This third GbV album, from 1988, is where things began to get a bit weird, in all good ways. The debut EP and first two albums had already established that Bob could write great songs. Now it was time to turn it on its side. Things got a bit more lo-fi, songs were included that did not have hooks, and so many were disjointed and totally out there. As usual, however, there are earworms everywhere. “Liar’s Tale” is one of the greatest songs Bob ever wrote, as is the absolutely ferocious “Chief Barrel Belly”. Steve Wilbur’s guitar work on “An Earful O’ Wax” is one of the most kickass things to appear on a GbV record. “The Great Blake Street Canoe Race” is about as perfect an example of the early GbV sound as can be found, as is “Short On Posters”.
Most bands use their third album to expand upon what they’ve learned from the first two, and to really establish an identity as a band. Sometimes it’s met with great success (U2, The Police, Yes, Metallica) and sometimes not so (Rush, REM, Led Zeppelin, Pavement). This album is a little bit of both, which works to its advantage. Some songs hit you right where you need it, some leave ya scratchin’ yer head.
Self-Inflicted Aeriel Nostalgia is the album where GbV truly became GbV. They would only get weirder and more lo-fi from here, but would also deliver their most classic and revered works. This album joins Mag Earwig, Universal Truths And Cycles, and Please Be Honest as crucial pivot points in this band’s vast discography.
Kudos to Scat for these reissues. They look and sound fantastic and are so great to have in my collection (without the exorbitant price tag). Devil Between My Toes and Sandbox have already come out and are great and I look very forward to Same Place The Fly Got Smashed and (🤞) Forever Since Breakfast. Until then, I will spin the hell out of this.
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