I'd like to pick up some Guided By Voices. Any recommendations?

Alien Lanes

Yeah, either Alien Lanes or Bee Thousand.

i kind of like the albums they had at the turn between their lo-fi and more pop sounding stuff. My favorite - Under The Bushes, Under The Stars

anything before 'do the collapse' or whatever that one is called.

I am a late convert to GbV, and I definitely recommend Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes. Once you are converted, though, I can't recommend Propeller enough. Although I wouldn't call it their best, I've fallen in love with this album.

I actually love most of their "lo-fi" and "higher-fi" albums. They're all worth a listen IMO, though.

I don't have a problem with their two TVT records...I know a lot of people who really hate Do The Collapse now...its not so bad.

Same with Isolation Drills

If you aren't that familiar with their work I'd pick up Human Amusement at Hourly Rates.

It's a collection of a lot of their more melodic, most popular songs.

I have a few of their albums and this is the only thing I listen to by them with any regularity.

Yes you'll find a few gems on the albums not found on that collection but it hits most of the highlights from their lo fi melodic best to their slickly produced most bombastic.[/i]

I started with Alien Lanes and got into them pretty big-time.
If you don't mind the lo-fi thing (and you shouldn't if you want to get into GBV), this is my favorite... and a heluva record. It's one of those records that I have a damn hard time shutting off until I've heard it all the way through.

I have no problem with either album and don't understand the reaction against them. Songwriting's the same catchy stuff, just the production is glossier. To hate that sounds like a knee-jerk reaction from people who wanted to keep GBV among their little hidden gems that you had to get the lo-fi aesthetic to enjoy.

That said, I'll second Under the Bushes, Under the Stars as a great intro - it was mine and still ranks as one of my very favoritest of favorites, and I love this band a whole hell of a lot.

I totally agree.

i got into them through "human amusement" and though it was a great introduction and through it i knew almost every song they played when i saw them live i now strugle to really get into their albums.

don't.

Wow. Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I'm going with Bee Thousand for starters.

Same here.