Suitcase 3: Up We Go Now
Guided by Voices · 2009
214 min · 100 tracks · indie rock
A sprawling collection of lo-fi indie rock gems that merge whimsical storytelling with concise melodies in under three minutes each.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Building a Castle Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
-
→
Together Apart — This track encapsulates the band's ability to blend catchy melodies with poignant lyrics, showcasing a reflective tone that permeates much of the album.
-
→
Trash Truck — With its infectious energy and vivid imagery, this song exemplifies the playful yet serious nature of GBV's songwriting style.
-
→
Class Clown Spots a UFO — This track stands out for its narrative depth and concise structure, highlighting the band's knack for storytelling within a compact format.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short bursts of spontaneous energy
- for casual listening
- quirky charm in every track
- dynamic collection of surprises
- wave-like pacing encourages exploration
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, cohesive albums
- seek polished production quality
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A significant collection showcasing extensive songwriting, but not a primary entry point.
- Themes
- whimsical storytelling· small-town absurdity· lo-fi nostalgia
- Moods
- Chill
- Career context
- Released in 2009, 'Suitcase 3: Up We Go Now' came at a time when Guided by Voices had established themselves as icons of the lo-fi aesthetic with a prolific output. This album is part of their ongoing series of 'Suitcase' collections, showcasing unreleased songs and demos, following the band's brief hiatus after their reunion in 2004, ultimately reflecting the group's creative overflow during this period.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pavement· The Mountain Goats· Sebadoh
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Building a Castle Start here 0:32
- 2 Tired of Knocking 1:50
- 3 Together Apart 2:52
- 4 Away With Driver 4:06
- 5 Trash Truck 3:10
- 6 Dropping the Bomb 1:29
- 7 What's So Safe About You? 1:58
- 8 Troopers in the Town 3:52
- 9 Gas 1:27
- 10 Watchin' 'Em Diggin' Up the Road 1:29
- 11 Coastal Town 2:30
- 12 Escape From Kama Loka 2:47
- 13 The Annex 3:44
- 14 Green Ivory Cross 1:40
- 15 Janet Wait 2:17
- 16 Independent Productions 1:04
- 17 Thee White Flower 1:37
- 18 Juggernaut vs. Monolith 1:38
- 19 Feels Good 1:59
- 20 Candy Machine 1:48
- 21 Air & Also a World 1:46
- 22 Back to the Navy 3:20
- 23 Speak Like Men 2:44
- 24 Hi, I'm Kelsey 1:55
- 25 No Trash Allowed 1:00
Disc 2
- 1 Raphael Muzak 3:01
- 2 Tear the Ticket in Half 4:04
- 3 I'm an Acting Student 1:27
- 4 I'll Come (And When It Does It's Mine) 1:58
- 5 Psychlophobia 1:12
- 6 Take Me Back 1:43
- 7 Sonny the Monster 3:29
- 8 I Share a Rhythm 1:13
- 9 Before My Eyes 2:51
- 10 Freedom Rings 2:10
- 11 Cochise 2:00
- 12 When's the Last Time 2:12
- 13 That's Good 1:53
- 14 You Gotta Lotta Nerve 1:43
- 15 Vagabond Lover 1:29
- 16 Banners 3:19
- 17 100 Colors 1:48
- 18 Old Engine Driver 1:28
- 19 Joe 2:16
- 20 Axtual Sectivity 1:56
- 21 Call Me 1:51
- 22 Believe It 1:47
- 23 Class Clown Spots a UFO 3:20
- 24 You You You 1:45
- 25 Dibble 0:18
Disc 3
- 1 Night Ears 1:09
- 2 Amnesia 3:22
- 3 Fly Away (Tommy Sez) 1:32
- 4 Peace & Persecution 2:49
- 5 There Are Other Worlds 3:54
- 6 It's the Song 1:35
- 7 One Drop 2:52
- 8 Mainstay 2:34
- 9 Sixland 2:28
- 10 How Bridges Fall 2:56
- 11 A Kind of Love 3:06
- 12 Bad Whiskey 2:07
- 13 Naked Believer (I Am) 0:39
- 14 Out of the House 2:50
- 15 Grow 1:40
- 16 Rough Tracks 2:30
- 17 Nothing So Hard 2:24
- 18 Piss Along You Bird 2:16
- 19 300 Birds (Quota) 3:07
- 20 Fireking Says No Cheating 1:39
- 21 Poison Shop 0:34
- 22 Trader Vic 1:55
- 23 Smothered in Hugs (4 Track version) 3:24
- 24 Dibble 2 0:17
- 25 Huffman Prairie Flying Field 2:41
Disc 4
- 1 Pluto Is Polluted 1:52
- 2 Aquarian Hovercraft 2:25
- 3 Brand New Star 1:45
- 4 Sea-Mint Robots 1:41
- 5 South Rat Observatory 2:40
- 6 The Cinnamon Flavored Skull 2:21
- 7 Porpoise Mitten (Was a Real Good Kitten) 1:42
- 8 Mr. Spoon 1:55
- 9 Hey Mr. Spoundman 2:12
- 10 Oh... Pie 2:15
- 11 Kotex Moon 2:23
- 12 Bingo Pool Hall of Blood 0:50
- 13 There Goes the King Again 1:53
- 14 Evil Vandalia/Mojo Crow Zenith 3:05
- 15 Cuddling Bozo's Octopus 1:40
- 16 I Shot a Jezebel 1:35
- 17 After the Quake (Let's Bake a Cake) 1:51
- 18 P Melts Everything 1:30
- 19 My Dad Is a Motorboat 2:15
- 20 Ugly Ba Ba 1:57
- 21 Hairspray Lies 1:35
- 22 Sawhorse With Big Blue Ears 2:25
- 23 Tough Skin River 2:05
- 24 Cruise 2:04
- 25 Alright 2:45
What to play next
Let's Go Eat the Factory
2011
Continues the lo-fi indie rock vibe with catchy melodies and quirky storytelling.
Half Smiles of the Decomposed
2004
Sets a similar tone with concise tracks and whimsical elements to prepare for the next album.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
All Hail West Texas
The Mountain Goats
Features similarly whimsical narratives and a lo-fi aesthetic with concise, storytelling songs.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel
Shares an eccentric storytelling style and a raw, intimate sound that evokes nostalgia.
The Glow Pt. 2
The Microphones
Combines lo-fi production with surreal imagery and emotional depth in brief song formats.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.