Crying Your Knife Away
63 min · 25 tracks · indie rock
A kaleidoscopic blend of lo-fi rock with playful melodies and cryptic lyrics that invite deep listening.
Top tracks — play these first
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Postal Blowfish Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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I Am a Scientist — This track encapsulates the band's ethos with its mix of introspective lyrics and catchy melodies, making it an enduring favorite among fans.
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Motor Away — With its driving rhythm and evocative imagery, this song highlights the band's ability to blend energetic instrumentation with poignant storytelling.
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Tractor Rape Chain — This track exemplifies the experimental edge of the album, featuring shifting tempos and abstract lyrics that challenge conventional narrative forms.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- fragmented bursts of energy
- quirky narratives for curious minds
- playful experimentation with brevity
- short tracks for quick listens
Maybe skip if you
- prefer long, cohesive albums
- want polished production quality
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A solid entry in the catalog that may not be widely recognized but offers value.
- Themes
- lo-fi experimentation· small-town introspection· abstract storytelling
- Career context
- Released in 1995, Crying Your Knife Away was Guided by Voices' fifth studio album during a prolific phase of their career. This record followed the critically acclaimed Bee Thousand, which had solidified their status as pioneers of the lo-fi movement and established a cult following.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pavement· The Mountain Goats· Sebadoh
Tracklist
- 1 Postal Blowfish Start here 4:21
- 2 Closer You Are 2:14
- 3 My Valuable Hunting Knife 1:58
- 4 Gold Star for Robot Boy 1:54
- 5 Lethargy 2:01
- 6 Striped White Jets 2:14
- 7 Non-Absorbing 2:04
- 8 The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory 2:28
- 9 Shocker in Gloomtown 1:31
- 10 Motor Away 2:30
- 11 Awful Bliss 1:38
- 12 Tractor Rape Chain 4:33
- 13 Blimps Go 90 2:06
- 14 Exit Flagger 3:09
- 15 I Am a Scientist 2:33
- 16 Quality of Armor 2:35
- 17 Cruise 3:02
- 18 Unleashed! The Large Hearted Boy 1:54
- 19 Some Drilling Implied 2:18
- 20 If We Wait 5:44
- 21 Weed King 2:51
- 22 Pimple Zoo 1:17
- 23 Break Even 4:03
- 24 Ester's Day 1:57
- 25 Go Home (dialogue) 0:11
What to play next
Earth Man Blues
2021
Continues the introspective themes with a varied sonic landscape.
It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them!
2021
Sets the stage with a similar experimental vibe and lyrical depth.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Sunset Tree
The Mountain Goats
Shares a lo-fi aesthetic with introspective storytelling and emotional depth.
Keep It Like a Secret
Built to Spill
Similar blend of playful melodies and abstract lyrics within a lo-fi rock framework.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel
Combines cryptic lyrics and a whimsical soundscape, echoing small-town themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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