Is It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them! a good place to start with Guided by Voices?

Yes, It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them! is recommended as a starting point for new Guided by Voices listeners. A kaleidoscopic blend of lo-fi melodies and whimsical narratives, teeming with Guided by Voices' signature brevity and charm. This album marks Guided by Voices' return to the forefront of indie rock in 2021, following a period of both lineup changes and prolific output. It is their first album since 2019's 'Sweating the Plague', showcasing the band's ability to evolve while maintaining their distinctive sound. The release comes during a time when frontman Robert Pollard continues to explore varied musical landscapes.

Who is It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them! for?

It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them! works well if you're into steady mid-tempo storytelling, short bursts of creativity and kaleidoscopic melodic exploration.

How many songs are on It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them!?

It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them! has 15 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Released 5 years ago this October

It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them!

Guided by Voices · 2021

41 min · 15 tracks · indie rock

A kaleidoscopic blend of lo-fi melodies and whimsical narratives, teeming with Guided by Voices' signature brevity and charm.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Spanish Coin Start here — Opening with an infectious melody, this track sets the tone for the album's exploration of everyday themes through surreal imagery.
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High in the Rain — This song features vivid storytelling that captures fleeting moments of beauty, showcasing Pollard's lyrical prowess amidst catchy instrumentation.
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Maintenance Man of the Haunted House — With its quirky title and whimsical narrative, this track encapsulates the band’s knack for combining humor with a sense of nostalgia.
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People Need Holes — The absurdity in this track highlights Pollard’s unique approach to songwriting, blending humor and introspection within a compact structure.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

53 /100

Foothills

Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

The album showcases unique structures and playful lyrics but lacks strong cohesion across its length.

What we noticed

The album features 15 tracks, with most songs under three minutes, emphasizing brevity and quick transitions.
Several tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, such as abrupt endings or shifts in tempo.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo storytelling
short bursts of creativity
kaleidoscopic melodic exploration
quirky narratives with charm

Maybe skip if you

prefer longer, drawn-out pieces
seek immediate emotional payoff

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and creativity in their later years.
Themes: surreal everyday life· whimsical nostalgia· absurd humor
Moods: Dreamy
Career context: This album marks Guided by Voices' return to the forefront of indie rock in 2021, following a period of both lineup changes and prolific output. It is their first album since 2019's 'Sweating the Plague', showcasing the band's ability to evolve while maintaining their distinctive sound. The release comes during a time when frontman Robert Pollard continues to explore varied musical landscapes.
Stylistic neighbors: Pavement· The Mountain Goats· Sebadoh