-Voices-Propeller/release/817406|title=Guided By Voices – Propeller (credits section)|website=[[Discogs]]|date=1996 }}</ref>
# "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox" – 5:41
# "Weedking" – 2:39
# "Particular Damaged" (R. Pollard, [[Tobin Sprout]], Dan Toohey) – 1:59
# "Quality of Armor" – 2:37
# "Metal Mothers" – 3:18
# "Lethargy" ([[Mitch Mitchell (Guided by Voices)|Mitch Mitchell]], Jim Pollard, R. Pollard, Sprout) – 1:20


===Side B===
=== Guided by Voices ===

#<li value="7"> "Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy" (Mitchell, J. Pollard, R. Pollard, Sprout) – 1:59
* [[Robert Pollard]]
# "Red Gas Circle" (R. Pollard, Sprout, Toohey) – 1:25
* Dan Toohey
# "Exit Flagger" – 2:19
* Jim Pollard
# "14 Cheerleader Coldfront" (R. Pollard, Sprout) – 1:31
* [[Mitch Mitchell (guitarist)|Mitch Mitchell]]
# "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" – 1:33
* [[Tobin Sprout]]
# "Ergo Space Pig" (R. Pollard, Sprout) – 2:48
* [[Greg Demos]]
# "Circus World" – 2:40

# "Some Drilling Implied" – 1:40
==== Technical ====
# "On the Tundra" (J. Pollard, R. Pollard) – 2:38

* Mike "Rep" Hummel – engineering


==References==
==References==
Line 93: Line 139:


{{Guided by Voices}}
{{Guided by Voices}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Propeller (Album)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Propeller (Album)}}

Latest revision as of 14:36, 25 April 2024

Propeller is the fifth album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices.

Propeller
The cover of Propeller #127, a photograph of Robert Pollard, Jim Pollard, and Mitch Mitchell standing in a basement.
Cover artwork from Propeller #127. Left to right: Mitch Mitchell, Robert Pollard, Jim Pollard.
Studio album by
Guided by Voices
ReleasedFebruary 14, 1992
Recorded1991–1992
GenreIndie rock
Length36:07
Label
  • Rockathon Records
  • Old Age / New Age
Producer
Guided by Voices chronology
Same Place The Fly Got Smashed
(1990) 		Propeller
(1992) 		Vampire on Titus
(1993)
One of the original handmade covers, used in the 2005 re-release
A vibrant collage with superimposed images, including a closeup of a woman's lips, three people standing together, and text that reads “50 eggs.”

Background

[edit]

Conceived initially by Robert Pollard as a farewell album in the face of years of obscurity and mounting debt, the album ended up "propelling" the band to a higher-profile status and influence, affording a lasting position in the indie rock canon.

While significant portions were recorded in a professional recording studio (though later to be "lovingly fucked with" by Mike "Rep" Hummel, of Mike Rep and the Quotas), the album is notable for being the first of the band's albums to make extensive use of 4-track cassette and lo-fi recording techniques as an aesthetic unto itself. Songs are frequently punctuated by unexpected blasts of noise, awkward tape edits, sped-up or slowed-down vocal or instrumental parts, and other sonic bric-a-brac. An interesting result of this technique is the intro to the album's opening track, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox". What appears to be the sound of a band taking the stage before a throng of thousands of fans chanting "G-B-V! G-B-V!" was actually created by Guided by Voices in the studio (the band had not played live in years, and never to more than a handful of people at the time of recording). Nevertheless, the inclusion of this clip ensured the canonization of the "G-B-V!" chant, heard at essentially every Guided by Voices concert thereafter, and the entire opening sequence was faithfully recreated at the band's final show before temporarily disbanding in 2004. It has been mainly used during encores at their shows.

Lyrics and music

[edit]

The first song on the album, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox" is one of GBV's longest songs to this date with a playing time of 5:41.

The eleventh song on Propeller "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" is a collage of many songs Guided By Voices had recorded at the point of the release of the album. Most of the songs were originally going to appear on an album called Back to Saturn X that was scrapped in favor of Propeller [1]. All of them were later released. They are (in order):

Artwork

[edit]

The cover art also contributed to the album's legend. Initially self-released only in a limited vinyl run of 500, each copy of the album received a unique, handmade cover. Decorated by band members, friends and family with myriad methods such as screen-printing, hand-painting, and affixing various found objects (including an empty six-pack carton of Natural Light) to plain white sleeves, these albums grew in value over the years and as of 2005, were known to have sold for prices in the thousands of dollars. The album was first given a wide release by Scat Records when it was appended to the CD version of GBV's 1993 album Vampire on Titus. Later, both albums were given standalone CD releases.

In 2005, a new, non-limited and non-handmade vinyl edition was released, along with an updated CD version using a reproduction of a selection the original covers.

A gallery of original Propeller covers can be seen at the Guided by Voices database.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Pitchfork Media(9.2/10) [2]
sputnikmusic[3]
Punknews.org[4]

Propeller was released to critical acclaim. [5][6]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Robert Pollard except where noted

No.TitelWriter(s)Length
1."Over The Neptune / Mesh Gear Fox" 5:41
2."Weed King" 2:39
3."Particular Damaged"Dan Toohey, Tobin Sprout, R. Pollard1:59
4."Quality Of Armor" 2:37
5."Metal Mothers" 3:18
6."Lethargy"Jim Pollard, Mitch Mitchell, R. Pollard, Sprout1:20
7."Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy"J. Pollard, Mitchell, R. Pollard, Sprout1:59
8."Red Gas Circle"Toohey, Pollard, Sprout1:25
9."Exit Flagger" 2:19
10."14 Cheerleader Coldfront"Sprout, R. Pollard1:31
11."Back To Saturn X Radio Report" 1:33
12."Ergo Space Pig"R. Pollard, Sprout2:48
13."Circus World" 2:40
14."Some Drilling Implied" 1:40
15."On The Tundra"J. Pollard, R. Pollard2:38

Personnel

[edit]

The credits do not give specific instruments played by each individual, but rather list every performer who appeared on the release in any capacity.[7]

Guided by Voices

[edit]

Technical

[edit]
  • Mike "Rep" Hummel – engineering

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Prato, Greg. Propeller at AllMusic
  2. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. "Guided by Voices: Propeller". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  3. ^ "Guided by Voices - Propeller (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".
  4. ^ "Guided by Voices - Propeller". 13 November 2012.
  5. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. "Guided by Voices: Propeller". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  6. ^ Punknews.org (13 November 2012). "Guided by Voices - Propeller". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  7. ^ "Guided By Voices – Propeller (credits section)". Discogs. 1996.
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