Zeppelin Over China

Last updated
Zeppelin Over China
Zeppelin Over China.jpg
Studio album by
Guided by Voices
ReleasedFebruary 1, 2019
Studio
  • Magic Door, Montclair, NJ
  • Serious Business Music, Brooklyn, NY
  • Stillwater Lodge, Dayton, OH
Genre
Length74:23
Label Rockathon Records
Producer Travis Harrison
Guided by Voices chronology
Space Gun
(2018)		Zeppelin Over China
(2019)		 Warp and Woof
(2019)

Zeppelin over China is the 27th studio album by American indie rock group Guided by Voices. It was released on February 1, 2019 on the Rockathon Records label and was recorded at Magic Door in New Jersey, Serious Business Records in New York and Stillwater Lodge in Dayton, Ohio. The double album [3] received mixed to favorable reviews from critics scoring 65 out 100 on aggregate website Metacritic and four out five stars on AllMusic, with several critics commenting on the positive output of the band's current lineup.

Contents

Composition

A double album, though not the band's first, Zeppelin over China sees Guided by Voices covering genres that include indie rock and progressive rock while still maintaining the familiar melodic influences over the course of 32 songs. Commenting on these and other genres touched on by the band during the course of the album, Alex Wisgard of The Line of Best Fit said, "The opening stretch alone offers babbling, sinewy post-punk, dreamy jangle pop and an ominous dirge in quick succession, while other stretches yield delicate filigrees of chamber pop, lysergic behemoths and heavy slabs of concrete rock." [4]

All songs were written by front man Robert Pollard and, typically, few exceed the three minute mark. Several tracks feature string and horn arrangements composed by guitarist Doug Gillard who AllMusic described as "a guitar player with the chops and good taste to make the most of the melodies." The album was mixed, mastered and produced by GbV collaborator Travis Harrison. [2]

Release

Zeppelin over China was released on February 1, 2019, 25 years after the release of one of the band's most critically acclaimed albums, Bee Thousand and 11 months after the release of their previous album, Space Gun . Pollard stated in an interview with Gothamist 's Ben Yakas that some leftover songs from the Space Gun sessions were used on this album. In the build-up to the album's release and as part of a marketing strategy for the band's next album titled Warp and Woof the band released four vinyl-only limited edition 7-inch EPs. These were titled Winecork Stonehenge, 100 Dougs, Umlaut over the Özone and 1901 Acid Rock and combined make up the material for Warp and Woof. [3] [5]

Artwork and title

The album artwork is a collage designed by Pollard with additional credit given to Joe Patterson and Vince Williams that shows a card inside a mirror frame. A young girl is depicted on the card with a yellow light being emitted from her extended hand. [2] The title of the album comes from a song written by Pollard in the late 70's titled "Zeppelin over China (And Everybody Thinks It's a Raincloud)". Originally written for a local new wave/punk/garage band called Dash Rip Rock and the Hairspray Boys, he would go on to record the song, later titled "Theolonius Has Eaten All the Paper" with his other band, Circus Devils. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 65/100 [6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Line of Best Fit Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Spill Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Album of the Year73/100 [9]
Spectrum CultureStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Discussing the album and its "classic" lineup of musicians in his review for AllMusic, Mark Deming said the band were on a hot streak and had released some of their strongest material to date. He praised Pollard's slowed pace of album release saying a single annual release with better material was preferable to the more frequent releases the band previously made. The band released three albums in 2012, for example. Deming concluded his review saying "Guided by Voices have been enjoying an unexpected but very welcome late-career renaissance, and anyone who has ever had a taste for their singular take on rocking pop owes it to themselves to check out Zeppelin Over China". [2]

Also focusing on the band's current lineup in an equally glowing review, Kirsten Innes of The Spill Magazine gave the album a perfect ten out of ten and stated "They tour regularly, don't appear to hate one another, and (aided by engineer Travis Harrison) consistently release new material to well-deserved acclaim". Concerning the album's content Innes wrote "It would be easy to get lost in the wide range of styles, but the measured sequencing ensures that the whole thing sounds smooth rather than sprawling". "Pollard's vocal performance is particularly impressive throughout", she continued "perfectly demonstrating his ability to move from tender melancholy to dreamy faux-English prog" She both lauded and criticized the album's extensive length saying "though initially overwhelming to digest, the album becomes an absolute treasure trove once you’ve strapped yourself in for a couple of listens". [7]

Post-Trash's David Haynes favorably compared the album to GbV's early releases from the 1990s in a positive review stating "The spectacular new double album is a collection of soaring choruses and big riffs that sounds just as fresh and inventive as the band’s celebrated 90s catalog". [11]

In a less favorable review for The Skinny , Paul Sinclair gave the album three out of five stars saying "Zeppelin over China would be a great starting point for any newcomers to the group, however there is nothing necessarily new offered here in the way of direction or sound. The album adds a suitable chapter to the story of Robert Pollard, who recently celebrated releasing a mind-blowing 100 albums over the course of his career in various projects". [8]

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Pollard.

No.TitleLength
1."Good Morning Sir"1:09
2."Step of the Wave"2:59
3."Carapace"3:03
4."Send in the Suicide Squad"2:06
5."Blurring the Contacts"1:57
6."Your Lights Are Out"3:25
7."Windshield Wiper Rex"1:28
8."Holy Rhythm"2:38
9."Jack Tell"3:19
10."Bellicose Starling"2:15
11."Wrong Turn On"1:49
12."Charmless Peters"3:20
13."The Rally Boys"1:43
14."Think. Be a Man."2:31
15."Jam Warsong"2:30
16."You Own the Night"3:24
17."Everything's Thrilling"2:12
18."Nice About You"1:57
19."Einstein's Angel"2:36
20."The Hearing Department"3:18
21."Question of the Test"2:59
22."No Point"2:05
23."Lurk of the Worm"3:01
24."Zeppelin Over China"0:39
25."Where Have You Been All My Life"1:48
26."Cold Cold Hands"1:56
27."Transpiring Anathema"2:02
28."We Can Make Music"1:42
29."Cobbler Ditches"1:48
30."Enough Is Never at the End"1:13
31."My Future in Barcelona"3:48
32."Vertiginous Rafts"1:43
Total length:74:23

Personnel

Guided by Voices

Technical personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Led Zeppelin II</i> 1969 studio album by Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin II is the second studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 22 October 1969 in the United States and on 31 October 1969 in the United Kingdom by Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at several locations in both the United Kingdom and North America from January to August 1969. The album's production was credited to the band's lead guitarist and songwriter Jimmy Page, and it was also Led Zeppelin's first album on which Eddie Kramer served as engineer.

<i>Led Zeppelin III</i> 1970 studio album by Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 5 October 1970. It was recorded in three locations. Much of the work was done at Headley Grange, a country house, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. Additional sessions were held at Island Studios and Olympic Studios in London. As with the prior album, the band eschewed the use of guest musicians, with all music performed by band members Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitars), John Paul Jones, and John Bonham (drums). The range of instruments played by the band was greatly enhanced on this album, with Jones especially emerging as a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing a wide range of keyboard and stringed instruments, including various synthesizers, mandolin and double bass, in addition to his usual bass guitar. As with prior albums, Page served as producer on the album, with mixing done by Andy Johns and Terry Manning.

<i>Led Zeppelin IV</i> 1971 studio album by Led Zeppelin

The untitled fourth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV, was released on 8 November 1971 by Atlantic Records. It was produced by guitarist Jimmy Page and recorded between December 1970 and February 1971, mostly in the country house Headley Grange.

<i>Presence</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Led Zeppelin

Presence is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released by their own label Swan Song Records on 31 March 1976. While the record was commercially successful, reaching the top of both the British and American album charts, and achieving a triple-platinum certification in the United States by the RIAA, it received mixed reviews from critics and is the lowest-selling album by the band.

<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 who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to his work with Guided by Voices, he continues to have a prolific solo career with 22 solo albums released so far.

<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>Alien Lanes</i> 1995 studio album by Guided by Voices

Alien Lanes is the eighth full-length album by American lo-fi band Guided by Voices, released on April 4, 1995.

<i>Isolation Drills</i> 2001 studio album by Guided by Voices

Isolation Drills is the 12th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. It was their second and final LP released under TVT Records and their second to feature a major rock producer in Rob Schnapf. The album was also their first to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 168. The album notably features instrumental contributions from Elliott Smith and David Sulzer. Previous longtime band member Tobin Sprout also returned as a guest and contributed with playing piano. While Jim MacPherson plays drums on the album, his replacement Jon McCann is featured in the cover photos, as MacPherson had left the band immediately after the recording to focus on his home life.

Doug Gillard American musician (born 1965)

Douglas Scott Gillard is an American guitarist and songwriter. He has been a member of major indie pop and punk bands, most notably Guided by Voices, Nada Surf, Bambi Kino, Death of Samantha, and Cobra Verde.

<i>August by Cake</i> 2017 studio album by Guided by Voices

August by Cake is the 24th album by the Dayton, Ohio-based group Guided by Voices. It is also said to be the 100th album recorded by main member Robert Pollard, though different numbers have been counted in his entire discography and side projects. It was released on April 7, 2017. August by Cake is a double album.

<i>Space Gun</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Guided by Voices

Space Gun is the 26th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. It was released on March 23, 2018 under Guided by Voices, Inc.

<i>Warp and Woof</i> 2019 studio album by Guided by Voices

Warp and Woof is the 28th album released by Guided by Voices, released on April 26, 2019.

<i>Sweating the Plague</i> 2019 studio album by Guided by Voices

Sweating the Plague is the 29th album released by Guided by Voices, released on October 25, 2019.

<i>Surrender Your Poppy Field</i> 2020 studio album by Guided by Voices

Surrender Your Poppy Field is the 30th studio album by American rock band Guided by Voices.

<i>Earth Man Blues</i> 2021 studio album by Guided by Voices

Earth Man Blues is the 33rd studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released by Guided by Voices, Inc. on April 30, 2021. The album is made up of unreleased songs that frontman Robert Pollard reworked to form a loose concept album about his childhood and has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Crystal Nuns Cathedral</i> 2022 studio album by Guided by Voices

Crystal Nuns Cathedral is the 35th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on March 4, 2022. It has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Styles We Paid For</i> 2020 studio album by Guided by Voices

Styles We Paid For is the 32nd studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on December 11, 2020. The album was initially intended to be recorded only with analogue technology and was entitled Before Computers, but the band had to scrap that idea due to the COVID-19 pandemic and instead assembled the recordings by sharing digital files from their respective homes. The album was preceded by the single "Mr. Child" in October and has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Its Not Them. It Couldnt Be Them. It Is Them!</i> 2021 studio album by Guided by Voices

It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them! is the 34th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on October 22, 2021. It has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Tremblers and Goggles by Rank</i> 2022 studio album by Guided by Voices

Tremblers and Goggles by Rank is the 36th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on July 1, 2022. It has received positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. ↑ "Zeppelin over China". Echos & Dust. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zeppelin over China". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Guided By Voices announce new album, Zeppelin Over China, share "My Future in Barcelona": Stream". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. 1 2 Wisgard, Alex. "Guided By Voices continue to reject nostalgia on Zeppelin Over China". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Exclusive Album Premiere: Robert Pollard Talks Guided By Voices' Massive New Album 'Zeppelin Over China'". Gothamist . Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Zeppelin over China". Metacritic . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 Innes, Kirsten. "SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – ZEPPELIN OVER CHINA". The Spill Magazine . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  8. 1 2 Sinclair, Paul. "Robert Pollard and the gang return with a mammoth 32-song release". The Skinny . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Zeppelin Over China". Album of the Year. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "Guided by Voices: Zeppelin Over China". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "Guided By Voices – "Zeppelin Over China"". Post-Trash. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "Zeppelin over China credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.