Thurston Moore, Flaming Lips, Kelly Deal on New Guided by Voices Tribute Record

It’s been nearly three decades since these lo-fi indie-rock renegades Guided by Voices began laying down some of the greatest guitar-driven pop anthems ever recorded. And when a band is as prolific as Guided By Voices, another tribute album just makes sense, after all, these Northridge, Ohio heroes are the progenitors of the two-minute American anthem and a surging reservoir of meaningful, miniature pop masterpieces.

Previous tributes have attempted to sing the praises of Guided By Voices, but few have come as close to the remarkably listenable “Sing For Your Meat,” the most recent, and certainly most authentic of the GBV tributes. Meticulously curated by Misty Dawn Briggs and released on her “anti-label” No More Fake Labels, Sing For Your Meat is a rousing celebration by artists GBV have impacted.

Kelly Deal and Buffalo Killers, Chapel Hill, NC indie-veterans Western Civ, Elf Power and Superdrag are able to passionatly conjure the anthemic brilliance with their refashonings of “Scalding Creek,” “My Valuable Hunting Knife,” (and a roisterious celebration of “Goldheart Mountain Top Queen Directory”) “A Man Called Aerodynamics,” and “A Salty Salute,” respectively.

In true Guided By Voices spirit, Crooked Fingers deliver an ethereal take on “Tractor Rape Chain,” but it’s Lou Barlow’s (Dinosaur Jr. / Sebadoh) reverent retelling of the quintessential “Game Of Pricks” that is arguably one of the most triumphant moments on “Sing For Your Meat”.

The Flaming Lips render a flawless retelling of the hushed “Smothered In Hugs.” The Clean’s David Kilgour puts together a psychedelicesque take on “How Loft Am I,” while relative newcomers Cymbals Eat Guitars deliver a nectar-drenched retelling of the Tobin Sprout classic, “Gleemer (The Deeds Of Fertile Jim).”

Jason Isbell’s (Drive By Truckers) melancholic strumming gives the skintight abrasiveness of “Everywhere With Helicopter” a markedly folksier feel and Blitzen Trapper reemphasize the T-Rex-esque “Hot Freaks,” with a dirt-road, harmonica driven revival.

Tribute records are always a gamble, but the cohesiveness on “Sing For Your Meat” gives credence to Robert Pollard (and the fluctuating roster that has been Guided By Voices) as ferociously prolific, and with an influence that will far exceed his epoch. From a fan’s perspective, “Sing For Your Meat” will comfortably reside amongst the band’s sprawling catalogue.

“Sing For Your Meat” will be on sale April 16, for Record Store Day. Below, check out tracks from Cymbals Eat Guitars and Mass Solo Revolt, as well as the full track listing.

Vinyl I
Side A
Kelley Deal and Buffalo Killers – Scalding Creek
Jason Isbell and the 400 unit – Everywhere with Helicopter
The Pneurotics – I am a Tree
Blitzen Trapper – Hot Freaks
Free Electric State – Weedking

Side B
Crooked Fingers – Tractor Rape Chain
Western Civ – My Valuable Hunting Knife
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Gleemer
North Elementary – They’re Not Witches-Ex Supermodel (These 2 songs are merged together)
Gregg Yeti – Quality Of Armor
Lou Barlow – Game of Pricks

Vinyl II
Side A
Flaming Lips – Smothered in Hugs
Mass Solo Revolt – Gold Star for robot boy
I Was Totally Destroying It – I am produced
La Sera – Watch Me Jumpstart
David Kilgour- How Loft Am I

Side B
James Husband- Buzzards and Dreadful Crows
Marie Stella – little lines
Elf Power – man called aerodynamics
Western Civ – Goldheart Mountain Top Queen Directory
Sorry About Dresden – Echos Myron
Superdrag – A Salty Salute
Thurston Moore – Stabbing A Star