Mag Earwhig! cover

Mag Earwhig!

Guided by Voices · 1997

45 min · 21 tracks · indie rock · lo-fi

A kaleidoscopic blend of lo-fi indie rock that brims with catchy melodies and playful experimentation.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • kaleidoscopic bursts of creativity
  • short tracks for quick enjoyment
  • playful experimentation with sound
  • wave-like pacing keeps interest
  • catchy melodies for sing-alongs

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer longer, cohesive albums
  • seek polished production quality

Where this album fits

Career context
By the time 'Mag Earwhig!' was released in 1997, Guided by Voices had already established themselves as influential figures in the indie rock scene. This album marked their first release on a major label, Matador Records, following the critical success of 'Alien Lanes' and signaled a shift towards more polished production while retaining their signature lo-fi aesthetic.
Stylistic neighbors
Pavement· The Mountain Goats· Sebadoh

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Can't Hear the Revolution 1:36
  • 2 Sad If I Lost It 3:10
  • 3 I Am a Tree 4:40
  • 4 The Old Grunt 1:28
  • 5 Bulldog Skin 2:59
  • 6 Are You Faster? 1:13
  • 7 I Am Produced 1:06
  • 8 Knock 'em Flyin' 1:52
  • 9 Not Behind the Fighter Jet 2:13
  • 10 Choking Tara 1:24
  • 11 Hollow Cheek 0:32
  • 12 Portable Men's Society 4:16
  • 13 Little Lines 2:02
  • 14 Learning to Hunt 2:24
  • 15 The Finest Joke Is Upon Us 3:08
  • 16 Mag Earwhig! 0:39
  • 17 Now to War 2:44
  • 18 Jane of the Waking Universe 2:25
  • 19 The Colossus Crawls West 2:13
  • 20 Mute Superstar 1:24
  • 21 Bomb in the Bee-Hive 2:03

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata