Universal Truths and Cycles

2002 studio album by Guided by Voices
Universal Truths and Cycles
Studio album by
Guided by Voices
ReleasedJune 18, 2002
Recorded2001
GenreIndie rock
Length46:25
LabelMatador
Producer
  • Todd Tobias
  • Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices chronology
Isolation Drills
(2001) 		Universal Truths and Cycles
(2002) 		Earthquake Glue
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Dusted Magazine [2]
Pitchfork Media7.6/10 [3]
Popmattersfavorable [4]
Rolling Stone [5]
The A.V. Clubfavorable [6]

Universal Truths and Cycles is the 13th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. After releasing their previous two albums on TVT Records, Guided by Voices returned to Matador Records.

This was the highest charting Guided by Voices album at the time of release. It peaked at #160 on the Billboard Top 200, #10 on the Independent Albums list, and in the best chart performance of their career, #3 on the Top Heatseekers chart [1].

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Pollard.

Side A

  1. "Wire Greyhounds" – 0:35
  2. "Skin Parade" – 2:57
  3. "Zap" – 1:14
  4. "Christian Animation Torch Carriers" – 3:54
  5. "Cheyenne" – 2:58
  6. "The Weeping Bogeyman" – 1:35
  7. "Back to the Lake" – 2:33
  8. "Love 1" – 0:54
  9. "Storm Vibrations" – 4:59
  10. "Factory of Raw Essentials" – 1:25

Side B

  2. "Everywhere with Helicopter" – 2:36
  3. "Pretty Bombs" – 3:06
  4. "Eureka Signs" – 3:06
  5. "Wings of Thorn" – 2:10
  6. "Car Language" – 4:44
  7. "From a Voice Plantation" – 2:06
  8. "The Ids Are Alright" – 1:10
  9. "Universal Truths and Cycles" – 2:19
  10. "Father Sgt. Christmas Card" – 2:04

In the media

  • In the television series The IT Crowd episode Red Door, Roy hides stolen computer equipment under a Universal Truths and Cycles T-shirt. There is a poster of the same on a wall in Roy and Maurice's office.
  • In the television series The Wire Nick Sobotka has a Universal Truths and Cycles poster on his wall.
  • Guided by Voices performed "Everywhere With Helicopter" live on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn on June 17, 2002.

Personnel

Most of the credits do not give specific instruments played by each individual, but rather list performers who appeared on the release in any capacity.[7][8]

Guided by Voices

Additional musicians

  • Scott Bennett – cello
  • John McCann – drums
  • Chris Slusarenko – piano (track 7)
  • Chris George – cello
  • Steve Berson – cello
  • Suellen Ogier – effects
  • Asha Mevlana – viola, strings
  • Helen Yee – violin

Technical

  • Todd Tobias – production
  • Scott Bennett – assistant engineer

References

  1. ^ Deming, Mark. "Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  2. ^ Dungan, Jason (17 June 2002). "Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles". Dusted Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  3. ^ LeMay, Matt (23 June 2002). "Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  4. ^ Jamieson, Robert (24 June 2002). "Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles". PopMatters. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Rob (18 June 2002). "Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  6. ^ Phipps, Keith (25 June 2002). "Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Guided by Voices - Universal Truths and Cycles (credits)". Allmusic.
  8. ^ "Guided By Voices – Universal Truths And Cycles (credits section)". Discogs. 2002.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
EPsLive albums
  • Live from Austin, TX (2007)
Compilation albums
  • The Best of Guided by Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates (2003)
  • Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999–2007 (2007)
  • Scalping the Guru (2022)
Box sets
  • Box (1995)
  • Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft (2000)
  • Hardcore UFOs: Revelations, Epiphanies and Fast Food in the Western Hemisphere (2003)
  • Suitcase 2: American Superdream Wow (2005)
  • Suitcase 3: Up We Go Now (2009)
  • Suitcase 4: Captain Kangaroo Won the War (2015)
Robert Pollard
solo albumsTobin Sprout albumsAirport 5 albumsBoston Spaceships albumsLifeguards and
Doug Gillard albumsRobert Pollard side projects
Circus Devils albums
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • MusicBrainz release group