Out Friday: Guided by Voices' new album, tour dates run through next year

Just a few months after Guided by Voices' faux rock opera Earth Man Blues garnered critical acclaim, comes another entry in the venerable alt-rock band's catalog.

The 34th (!) and latest album It's Not Them, It Couldn't Be Them, It is Them, is out Friday through GBV Inc.

Travis Harrison produced, with GBV guitarist Doug Gillard overseeing string and horn arrangements, while frontman Robert Pollard wrote the songs.

Third single, "Dance of Gurus," was paired with a rare music video by Aaron Dunkel and Michael Nigro. It translates the guitar-led track into a psychedelic fantasy, a collage-like world pieced together with imagery of the band performing, split up with eclectically whimsical clips from many different sources.

Of the track, Gillard said, "We love playing this one. It’s great. 'Gurus' here is pronounced the traditional way, with the emphasis on both syllables."

"If you’re not yet vaccinated, get it now so you can come to a show," added the band.

The current lineup is rounded out by Bobby Bare Jr., Mark Shue and Kevin March.

Track listing: 

1. Spanish Coin
2. High in the Rain
3. Dance of Gurus
4. Flying Without a License
5. Psycho House
6. Maintenance Man of the Haunted House
7. I Share a Rhythm
8. Razor Bug
9. I Wanna Monkey
10. Cherub and the Great Child Actor
11. Black and White Eyes in a Prism
12. People Need Holes
13. The Bell Gets Out of the Way
14. Chain Gang Island
15. My (Limited) Engagement

2021-22 Tour dates:

Fri, Oct 22 - Ottobar - Baltimore, MD
Sat, Oct 23 - College Street Music Hall - New Haven, CT
Fri, Nov 12 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
Sat, Nov 13 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
Fri, Dec 17 - Phoenix - Toronto, ONT
Sat, Dec 18 - Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
Fri, Dec 31 - Brooklyn Made - Brooklyn, NY
Fri, Jan 14 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
Sat, Jan 15 - Royale.- Boston
*** NOTE: Boston will be an early show! 6pm doors, 7pm-9:30pm on stage
Fri, March 18 - Majestic Theatre - Madison, WI
Sat, March 19 - Fine Line - Minneapolis, MN
Sat, March 26 - Neumos - Seattle, WA
Sun, March 27 - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR
Tue, March 29 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
Wed, March 30 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
Fri, April 1 - Teragram Ballroom - Los Angeles, CA
Sat, April 2 - Pappy & Harriets - Pioneertown, CA

gbv.com/tour