I Am a Tree

Perhaps an odd choice for first song to cover here, considering the fact that it's one of the few Guided by Voices songs not written by the guy whose head looms over this blog. But that doesn't mean that it isn't his now. "I Am a Tree" was written by Doug Gillard, the guitarist who came on board the band with the rest of his bandmates in Cobra Verde in between Under the Bushes, Under the Stars and Mag Earwhig in 1997. Robert Pollard was looking for a tougher, more professional sound, so he sacked the "classic lineup" (Tobin Sprout stepped down of his own accord to work on his solo music and painting) and recruited Cleveland's finest.

"I Am a Tree" came from a Gillard side project, Gem, that had released the song on a 12" single. Gem was a bit more straightfoward than Cobra Verde, less glam inspired and more power pop. In "I Am a Tree," Gillard had penned a good song with a great riff. By giving it to Pollard, he turned it into a fantastic song. Though the framework of the song stayed the same, the differences are startling. The GBV version is faster, crisper and rocks much harder. Then there is Pollard. Gillard has a decent voice, but his vocals on the Gem version seem an afterthought. Pollard inhabits the track, propelling it and giving the vocals equal weight against Gillard's majestic riffs.

I picked up Mag Earwhig, if memory serves, on the same trip to Best Buy where I purchased a DiscMan to use in my new (to me) car. Using a Guided by Voices disc to test the fidelity of a new sound system would have been a crapshoot before this point, but much of Mag Earwhig has a huge, hi-fi sound. Yes, there are lo-fi gems sprinkled throughout as well, Pollard seemingly unwilling to fully embrace the studio. But "I Am a Tree," with its high-pitched single note intro, massive guitar riff and pummeling drums was a fitting trial for my new car. There are better songs in the GBV canon, but few I've listened to and enjoyed more.