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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Earthquake Glue
by Guided By Voices


8.9

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 17 votes
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Rate this album

MUSIC:

The ever-prolific Robert Pollard returns with a brand-new GbV studio disc (the 15th or so since 1987), retaining the core group of musicians that has been with him for the last few albums.

LABEL:	Matador
RELEASE DATE:	19 August 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Junkmedia

Their best album since 1996's brilliant Under the Bushes, Under the Stars.

All Music Guide

If Earthquake Glue isn't a masterpiece, it's as close as this band can be expected to get, and is the rare Guided By Voices effort that's imaginative enough for longtime loyalists and tight enough for dabblers at the same time.

Magnet

Aside from a few fleeting moments of watery prog and lumpen rock, the album's 15 songs have a slow-growing charm and understated grace, something that gradually becomes powerful in its own right. [#60, p.102]

Splendid

While it delivers the triumphant rock 'n' roll thrills and oddball incantations promised by the GBV "brand", the most surprising thing about Earthquake Glue is that, at a point in his career when his inventiveness really should be waning (along with his libido and his prostate), Robert Pollard's creative spark seems brighter than ever.

Dusted Magazine

This is what makes Earthquake Glue such a startling arrival. You don’t simply listen to it out of obligation, but instead because you are compelled to return to it, again and again.

Pitchfork

Earthquake Glue meets any GBV album that isn't named Bee Thousand or Alien Lanes.

ShakingThrough.net

Earthquake Glue nonetheless contains the band's best work since the energized Isolation Drills and edges out last year's Universal Truths And Cycles in the memorable hooks department.

Flak Magazine

The band functions as a unit, informing the songs with a structure and a fully realized design that has sometimes been lacking in past albums.

No Ripcord

Overall, it's another great GBV album that continues to spotlight the Pollard's staggering work of genius.

PopMatters

Steeped in big rock history, steadfastly tenacious, perversely, refreshingly uncool, Bob Pollard has written a fine collection of songs, for the most part, and his band, in their execution, have matched him every step of the way.

Mojo

Earthquake Glue sees a return to the satisfyingly stylistic cohesion of 2001's Isolation Drills, ... while retaining the impressionistic aural fug that's so key to the band's appeal. [Sep 2003, p.98]

Playlouder

'Earthquake Glue' once again posits Pollard as purveyor of stupidly breezy tunes.

Alternative Press

The songs are getting samey. [Sep 2003, p.102]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Guided By Voices albums have become predictable, a shocking end for a group defined by its surprise delights.

Q Magazine

A familiar bag of tricks. [Sep 2003, p.101]

Under The Radar

Pollard has evolved into college-rock comfort food of little consequence. [#5, p.106]

Uncut

Strange, though, that we yearned for Pollard to treat his songs properly when he tossed them off as lo-fi sketches, but now they arrive as crafted, completed stadium anthems, that faint whiff of underachievement remains. [Sep 2003, p.102]

Blender

The offhand charm isn't enough. [Sep 2003, p.123]

Spin

Hazy, almost-there stadium anthems that don't quite fill the stadium. [Sep 2003, p.115]

Filter

The best song is track 13, "Apology in Advance." It is still not that good. [#6, p.86]

The average user rating for this album is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

belle t gave it a 10:
great

Allergic Reaction gave it a 10:
Fantastic. Just below the stuff from Propeller through Mag Earwig, but still a 10. Great stuff.

Brian M. gave it an 8:
Pretty solid album from start to finish. It has a nice sound to it and the production compliments the songs. If you like Isolation Drills or Universal Truths and Cycles, then you'll be in for a treat.

Steve B gave it a 10:
great album

Travis F gave it a 10:
More brilliant with each listen

[Anonymous] gave it a 7:
Sonically this is closest to Isolation Drills; the songwriting reminds me most of frontman Pollard's late-90s solo work. The album has a handful of immediately accessible tracks, but overall it seems fractured and directionless on first listen. Many of the songs cohere & reveal their charms with time and patience. "The Best of Jill Hives" is up with the band's best work.

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Earthquake Glue by Guided By Voices

Earthquake Glue
by Guided By Voices