Motivational Jumpsuit
by Guided by Voices
  • Record Label: GBV Inc.
  • Release Date: Feb 18, 2014
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. Exclaim
    Feb 14, 2014
    90
    Motivational Jumpsuit, the band's fifth studio album since the band's recent reformation finds the band continuing to the mix of psychedelia, garage-rock, post-punk and pop that they've perfected over time.
  2. Magnet
    Feb 21, 2014
    85
    It's missing much of the quirkiness of its predecessors--and some fans will bemoan that fact--but Motivational Jumpsuit is the best, most consistent recent GBV effort. [No. 106, p.58]
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  3. AllMusic
    Feb 18, 2014
    80
    Rushing by with a distinct sense of economy in less than 40 minutes and heavy on counterpoint between Pollard's robust fantasy rock and Sprout's careful sentimentality, Motivational Jumpsuit is easily the most satisfying full-length of GbV's reunited, overproductive 2010s phase.
  5. Delusions of Adequacy
    Feb 12, 2014
    80
    The Guided By Voices record making machine is in finely-tuned condition for the vast bulk of the Motivational Jumpsuit, keeping the gang of veterans on the reunion road without any embarrassment.
  6. musicOMH.com
    Feb 12, 2014
    80
    Each listen reveals moments easily missed the first time around, and they become the moments where Pollard’s underappreciated genius shines brightest.
  7. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 12, 2014
    80
    Even with their most straight-ahead record to date, GBV still show that they’re capable of surprises, and no matter how much more they release in the next [insert arbitrary period of time here], will always be worth following.
  8. Filter
    Mar 21, 2014
    76
    This album has a vibrant crosscut of all GBV’s personalities, and for that they deserve applause.
  9. Consequence
    Feb 18, 2014
    75
    Their reasonable Midwestern ambitions form the crux of their success. Of the 20 tracks here, there are maybe five duds. Hitting .750 ain’t too shabby, even in the Texas League.
  10. Pitchfork
    Feb 19, 2014
    73
    Even as Motivational Jumpsuit faithfully approximates the grainy fidelity and 60-second dosages of Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes, it can’t maintain the same dizzying standards of pop euphoria throughout.
  11. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Feb 19, 2014
    70
    There will be about 20 songs, and there will be about 30 minutes’ worth of myriad emotions that you’ll have to re-spin back four times or more to hear all that was sung-and-said.
  12. New Musical Express (NME)
    Feb 18, 2014
    70
    Anglocentrically and have eternally teenage garage production values. In other words, a GBV record that sounds like everything GBV fans love about GBV.
  13. No Ripcord
    Feb 18, 2014
    70
    The weaknesses are outweighed by the strengths considerably, and so shouldn’t detract from another impressive collection; how a band can keep producing music of relative significance in such a conveyor belt fashion is truly mystifying.
  14. PopMatters
    Feb 18, 2014
    70
    Motivational Jumpsuit never lets a moment overstay its welcome, which is what makes the whole such a pleasure to listen to.
  15. Boston Globe
    Feb 12, 2014
    70
    The tracks that are fragments lack the weird self-contained logic and momentum that carried earlier song scraps. Still, then as now, GbV chucks out some solidly driving tuneage.
  16. The 405
    Feb 12, 2014
    70
    Sprout's contributions as are every bit as lo-fi as Pollard's, but they're softer around the edges, lending Jumpsuit a nicely balanced feel.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. friendhead68
    Feb 24, 2014
    10
    their best since Alien Lanes, masterfully conceived and played. After two or three listens you realize this is the last epic rock and rolltheir best since Alien Lanes, masterfully conceived and played. After two or three listens you realize this is the last epic rock and roll band possible, in the littlest league possible. If only they would be coming to Europe....… Full Review »
  2. Bmccormick40
    Dec 2, 2019
    7
    Undoubtedly the best GBV album to have come out in some time, it rises above the quality of its immediate predecessors and successorsUndoubtedly the best GBV album to have come out in some time, it rises above the quality of its immediate predecessors and successors seemingly due to that fortuitous conspiring of events both that have helped elevate other GBV outings from "mostly filler" to "enjoyable but needs an edit" to "GBV classic." With a few exceptions, the sound of the band hasn't strayed far from album to album. And while it's an easy accusation to hurl at any group of musicians whose rate of output is almost comical in both its frequency and sheer number, even the most ardent Voices' fans would have a hard time denying that maybe, just possibly, scaling back just a touch might pay bigger dividends for everyone involved. Even if the band wouldn't necessarily take a breath, at least GBV fans might be able to digest half an album until the next one comes out. Well, this album is exhibit A in the case against that kind of approach. There's a strange brew that goes into a classic GBV album, and despite the many variables to consider (Is Pollard feeling dictatorial? Are he and Tobin getting along? Was the band soused or blindingly soused?), it feels like the band, still strumming along in their happily iconoclastic and off-kilter way has little control over the end result. In fact, the never-ending stream of GBV releases seems less the cynical money grab, transgressive case of completism, or byproduct of an errant sense of the band's place in the world, but is instead a way for the band to ensure that another classic gets out there even if no one, including the band, is quite aware of the achievement until later. It's the inverse of the idea that an artist's best work is the last one they completed, or that the creative process gets some benefit out of wisdom; It's an egalitarian maximalism and a suggestion that the act of listening is just as important as the action of creating.… Full Review »
  3. Ricko
    Nov 27, 2014
    7
    The same good points and the same bad points has many of the bands other releases. An abundance of hooks and ideas but these are onlyThe same good points and the same bad points has many of the bands other releases. An abundance of hooks and ideas but these are only occasionally developed into anything substantial. As a listener, this can get quite frustrating and its easy to accuse the band of laziness, despite their trojan work ethic in terms of output, it would be nice if they stuck at an idea long enough to get past the 2 minute mark. Also, "Motivational Jump Suits" lacks the magic of their previous work and for me even lacks the catchiness of their most recent offerings. Nothing bad on the album and consistently decent but not enough stand out moments.… Full Review »
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