Todd Tobias

Last updated
Todd Tobias
Born1967 (age 5657)
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:
Circus Devils: Squeeze the Needle
Moonchy & Tobias: Wild Eye

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guided by Voices</span> American indie rock band

Guided by Voices (GBV) is an American indie rock band formed in 1983 in Dayton, Ohio. It has made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. The most well-known lineup of the band consisted of Pollard, his brother Jim, Mitch Mitchell, Tobin Sprout, Kevin Fennell (drums), and bassist Greg Demos. Noted at first for its lo-fi aesthetic and Portastudio four-tracks-to-cassette production methods, Guided by Voices' music was influenced by early post–British Invasion garage rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, punk rock and post-punk. The band has had a prolific output, releasing 35+ full-length albums along with many other releases, and has garnered a dedicated cult following. Their songs are known for their frequent brevity and for ending abruptly or intertwining with homemade sound effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Pollard</span> American singer and songwriter

Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. is an American singer and songwriter. He is the leader of indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to this, he has also released 22 solo albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobin Sprout</span> American artist and musician (born 1955)

Tobin Sprout is an American visual artist, musician, songwriter, and children's author. He is best known as a former member of the indie rock band Guided by Voices. He served as a secondary major songwriter and guitarist of the group from 1987 to 1997 and again from 2010 to 2014.

<i>Bee Thousand</i> 1994 studio album by Guided by Voices

Bee Thousand is the seventh album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on June 21, 1994, on Scat Records. After its release the band became one of the more prominent groups associated with the "lo-fi" genre, a movement defined by the relatively low fidelity of audio releases. Musically, the album draws inspiration from British Invasion-era rock music and punk rock. Following the release of Bee Thousand, the band began to attract interest from other record labels, eventually signing with Matador for their next album.

<i>Earthquake Glue</i> 2003 studio album by Guided by Voices

Earthquake Glue is the 14th record by Dayton, Ohio rock group Guided by Voices. Working titles for the album included "Model Prisoners of the 5 Sense Realm", "Live Like Kings Forever", and "All Sinners Welcome". The first 25,000 copies were packaged in a numbered limited-edition digipak. Some copies of Earthquake Glue contained a golden ticket; people with a golden ticket were entitled to a free copy of the anthology box set Hardcore UFOs: Revelations, Epiphanies and Fast Food in the Western Hemisphere.

<i>Universal Truths and Cycles</i> 2002 studio album by Guided by Voices

Universal Truths and Cycles is the 13th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. After releasing their previous two albums on TVT Records, Guided by Voices returned to Matador Records.

<i>Normal Happiness</i> 2006 studio album by Robert Pollard

Normal Happiness is the sixth album by Robert Pollard. Like its predecessor, it was recorded with Pollard on basic guitar and vocal tracks, with instrumental overdubs from producer Todd Tobias. Normal Happiness debuted at No. 46 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circus Devils</span> American rock band

Circus Devils is an American psychedelic rock band founded in 2001 by Robert Pollard, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the Dayton, Ohio, band Guided by Voices. The band consists of Pollard, Todd Tobias, and Tim Tobias (music).

<i>Standard Gargoyle Decisions</i> 2007 studio album by Robert Pollard

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.

<i>Superman Was a Rocker</i> 2008 studio album by Robert Pollard

Superman Was A Rocker is the ninth studio album from singer-songwriter Robert Pollard. It was released on January 29, 2008. Superman Was a Rocker marks the first LP released by Pollard's Happy Jack Rock Records label. It differs from Pollard's past solo albums in that it is very lo-fi in comparison to his more polished releases.

<i>Pinball Mars</i> 2003 album by Circus Devils

Pinball Mars is the third studio album from Ohio alternative rock band Circus Devils. The album, written as a mini-rock opera, was released in 2004. All songs were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias and Tim Tobias.

<i>Ringworm Interiors</i> 2001 album by Circus Devils

Ringworm Interiors is the debut album from the Ohio psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils. Released in 2001, the album is a collage of brash musical vignettes with moods ranging from aggressive and disorienting to haunting and dreamy.

<i>Ataxia</i> (album) 2008 album by Circus Devils

Ataxia is the sixth studio album released by the American alternative/psychedelic rock band Circus Devils on October 31, 2008. All songs on Ataxia were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias, and Tim Tobias.

<i>Five</i> (Circus Devils album) 2005 album by Circus Devils

Five is the fourth studio album by the experimental/psychedelic rock band Circus Devils. Released in 2005, Five is considered among the band's least accessible albums due to the fragmented moods and styles and the experimental nature of the music. All songs on Five were written and performed by Robert Pollard and Todd Tobias.

<i>Gringo</i> (album) 2009 album by Circus Devils

Gringo is the seventh studio album released by the American psychedelic rock band Circus Devils in 2009. All songs on Gringo were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias, and Tim Tobias. The first all-acoustic album released by Circus Devils, Gringo is a song cycle in which each track recounts a moment in the life of a nameless drifter known only as "the Gringo." The moods on the album range widely between jubilant to melancholy to mean.

<i>Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007</i> 2007 compilation album by Robert Pollard

Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007 is a collection of songs from releases in the Fading Captain series of Dayton, Ohio rock singer-songwriter Robert Pollard. Pollard launched his Fading Captain series of record releases in 1999, eventually releasing 44 works before ending the series in 2007. The compilation Crickets was the 44th and final release in the series. The series included albums, singles, and EPs, and featured collaborations with musicians including Tobin Sprout, Mac McCaughan, Doug Gillard, and Tommy Keene.

<i>Mother Skinny</i> 2010 album by Circus Devils

Mother Skinny is the eighth studio album released by the American psychedelic rock band Circus Devils in March, 2010. All songs on Mother Skinny were written and performed by Robert Pollard, Todd Tobias, and Tim Tobias. The album is a return to the aggressive rock sound of the band's earlier albums, following the mostly acoustic 2009 album Gringo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kramies</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1974)

Kramies is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his work with producers Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, Jerry Becker of Train, and Todd Tobias of Guided by Voices. He has also performed with artists such as Spiritualized, Yo La Tengo, Calexico, and Tyler Ramsey formally of Band of Horses. Kramies has been awarded multiple Songs of the Year as well as EP of the year. His current two 2021 singles "Days Of" & “Ohio I’ll Be Fine” entered the US & Canadian collage charts as a Top 10. On September 9, 2022, Kramies released his first self-titled full-length LP, which gained him five Top Albums of the 2022 and two Songs of the Year. After extensive touring overseas and recording Kramies is currently working on a new EP and several soundtracks for 2023-2024

<i>Lord of the Birdcage</i> 2011 studio album by Robert Pollard

Lord of the Birdcage is the 16th full-length solo studio album from singer-songwriter Robert Pollard, released on June 7, 2011.

<i>When Machines Attack</i> 2013 album by Circus Devils

When Machines Attack is the tenth studio album from the American psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils. The album, which has an abrasive, aggressive sound, was released in 2013, in conjunction with the album My Mind Has Seen the White Trick, which in contrast to When Machines Attack, has a gentler music style. 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.