Todd Tobias

Last updated
Todd Tobias
Born1967 (age 5556)
Origin Akron, Ohio, United States
Occupation(s) Record producer, musician
Instrument(s)drums, bass guitar, 6-string guitar, keys, samples
Years active2001–present
Labels Hidden Shoal Recordings, Tiny Room Records
Website Todd Tobias website

Todd Tobias (born 1967) is an American multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Robert Pollard and his band Guided by Voices. Other projects include Circus Devils, Kramies, The Library Is On Fire, and musical theater composer and lyricist George Griggs.

Contents

Tobias began producing albums in 2002, first working with indie rock pioneers Guided By Voices on their album Universal Truths And Cycles. [1] One year earlier in 2001, Tobias joined Guided By Voices front man Robert Pollard and brother Tim Tobias in the psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils.

In 2012, Tobias began recording solo albums of instrumental, atmospheric mood music ranging in style from ambient to post-rock. Todd's debut album Medicine Show, released on Hidden Shoal Recordings. [2] has been described as "a multi-faceted instrumental opus, evoking a shadowy steampunk dystopia." [2]

In 2013, Tobias released I RAZOR, a soundtrack album for the experimental film of the same name, [2] followed by Impossible Cities in 2014 and Tristes Tropiques in 2015. [2] Todd's EP Moorea was featured in John Diliberto's NPR program Echoes' top 25 in September, 2015. [3]

In 2018, Tobias joined with English vocalist and songwriter Chloe March on the ambient album Amialluma, on which vocalist March invented a language to accompany Tobias' music. [4] Also in 2018, the self-titled debut from the psychedelic rock duo Moonchy & Tobias was released, featuring music composed by Tobias and vocals/lyrics by Italian vocalist Pat Moonchy. [5] Other collaborations include The World Of Dust with Dutch musician Stefan Breuer, and Brother Earth with Steve Five.

In 2019, Tobias authored the book Circus Devils: See You Inside , [6] offering a personal glimpse into the band's music.

Discography

Albums and EPs

Bibliography

Discography for Todd Tobias as producer/ performer/ writer

2001:
Circus Devils: Ringworm Interiors

2002:
Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles
Circus Devils: The harold pig memorial
Guided by Voices: The Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet

2003:
Guided by Voices: Earthquake Glue

2004:
Guided by Voices: Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Robert Pollard: Fiction Man
Clouds Forming Crowns: All the Pharmacies
Circus Devils: Pinball Mars

2005:
The Celebrity Pilots: Beneath the Pavement, a Beach!
Clouds Forming Crowns: self-titled
Circus Devils: FIVE
The Moping Swans: Lightning Head to Coffee Pot

2006:
Robert Pollard: From a Compound Eye
Robert Pollard: Normal Happiness
Brian Lisik: Happiness is Boring
Clouds Forming Crowns: Race to the Blackout
Psycho and the Birds: All that is Holy
Psycho and the Birds: Check your Zoo EP

2007:
Circus Devils: Sgt. Disco
Robert Pollard: Standard Gargoyle Decisions
Robert Pollard: Coast to Coast Carpet of Love
Robert Pollard: Silverfish Trivia
Psycho and the Birds: We've Moved
The Celebrity Pilots: Spooky Action
The Library is on Fire: Cassette
George Griggs: Transmitter Man [8]
Coffinberry: God Dam Dogs
Humphry Clinker: What’s the Story With the Knife?
The Sorrys: The Last Clear Thought Before You Fall Backwards

2008:
Robert Pollard: Robert Pollard Is Off to Business
Circus Devils: ATAXIA
Slark Martyr: Cave in the A-Frame
Kramies: Golden Like a New Thing
The Softrocks: Summer Apocalypse
The Frozen Hellsicles: Oh No Wait a Minute...
Humphry Clinker: Among Cutting Threads EP
Slark Martyr: Imagination and a Pile of Dirt

2009:
Robert Pollard: The Crawling Distance
Robert Pollard: Elephant Jokes
Circus Devils: Gringo
The Sleeptalkers: Back to Earth
Kramies: Castle of Ghosts
The No Real Need: Thistles Where We Slept
Ceiling Star: New Advances in the Field of Obsolescence

2010:
Robert Pollard: Moses on a Snail
Robert Pollard: We All Got Out of the Army
Circus Devils: Mother Skinny
The Celebrity Pilots: Hawks of the Lesser Antilles
The Library is on Fire: Magic Bumrush Heartz
Brother Earth: Pajama Party
Clouds Forming Crowns: Ouija Board Taxman
Hospital garden: Hospital garden

2011:
Robert Pollard: Lord of the Birdcage
Robert Pollard: Space City Kicks
Circus Devils: Capsized!
Clouds Forming Crowns: Allowing Thunderhead
The Library is on Fire: Works On Paper
The Flower Machine: Lavender Lane

2012:
Robert Pollard: Jack Sells The Cow
Robert Pollard: Mouseman Cloud
Guided by Voices: The Bears for Lunch
Guided by Voices: Class Clown Spots a UFO
Kramies:The European
The No Real Need: Nonlocal Motives
Brother Earth: Brother Earth III
Scarcity Of Tanks: Ohio Captives
Johnny Render: Rendervoux

2013:
Robert Pollard: Blazing Gentlemen
Robert Pollard: Honey Locust Honky Tonk
Kramies: The Wooden Heart
Circus Devils: When Machines Attack
Circus Devils: My Mind Has Seen the White Trick
King Pedestrian: King Pedestrian

2014:
Circus Devils: "Escape"
Brother Earth: "Positive Haywires"

2015:
Robert Pollard: Faulty Superheroes
Circus Devils: Stomping Grounds
The World Of Dust: Womb Realm
The Flower Machine: Tangerines and Opium Trees

2017:
Circus Devils: Laughs Last

2018:
Moonchy & Tobias: self-titled

2019:
The World Of Dust: Samsara
Moonchy & Tobias: Atmosfere

2020:
Moonchy & Tobias: III

2021:
The World Of Dust: True Sound
Moonchy & Tobias: Venus Mirror

2022:
Moonchy & Tobias: Golem

2023:
Moonchy & Tobias: Wild Eye

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Standard Gargoyle Decisions is singer-songwriter Robert Pollard's seventh release since the break-up of indie-rock band Guided by Voices. It was released October 9, 2007 alongside a second LP, Coast to Coast Carpet of Love. Pollard has described Coast to Coast Carpet of Love as exhibiting pop-sounding overtones, whereas Standard Gargoyle Decisions will feature more 'down and dirty' rock-and-roll. The album leaked on the Merge Records website on September 24, 2007.

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My Mind Has Seen The White Trick is the eleventh studio album from the Ohio psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils. The album marks the first time the band reversed its songwriting process by first recording Robert Pollard's unaccompanied, a capella vocals before the music was written. On every other Circus Devils albums, band members Todd Tobias and Tim Tobias recorded the music first. Also for the first time, the band utilizes jazz-influenced rhythms on certain tracks. All songs were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias and Tim Tobias.

<i>Escape</i> (Circus Devils album) 2014 studio album by Circus Devils

Escape is the 12th studio album from the American psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils. The album's relaxed atmosphere sets it apart from the band's other works. All songs were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias and Tim Tobias.

<i>Stomping Grounds</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Circus Devils

Stomping Grounds is the 13th studio album from the American psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils. The album is divided into two halves, with side one of the vinyl record having a more aggressive, classic rock sound, in contrast with side two, which is more relaxed and pensive. All songs were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias and Tim Tobias.

References

  1. "GBVDB - Guided By Voices Database". Gbvdb.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Todd Tobias Artist Profile". Hiddenshoal.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. "Echoes Top 25 for September 2015". Echoes.org. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. "Chloë March Artist profile". Hiddenshoal.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. "Moonchy & Tobias". Tinyrtoom.nl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. tinyroom.nl
  7. "Circus Devils: See You Inside". Tinyroom.nl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. "Untitled Page". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2007-10-14.