How Do You Spell Heaven
Guided by Voices · 2017
37 min · 15 tracks · indie rock
A tapestry of lo-fi melodies and quirky narratives woven together with a playful yet introspective charm.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Birthday Democrats Start here — Opening with a punchy riff and witty lyrics, this track sets the tone for the album's blend of humor and introspection, embodying the band's characteristic style.
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Pearly Gates Smoke Machine — This track features haunting melodies paired with surreal imagery, reflecting the album's exploration of life and mortality through a whimsical lens.
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How to Murder a Man (In 3 Acts) — With its narrative structure and dark humor, this song exemplifies Pollard's storytelling prowess, showcasing how he combines absurdity with poignant themes.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- whimsical lyrics with playful spirit
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- front-loaded energy burst
- kaleidoscopic melodies for exploration
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, immersive experiences
- want serious, heavy themes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued creativity and solidifies the band's standing in indie rock.
- Themes
- whimsical mortality· quirky narratives· surreal imagery
- Moods
- Uplifting
- Career context
- How Do You Spell Heaven is Guided by Voices' 25th studio album, released in 2017, during a period of prolific output that followed their 2016 album, Please Be Honest. The band, led by Robert Pollard, was experiencing a resurgence in creativity after reuniting with key members and had established a pattern of releasing multiple albums each year. This release continued to showcase their signature blend of concise songs and experimental aesthetics.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pavement· The Mountain Goats· Sebadoh
Tracklist
- 1 The Birthday Democrats Start here 2:29
- 2 King 007 2:51
- 3 Boy W 2:33
- 4 Steppenwolf Mausoleum 3:21
- 5 Cretinous Number Ones 1:45
- 6 They Fall Silent 0:54
- 7 Diver Dan 2:03
- 8 How to Murder a Man (In 3 Acts) 2:43
- 9 Pearly Gates Smoke Machine 4:01
- 10 Tenth Century 2:37
- 11 How Do You Spell Heaven 1:52
- 12 Paper Cutz 2:36
- 13 Low Flying Perfection 2:36
- 14 Nothing Gets You Real 2:23
- 15 Just to Show You 2:17
What to play next
Space Gun
2018
Continues the playful charm with fresh sonic ideas and engaging narratives.
Please Be Honest
2016
Sets the stage with similar introspective themes and lo-fi aesthetics.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Goths
The Mountain Goats
Explores whimsical narratives and introspective themes with a lo-fi, melodic approach.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel
Shares surreal imagery and playful yet poignant storytelling within a lo-fi sonic landscape.
Flood
They Might Be Giants
Combines quirky narratives and offbeat charm with DIY production and catchy melodies.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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