''Same Place the Fly Got Smashed'' is the fourth album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. In James Greer's book, ''Guided by Voices: A Brief History: Twenty-One Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll'', band leader

Robert Pollard Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. (born October 31, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to his work with Guided by Voices, he continues to have a prol ...

cites this album as having some of his best songs, describing "Pendulum" as "my favorite lyrics I've ever written."

Lyrics and music

The sample "You brought me down, you and your family. I did not!" used at the beginning of "Airshow '88" came from the movie ''

Shattered Dreams "Shattered Dreams" is a song by English musical group Johnny Hates Jazz from their debut studio album, '' Turn Back the Clock'' (1988). Written by the band's lead singer Clark Datchler, the song was released in March 1987 as the album's lead sin ...

''. The made-for-TV movie came out in 1990, which starred

Lindsay Wagner Lindsay Jean Wagner (born June 22, 1949) is an American film and television actress, model, author, singer, and acting coach. Wagner is best known for her leading role in the American science-fiction television series ''The Bionic Woman'' (1976 ...

. Frontman

describes the release as "a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

ith The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany. Geography Location The Ith is immediatel ...

a linear story" about an alcoholic who commits a murder and is eventually executed for his crime. Same Place the Fly Got Smashed continues the beginning of the band's

lo-fi Lo-fi (also typeset as lofi or low-fi; short for low fidelity) is a music or production quality in which elements usually regarded as imperfections in the context of a recording or performance are present, sometimes as a deliberate choice. The ...

era, featuring a production value markedly less crisp and clear than their previous releases.

Track listing

All songs written by Jim Pollard and

unless otherwise noted.

Side A

# "Airshow '88" – 2:12 # "Order for the New Slave Trade" (R. Pollard) – 3:09 # "The Hard Way" – 2:53 # "Drinker's Peace" (R. Pollard) – 1:52 # "Mammoth Cave" – 2:17 # "When She Turns 50" (R. Pollard) – 2:07 # "Club Molluska" – 1:35

Side B

"Pendulum" – 1:49 # "Ambergris" – 0:52 # "Local Mix-Up" (R. Pollard) – 4:40 # "Murder Charge" – 2:12 # "Starboy" (

Greg Demos Greg Demos is an American musician and lawyer from Dayton, Ohio best known as a long time bassist for Guided by Voices. By trade, he is a partner in the law firm of Fowler, Demos & Stueve in Lebanon, Ohio. Demos has also performed with The New C ...

, R. Pollard) – 1:10 # "Blatant Doom Trip" – 3:59 # "How Loft I Am?" (R. Pollard) – 1:05

Personnel

Guided by Voices *

– lead vocals, guitar * Jim Pollard – guitar *

– bass, guitar (track 10) * Don Thrasher – drums *

Tobin Sprout Tobin Sprout (born April 28, 1955) is an American visual artist, musician, songwriter, and children's author. He is best known as a former member of the indie rock band Guided by Voices. He served as a secondary major songwriter and guitarist o ...

– guitar (track 13)

Technical

* Ken Martin – mastering

References

{{Authority control 1990 albums Guided by Voices albums Concept albums