by Greg Prato
1992's Propeller was an album that Guided by Voices originally released themselves; it was eventually reissued on the Scat label one year later. All of the ingredients that make the group totally original are present -- rough production, strong melodies courtesy of Robert Pollard, and an overall sound straight out of the British clubs back in the mid-'60s. The opening epic, &Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox,& is two different songs sewn together (similar to T. Rex's &Tenement Lady& off their classic Tanx album). It starts off as a rock & roller and later changes into space rock, while &Quality of Armor& starts off as a cross between the Beatles and Elvis Costello's &(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding?& But Guided by Voices have a style all their own, evidenced by the irresistible combination of chromatic guitar riffs and anthemic choruses contained in &Exit Flagger,& and in the experimental song splices throughout &Back to Saturn X Radio Report.& &Circus World& is pure guitar pop, as is the now-classic &Weedking.& Propeller proved to be an important stepping stone for the group, helping to set the stage for such later triumphs as Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes.