User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Zeppelin Over China
by
Zeppelin Over China Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

Buy Now
Buy on

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. AllMusic
    Feb 12, 2019
    80
    Guided by Voices have been enjoying an unexpected but very welcome late-career renaissance, and anyone who has ever had a taste for their singular take on rocking pop owes it to themselves to check out Zeppelin Over China.
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 12, 2019
    80
    It's everything you've ever loved about Guided By Voices, all smashed together in one record.
  3. The Skinny
    Feb 12, 2019
    60
    There is nothing necessarily new offered here in the way of direction or sound, however Zeppelin Over China adds a suitable chapter to the story of Robert Pollard, who recently celebrated releasing a mind-blowing 100 albums over the course of his career in various projects.
  4. Mojo
    Feb 12, 2019
    60
    Lyrics are lovably askew and songs rarely breach three-minutes. In conclusion: more is still more. [Mar 2019, p.99]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Q Magazine
    Feb 12, 2019
    60
    There's an element of "always the same but always... the same" here--but when Pollard hits his cryptically emotive cruising altitude on Carapace or The Rally Boys the guitars accelerate around their pilot, his chose songwriting vehicle always flies. [Apr 2019, p.113]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The Wire
    Mar 7, 2019
    50
    “Carapace” is one worth returning to, an agitated Pixies-style rocker that pogos up and down for three energetic minutes. Equally enjoyable is the kosmische inspired interplay wired into “Lurk Of The Worm”, together with the bolts of grunge that light up “Where Have You Been All My Life?”. Elsewhere some of Pollard’s songs can be compared to those of Peters Gabriel and Hammill, two distinct guiding voices who can occasionally be heard whispering in the hull of this inflated blimp of a record. [Mar 2019, p.52]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. tharjack
    Jun 5, 2019
    10
    another superb record from the mind of Robert Pollard...so many great songs packed into this sprawling brilliant lp
  2. clippedatthehip
    Feb 23, 2019
    8
    A sprawling entry into the GBV catalog. a lot to digest at first, but multiple listens find the album more and more rewarding. "The RallyA sprawling entry into the GBV catalog. a lot to digest at first, but multiple listens find the album more and more rewarding. "The Rally Boys" is an all time classic Pollard song. "Step of the Wave" and "Charmless Peters" are heavyweight rockers, with potent doses of hooks. "The Hearing Department" shows the band's ability to tackle a more ethereal sound and they succeed, much as they did on "It's Good" from 2018's Space Gun.

    GBV is firing on all cylinders for the last few records. Zeppelin over China is no exception. It's a must have for GBV fans, but that goes without saying, we're a crazy, obsessive lot.    … Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To - Knocked Loose
92 Ten Fold - Yaya Bey
91 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
91 Funeral for Justice - Mdou Moctar
90 Spell Blanket: Collected Demos 2006-2009 - Broadcast
90 Here in the Pitch - Jessica Pratt
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
90 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 All Born Screaming - St. Vincent
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
All Current Music »