Guided by Voices: A Brief History

by James Greer, Steven Soderbergh (Foreword)

The true story of the fourth-grade teacher in Dayton, Ohio, who created one of the most influential bands of our times.   Devoted fans have followed Guided by Voices for decades—and critics around the world have lauded the band’s brain trust, Robert Pollard, as a once-in-a-generation artist. Pollard has been compared by the New York Times to Mozart, Rossini, and Paul McCartney (in the same sentence) and everyone from P. J. Harvey, Radiohead, R.E.M., the Strokes, and U2 has sung his praises and cited his music as an influence.   But it all started rather prosaically when Pollard, a fourth-grade teacher in his early thirties, began recording songs with drinking buddies in his basement. In this book, James Greer, an acclaimed music writer and former Spin editor—who also played in the band for two years—provides unparalleled insight and complete access to the workings of Pollard’s muse.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

557 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2005

About the author

James Greer is a novelist, screenwriter, musician and critic. He was born in Portland, ME on April 23 1971. As a screenwriter, he's written UNSANE (directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Clare Foy and Juno Temple) and many other films and TV series. As a novelist, he's written BAD EMINENCE, THE FAILURE, and ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. He's also written books about R.E.M. and Guided By Voices (a band for which he played bass guitar in the mid-90s), the short fiction collection EVERYTHING FLOWS, and was Senior Editor of SPIN Magazine in its early 90s heyday. He lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Alex Aguilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

disclaimer: i jam hard on GBV

i pretty much agree with the other 3-star reviews. it feels like a schleppy book about (prolificity aside) schleppy rock bros. which i'm cool with them being that, and the idea of the feeling of the book mirroring that for funsies, but after a certain point it just ended up coming off as lazy to me. i dunno. wished there was a little more tobin sprout.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another bio of one of my all-time favorite bands that is lacking in some way. It seems like they filled the 300 pages without really saying anything. I want to know what makes Pollard tick, damn it! And don't just tell me "Budweiser."

[M.liss · Rating 4 out of 5]

though i am an idiot and sometimes got a bit confused about where we were on the timeline because of the nonlinear structure, i really liked the chatty tone of this book. very much for those who are already firmly entrenched, and less accessible than the 33 1/3 about bee thousand.

[Ryan Blacketter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on Bob Pollard is a crass, brilliant, occasionally slurry, ego-fueled drinking party. Loved it.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

GBV GBV GBV!

[Tiny Red Dragons Radio · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're the kind of person who spends 2+ months agonizing over making the perfect two disc Guided by Voices mix CD and finally completes it only to realize you left off Office of Hearts or Always Crush Me, or (insert fav track here), then you're gonna wanna read this book if you haven't already.

(This review originally appeared on my personal Good Reads page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9...)

-Jeff

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just want a quick little read about the history of an unassuming little band from Ohio led by a public school teacher and a gang of drunk weirdos who all became unlikely middle age rock stars.

3.5 stars.

[Ed Schmauder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography of Robert Pollard and his band Guided by Voices. An unlikely late bloomer (Pollard was 35 by the time the band achieved enough success for him to stop teaching school) and prolific songwriter (he has over 3,000 songs registered with BMI), Pollard may well be worthy of the ‘genius’ tag often placed upon him.

Could not go beyond 4 stars, as the author, a one-time band member, has a scattershot writing style.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but it's written with the tone of someone who would've written for SPIN in the 2000's (which James Greer did): kind of excessive adulation for its subject matter, with a sense of self-importance in their adulation ("it's only because they're the best band in the universe", kind of like that) and I guess as a result of that it's maybe too apologetic at times? It also functions basically as a Robert Pollard biography, since all of the other members are given second priority, if that, to talking all about Bob as if everything they ever did was just a product of his genius and not, like, being a band. I guess I'm contrasting this to Marc Woodworth's book on the album Bee Thousand, where there are passages written by the other band members that offer some insight into their experiences & the group's creative process that Greer didn't manage to get. Which is kind of odd, considering this book covers the entire period from the early 80s to 2004 which was the band's first run before breaking up (and then reuniting this decade), that it's not actually as extensive as you might think, or hope. There are some huge appendixes listing every GBV or Bob-related release, compilation appearance, guest appearance on another band's/artist's album, cover by another band/artist, every concert they ever played after a certain point, complete with full set lists, as if that were so important that biographic detail had to be cut down to make room for it (when you can probably find all that information on the super-fan site GBVDB.com, which is constantly updated).
Ultimately, though, it is an engrossing read for a fan of the band, even if it can leave you wishing you could actually spend time with these guys and learn about them more.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunting Accidents is essential reading for uber-fans of Robert Pollard. Any let's be honest, is there any other kind of fan of Uncle Bob? This brief history of the eccentric and prolific songwriter gives us an inside look at his creative process as well as his personal life. James Greer is a former bassist for Guided By Voices, so he has a unique and invaluable perspective on Bob the person as well as the musician. That being said, Greer's writing is hit or miss, and sometimes he lingers too long on the war stories of Bob's hard-partying youth and GBV tours. He seems intent on convincing us of just how hilarious Bob's group of friends (The Monument Club) are, but a lot of times the stories aren't all that funny or interesting. This is a classic case of "you had to be there." Greer was there, and so these memories are precious to him, but he can't communicate their significance to the reader. A professional journalist or biographer wouldn't fall victim to this, but then again, a professional writer wouldn't have had the experience of working with Bob on a creative level and the frame of reference that provides.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maximum high kick!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'd be forgiven for thinking the introduction never ends; this is bloated, overwritten, turgid gradschool look-ma-no-hands stuff of the kind I just treated you with, and judging from interviews over the years I'm sure Greer would concur with at least some of that. If you can slog past the style, the dirt's there, though I would suggest reading the newer book (Closer You Are) as there's an insane amount of overlap and it's slightly more, though not completely, up to date.

A wish of GBV fans over the year has been for a biography of the band written by someone who isn't a friend of Bob Pollard's; I think that's fair, and I'd be down to read it, however grisly. I went into this book, written by a double threat of iffiness, a Rock Journalist/former member-of-the-band, with fairly low expectations, but I didn't actually find it too hagiographical. Besides the redundant espousal's of Greer's belief in Pollard being the greatest living artist ever of all time, it didn't shy from some rather appalling stories, nor soften the blow or forgive many Bob's, or the band members', numerous fuckups, dick moves and/or crimes.

A common side-effect of this book is creating at least a temporary disgust with everybody in the story, and since the main character here is one Bob Pollard, you may have a sour taste in your mouth for awhile.

I really don't know what to say about this book: is it useful anymore now that there's a new one? It's been awhile, so I can't say for sure, but I think this one had a few stories and/or quotes I hadn't heard, and that'd go for the new one too. Certainly if you read them in close proximity you'd be grinding through a ton of overlapping anecdotes or even verbatim quotes.

So I'll quote Bob, in his description of GBV's 2001 song 'Glad Girls':
I don't know. (It's) alright.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

The portions on the development of the band are fine, includes some solid interviews. That said, the author is one of the most annoying I've ever come across in a music book. Constantly adding in parentheticals to make unfunny jokes or observations. He often refers to "the reader" to say something so obtuse and pointless. Basically written like typical bad boi oh-so-renegade 1990s/2000s music rawk journalism. This band deserves a real book someday, not this lazy treatment. Writers of this type remind me of trolls on the internet... you're not being subversive on 2023 to be a little edge lord, you're just being annoying. That is is this author.

[Trey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is written by a rock writer, and you can tell. Other than the generally annoying structure of the book, the pacing is poor and it leaves you wondering where the point is. It's a book that is written for fans of GBV and, seemingly, to appease the beast which is the subject, which it could easily be argued is Bob pollard and not GBV. Do not read unless you are a mega fan.

[James The reading worm McKean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative ;,, love this band to the end of the earth

[Akash S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped me understand why i love Bob Pollard so much

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A three for the book and five for the band.

[Aaron Mietzner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with knives in the back of me.

[Guided By Voices · Rating 5 out of 5]

The band I've seen most live. For a bunch of old white drunk, Robert Pollard freakishly amazing singer/songwriter! Great read for those who are familiar with the band!

[Sarah Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really captures Bob’s charm and his dedication to the GBV project. A fun read!

[Jack Knorps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mostly forgotten read, though I recall the opening essays by Dennis Cooper (listing all of his top GBV songs) and Steven Soderbergh (explaining why they are important), and various anecdotes about the early days of GBV. As far as a band biography goes, it is solid. It's better than Perfect Sound Forever (about Pavement) for example. I believe this is an authorized biography. I also believe there is a bigger story about GBV yet to be written. This was from 2007 or so, after they had done their "Electrifying Conclusion" at the Chicago Metro in 2004. In 2021, they continue to put out 2-4 albums per year. They broke up 2 or 3 times since they "really broke up" in 2004. They had the "classic lineup" for a while. None of these albums are bad, they are GBV albums, but they've yet to put out something truly essential that is immediately recognized as a valid successor to Bee Thousand or Alien Lanes. Others might say their string of albums in the late 90's/early 2000's, with Under the Bushes Under the Stars and Do the Collapse in similar territory. There is a great deal on Do the Collapse--about them really trying to cater to the mainstream--and it is hilarious to read the amount of hate that "Hold on Hope" gets - not their best song, but not as bad as they make it sound, I am sure that time has softened the controversy. I would say it is their version of "Shiny Happy People," as they owe a great deal in the early days to REM. As such, this is a book that GBV mega-fans would mostly give out to convert their friends, or people that are vaguely familiar and curious can check out for a sufficient history--up until 2004. The problem with band biographies (even the Rolling Stones, for example) is that their stories tend to go on, and things change.

http://flyinghouses.blogspot.com/2008...

[molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd recommend this for GBV fans. It's good for at least a skim through. I got a kick out of the fact that their first EP was recorded less than three miles from where I grew up in the 'burbs of Northern Kentucky. How cool would it have been to run into them then and had some beers, course I would have been 7 but, whatever. The discography in the back of not only GBV albums but solo and side projects as well is extensive and quite useful. I liked that. I also liked the chapter of notes by Bob on certain songs. Though I was a little put off by his characterizing one of my favorites, If We Wait, as a "prissy song." Perhaps we have different ideas on the definition of "prissy." Overall not a bad read.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about the GbV story because I love them. The subject was interesting but the books lost points in the writing. Some parts were confusing because of the way things were worded. In other parts the author would jump from one subject to another random subject for seemingly no reason without tying it together. The author would often make attempts at jokes or sarcasm that was either inappropriate or just not funny. I mean, I think I get what he was going for but it didn't work. This book definitely would have been way better if if had been written better. Oh well, it was still interesting to gain more insight into the band's story.

[Jon Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be a delight to all the GBV obsessed. Even has some wonderful band member flow charts and a discography (including side projects and even some of the bigger bootlegs) in the back. Answers many questions and reveals Robert Pollard's songwriting process (most everything in his lyrics comes from his personal life, friends, etc. and it's really not as cryptic as it appears). Being written by an ex-band member you can also trust in the knowledge.

[Chris Bernhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from (near) Dayton and a GBV fan, I was delighted when I saw this in the public library. Not well written but you can fly through it and learn everything you will ever want to know about Robert Pollard and his drinking habits. Kim Deal details included. Fun bw photos included. Highly entertaining.

[Jean Bosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times, Greer sounds like a too-reverent fan boy.
However, having played in GBV for a brief period (who hasn't played in GBV for a brief period?), Greer is close enough to Bob and his pals to give all the hilarious stories, inside jokes, relevant background, and memorable Bobspeak that all of us GBV-obsessed robot boys have been learning to hunt.

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-meant, but totally useless book. Extremely self- and Bob Pollard-indulgent. And I'm telling you this as a fervent admirer of Guided by Voices. I thought this book would help me as a latecomer to GBV, but it's kind of unreadable. One chapter has Pollard's annotations to some songs. This part was cool. Otherwise, couldn't get thru a single chapter.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's the rare rock and roll book where the discography at the back doesn't feel like filler (oh thank you, I really needed this chronological list of all the Swedish import B-sides) and is instead an invaluable resource. Though one that already needs updating. This book has all of the joy of Guided By Voices without the inconvenience of some drunk guy yakking on your shoes. Cheers!

[Chris Pinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid if occasionally a little-too-stylistically-obsessed bio of the Dayton OH band. Bob's story behind Teenage FBI is obvious bullshit, but adorable. The only minor ruining of the book is the reunion of GbV in 2010 or so that makes this book's aura of finality a bit misleading, but that is OK. Everything about GbV ends up being misleading anyhow.

[Rick Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author makes clear that there was a distinction between Pollard's music (beautiful, heartfelt) and personality (crass, macho). I guess the author can't be faulted for describing Pollard's behavior, but it gets hard to read. Like smoking in the boys room, it's cool for a couple minutes but then it gets nauseating.