A Necessary Evil, I Suppose

Guided By Voices “Buzzards and Dreadful Crows (Live in Austin 2004)” – Guided By Voices’ final appearance at Austin City Limits was just released on cd and dvd, and though the setlist is quite good and the sound quality is high, it’s a very disappointing live album. I realize that a lot of GBV’s charm comes from their ramshackle, who-cares-let’s-just-get-to-the-next-song nature, but what worked very well in person comes off rather badly when recontextualized for home listening. It would have been wiser to release a live record that compiled strong performances from multiple shows into an alternative version of a greatest hits album, but instead the Austin set alternates between quality performances and mediocre or downright awful readings of beloved classics.

The worst offender is “Cut-Out Witch,” a fan favorite that was normally a major highlight of any given show, but appears on the record as a sloppy mess that is made even worse by guest vocals by a clueless Pete Yorn. (Then again, what version of “Cut-Out Witch” could possibly top the Peel session version with the snippet of “Acorns and Orioles”? Surely that is the definitive version.) On the opposite extreme, there is a spirited take on “Buzzards and Dreadful Crows” that pumps up the song’s rock power considerably without actually changing much about it. Also, I kinda love that weird sound in Bob’s voice as he announces the title. Actually, the entire record is worth hearing just to hear him introduce the title of pretty much ever selection, usually along with a brief note relating to its place in the discography. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)

Elsewhere: My new Hit Refresh column is up on the ASAP site with mp3s from Battles, Dan Deacon, and Black Moth Super Rainbow.