Mag Earwhig!

Mag Earwhig! is a 1997 album release by indie rock band Guided by Voices. Following the dissolution of the group's "classic" lineup, band-leader Robert Pollard recruited Cleveland group Cobra Verde as his backing band, while retaining the Guided by Voices name. It was the second release to feature future long-term collaborator Doug Gillard. Gillard had previously played on and co-wrote the song “Mice Feel Nice (In My Room)” on the “Tigerbomb” EP. Most of Mag Earwhig! was recorded in a professional studio in Cleveland by the new lineup and marked a departure from band's trademark lo-fi sound, additional songs were also recorded in Dayton.

Mag Earwhig!
Studio album by Guided by Voices
Released	May 20, 1997
Recorded	1997 609, Cleveland, OH; Cro-Magnon, Dayton, OH; Refraze, Dayton, OH
Genre	Rock
Length	45:52
Label	Matador
Producer	"Everyone involved"[1] John Croslin (Tracks 8, 18)
Guided by Voices chronology
Tonics and Twisted Chasers (1996) Mag Earwhig! (1997) Do the Collapse (1999)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Pitchfork Media	(8.0/10)[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Pollard unless otherwise noted.

1. "Can't Hear the Revolution" – 1:36
2. "Sad If I Lost It" – 3:10
3. "I Am a Tree" (Doug Gillard) – 4:40
4. "The Old Grunt" – 1:28
5. "Bulldog Skin" – 2:59
6. "Are You Faster?" (Jim Pollard, R. Pollard, Tobin Sprout) – 1:13
7. "I Am Produced" (R. Pollard, Sprout) – 1:06
8. "Knock 'Em Flyin'" – 1:52
9. "Not Behind the Fighter Jet" – 2:13
10. "Choking Tara" – 1:24
11. "Hollow Cheek" – :32
12. "Portable Men's Society" – 4:16
13. "Little Lines" – 2:02
14. "Learning to Hunt" – 2:24
15. "The Finest Joke Is Upon Us" – 3:08
16. "Mag Earwhig!" – :39
17. "Now to War" – 2:44
18. "Jane of the Waking Universe" – 2:25
19. "The Colossus Crawls West" – 2:13
20. "Mute Superstar" – 1:24
21. "Bomb in the Bee-Hive" – 2:03

Personnel

GBV[4]

• Robert Pollard - Vocals, guitar, acoustic Guitar, Piano, composer
• Doug Gillard - Guitar, acoustic Guitar, bass, backing Vocals
• Dave Swanson - Drums, maracas, backing vocals

Other

• Don Depew - Guitar, bass, synthesizer, organ, backing Vocals
• John Petkovic - Guitar, synthesizer, backing Vocals

References

1. The inside cover of the CD sleeve states "Produced by everyone involved", but also clarifies that tracks 8 and 18 are produced by John Croslin.
2. Allmusic review
3. Pitchfork Media review
4. "Guided By Voices – Mag Earwhig! (credits section)". Discogs.