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Earth Man Blues

Guided By Voices

Released: 04/30/2021
Format: LP
Label: Guided By Voices Inc.
Catalog #: GBVI-103
Country: U.S.A.
Discs: 1
# Tracks: 15
Images
Front Cover
Back Cover
Record (Side One)
Record (Side Two)
Booklet Front Cover
Booklet Back Cover
Booklet Side One Lyrics
Booklet Side Two Lyrics
Earth Man Blues Merchandise
Pressing Details
Vinyl Color # Pressed
Black
Comments
Original Release Info: Is it really a musical?! The 33rd Guided By Voices album, Earth Man Blues, is a magical cinematic rock album, full of dramatic and surreal twists and turns. Lyrics and liner notes trace the growth of young Harold Admore Harold through a coming of age and a reckoning with darkness. Vivid scenes appear: snapshots of youth, fantastical nightmares, unknown worlds.

The music hasn't softened a bit. One will hear the impossibly perfect melodies and word play that you expect from Robert Pollard, with the band playing at peak-heavy. "Trust Them Now" rocks like an instant classic, "The Batman Sees The Ball" is lean, mean rock muscle. Opener "Made Man" tears and slashes at the ears and heart. Sweeping, colossal tracks like "Lights Out (In Memphis, Egypt)" and "Dirty Kid School" stretch far beyond the ordinary vocabulary of rock.

Doug Gillard's brilliant guitar playing explodes out of the speakers. The rhythm section of Kevin March and Mark Shue, always strong and reliable, has grown into a breathing composite organism. Along with Bobby Bare, Jr on rhythm guitar, they drive the songs and make one's head shake. Producer Travis Harrison ties the talents of the band together, once again recorded remotely and individually, pandemic-style. This group brings to life the sounds in Pollard's technicolor imagination.

Digital single for "The Batman Sees The Ball" released as part of the Hot Freaks Subscription on 1/12/2021.
Earth Man Blues
Side One
1.   Made Man 1:22
2.   The Disconnected Citizen 3:12
3.   The Batman Sees The Ball 3:18
4.   Dirty Kid School 2:56
5.   Trust Them Now 2:21
6.   Lights Out In Memphis (Egypt) 5:41
Side Two
1.   Free Agents 2:00
2.   Sunshine Girl Hello 2:25
3.   Wave Starter 1:34
4.   Ant Repellent 2:36
5.   Margaret Middle School 1:10
6.   I Bet Hippy 2:30
7.   Test Pilot 1:30
8.   How Can A Plumb Be Perfected? 2:59
9.   Child's Play 1:38
Total Length: 37:12
Other Formats
Label - Catalog [Format] (Country) # Tracks
Guided By Voices Inc. - GBVI-103 [CD] (U.S.A.) 15

Album Credits
Artwork/Design
Role Name
Art Department Joe Patterson
Art Department Robert Pollard
Art Department Vince Williams
Art Management Sarah Zade-Pollard
Artwork Robert Pollard
Layout Joe Patterson
Layout Robert Pollard
Musician
Role Name
Band Member Bobby Bare Jr.
Band Member Doug Gillard
Band Member Kevin March
Band Member Mark Shue
Band Member Robert Pollard
Production
Role Name
Mastering Jamal Ruhe
Mixing Travis Harrison
Producer Travis Harrison
Vinyl Mastering Jeff Powell
Studio
Role Name
Mastering Location West West Side Music - New Windsor, NY
Vinyl Mastering Location Sam Phillips Recording Services - Memphis, TN
Publishing
Role Name
Copyright 2021
Publisher Needmore Songs
Songwriter Robert Pollard
Management/Business
Role Name
Business Management Eric Weiss
Legal Richard Grabel
Management David Newgarden
Other
Role Name
Additional Album Text A Factory Of Raw Essentials Product
Additional Album Text www.guidedbyvoices.com
Additional Album Text www.robertpollardart.com
Additional Album Text www.rockathonrecords.com
Rockathon Records Matt Davis
Rockathon Records Mike Lipps