[audiobook] School Design Together by From Routledge in Arts-Photography

Description

Marc Woodworths book covers the albums long and unorthodox period of writing; recording; sequencing; and editing. It includes interviews with members of the band; manager Pete Jamison; web-master and GBV historian Rich Turiel and Robert Griffin of Scat Records. At least sixty-five songs were recorded and considered for the album and five distinct concepts were rejected before the band hit upon the records final form. One late version; very nearly released; contained only a few of Bee Thousands definitive songs.The rest were left out and nearly ended up in the boxes of cassette out-takes cluttering up Robert Pollards basement. The story of Guided By Voices transformation from an occasional and revolving group of complete unknowns to indie-rock heroes is very much part of the story behind the making of Bee Thousand.In addition to providing a central account of how the record was made; Woodworth devotes a substantial chapter to the albums lyrics. Robert Pollards lyrics are described by critics; when theyre described at all; as a brand of tossed-off surrealism; as if his verbal sensibility is somehow incidental to the songs themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. Woodworth offers a sustained discussion of Pollards work as a writer of often sublime; beautiful; and very human lyrics. The third key section of the book covers aesthetics. Woodworth considers the great appeal of the do-it-yourself nature of Bee Thousand and reflects on the larger importance of the strain of alternative rock for which this record is a touchstone.