Under the Bushes Under the Stars


Under the Bushes Under the Stars is the ninth Guided by Voices album overall, and the last until 2012's Let's Go Eat the Factory to feature the "classic" lineup including Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, and Kevin Fennell in addition to leader Robert Pollard.

Writing and recording

According to Robert Pollard, the album had a loose concept around such themes as "good versus evil" and materialism.
Under the Bushes Under the Stars saw Guided by Voices recording in 24 track studios rather than their customary 4 track. However, Pollard was adamant on the album retaining their trademark sound, which entailed "lo-fi techniques" such as singing through guitar amplifiers. Sessions for the album were reportedly arduous, spread as they were across at least four studios and as many sets of producers, and many titles and configurations were vetted before a final sequence was reached.
The final six tracks on the CD do not appear on the album's back cover. These tracks, which were included as a separate 12" EP in the vinyl edition, were not originally included in the completed album sequence, having been dropped from earlier proposed versions of the album, but were included at the request of Matador label executives who regretted their exclusion.

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Pollard unless otherwise noted.

Side A

  1. "Man Called Aerodynamics" – 2:01
  2. "Rhine Jive Click" – 1:34
  3. "Cut-Out Witch" – 3:04
  4. "Burning Flag Birthday Suit" – 2:22
  5. "The Official Ironmen Rally Song" – 2:48
  6. "To Remake the Young Flyer" – 1:43
  7. "No Sky" – 2:03
  8. "Bright Paper Werewolves" – 1:14
  9. "Lord of Overstock" – 2:34

Side B

  2. "Your Name Is Wild" – 2:01
  3. "Ghosts of a Different Dream" – 2:30
  4. "Acorns & Orioles" – 2:12
  5. "Look at Them" – 2:27
  6. "The Perfect Life" – 0:59
  7. "Underwater Explosions" – 2:02
  8. "Atom Eyes" – 1:42
  9. "Don't Stop Now" – 2:39
  10. "Office of Hearts" – 2:06

Side C

  2. "Big Boring Wedding" – 3:43
  3. "It's Like Soul Man" – 2:09
  4. "Drag Days" – 2:50

Side D

  2. "Sheetkickers" – 3:17
  3. "Redmen and Their Wives" – 3:55
  4. "Take to the Sky" – 1:50

1998 bonus tracks

  2. "Finks" – 2:28
  3. "The Finest Joke Is Upon Us" – 3:09

Personnel

Guided by Voices

Additional musicians

  • Tripp Lamkins – guitar
  • John Shough – piano
  • Shelby Bryant – strings

Technical