album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by American
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
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 ...
as a farewell album in the face of years of obscurity and mounting debt, the album ended up "propelling" the band to a higher-profile status and influence, affording a lasting position in the
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
canon.
While significant portions were recorded in a professional recording studio (though later to be "lovingly fucked with" by Mike "Rep" Hummel, of Mike Rep and the Quotas), the album is notable for being the first of the band's albums to make extensive use of 4-track cassette and
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 ...
recording techniques as an aesthetic unto itself. Songs are frequently punctuated by unexpected blasts of noise, awkward tape edits, sped-up or slowed-down vocal or instrumental parts, and other sonic bric-a-brac. An interesting result of this technique is the
intro
Introduction, The Introduction, Intro, or The Intro may refer to:
General use
* Introduction (music), an opening section of a piece of music
* Introduction (writing), a beginning section to a book, article or essay which states its purpose and ...
to the album's opening track, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox". What appears to be the sound of a band taking the stage before a throng of thousands of fans chanting "G-B-V! G-B-V!" was actually created by Guided by Voices in the studio (the band had not played live in years, and never to more than a handful of people at the time of recording). Nevertheless, the inclusion of this clip ensured the canonization of the "G-B-V!" chant, heard at essentially every Guided by Voices concert thereafter, and the entire opening sequence was faithfully recreated at the band's final show before temporarily disbanding in 2004. It has been mainly used during encores at their shows.
Lyrics and music
The first song on the album, "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox" is one of GBV's longest songs to this date with a playing time of 5:41.
The eleventh song on ''Propeller'' "Back to Saturn X Radio Report" is a collage of many songs Guided By Voices had recorded at the point of the release of the album. Most of the songs were originally going to appear on an album called ''Back to Saturn X'' that was scrapped in favor of ''Propeller' All of them were later released. They are (in order):
* "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows (Different Version)" (an alternate take of a track later released on ''
Bee Thousand
''Bee Thousand'' is the seventh album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on June 21, 1994, on Scat Records. After its release the band became one of the more prominent groups associated with the "lo-fi" genre, a movement defi ...
Alien Lanes
''Alien Lanes'' is the eighth full-length album by American lo-fi band Guided by Voices, released on April 4, 1995.Static Airplane Jive'')
** The "off and onward" clip that follows this has not been heard anywhere else.
* "Tractor Rape Chain (Clean it Up)" (original, and very different, version of "Tractor Rape Chain," which would later appear in a redone form on ''Bee Thousand''. This version has only appeared on the ''Darla 100 - Sixth Year Anniversary Compilation CD'')
* "Damn Good, Mr. Jam" reprise.
Artwork
The cover art also contributed to the album's
legend
A legend is a Folklore genre, genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human valu ...
. Initially self-released only in a limited
vinyl
Vinyl may refer to:
Chemistry
* Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer
* Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation
* Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry
* Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl m ...
run of 500, each copy of the album received a unique, handmade cover. Decorated by band members, friends and family with myriad methods such as screen-printing, hand-painting, and affixing various found objects (including an empty six-pack carton of
Natural Light
Natural Light, sometimes Natty Light, is an American reduced-calorie light lager brewed by Anheuser-Busch since its introduction on July 31, 1977. Its ingredients are listed as water, barley malt, cereal grains, yeast, and hops. One serving cont ...
) to plain white sleeves, these albums grew in value over the years and as of 2005, were known to have sold for prices in the thousands of dollars. The album was first given a wide release by
Scat Records
Scat Records is a St. Louis, Missouri-based independent record label. It was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1989, and many of the bands released on the label are from Ohio. The label is notable for featuring Guided by Voices, The Mice and Cobr ...
when it was appended to the CD version of GBV's 1993 album ''
Vampire on Titus
''Vampire on Titus'' is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices.
Background
''Vampire on Titus'' was recorded after a short-lived dissolution of the band (after 1992's "farewell" album ''Propeller'') but prior to the ...
''. Later, both albums were given standalone CD releases.
In 2005, a new, non-limited and non-handmade vinyl edition was released, along with an updated CD version using a reproduction of a selection the original covers.
A gallery of original ''Propeller'' covers can be seen at th Guided by Voices database. h1>
Reception
''Propeller'' was released to critical acclaim.
Track listing
Personnel
The credits do not give specific instruments played by each individual, but rather list every performer who appeared on the release in any capacity.
Guided by Voices
*
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 ...
* Dan Toohey
* Jim Pollard
*
Mitch Mitchell
John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 194612 November 2008)In his book about the Experience, Mitchell states he celebrated his 21st birthday while on tour on 9 July 1967, which makes his birth year 1946.Mitchell's obituaries in ''Billboard' ''T ...
*
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 ...
*
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 ...