''Universal Truths and Cycles'' is the 13th studio

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by American

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band

Guided by Voices Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band formed in 1983 in Dayton, Ohio. It has made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. The most well-known lineup of the band consisted o ...

. After releasing their previous two albums on

TVT Records TVT Records, originally Tee-Vee Toons, was an American record label founded by Steve Gottlieb in 1984. Initially created to release the '' Television's Greatest Hits'' series of classic TV theme tune compilations, the label would expand into ra ...

, Guided by Voices returned to

Matador Records Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of mainly indie rock, but also punk rock, experimental rock, alternative rock, and electronic acts. History Matador was created in 1989 by Chris Lombardi in his New York City ap ...

. This was the highest charting Guided by Voices album at the time of release. It peaked at #160 on the

Billboard Top 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular Album, music albums and extended play, EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine to convey the popularity of an recor ...

, #10 on the

Independent Albums The Independent Albums chart (previously titled Top Independent Albums) ranks the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays (EPs) in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by '' Billboard'' mag ...

list, and in the best chart performance of their career, #3 on the

Top Heatseekers The Heatseekers charts were "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The Heatseekers Albums and the Heatseekers Songs charts were introduced by ''Billboard'' in 1991 with the purpose of highlighting the sales b ...

chart [].

Track listing

All songs written by

Robert Pollard Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. (born October 31, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter. He is the frontman and leader of indie rock band Guided by Voices, which he also the band’s only constant member. In addition to this, he has also rele ...

Side A

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

Side B

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

In the media

* In the television series ''

The IT Crowd ''The IT Crowd'' is a British television sitcom originally broadcast by Channel 4, created, written, and directed by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, and Matt Berry. Set in th ...

'' 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 ''The Wire'' is an American Crime fiction, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series created and primarily written by the American author and former police reporter David Simon for the cable network HBO. The series premiered o ...

Nick Sobotka Nickolas Andrew Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama ''The Wire'', played by actor Pablo Schreiber. Nick is the cousin of Ziggy Sobotka, the wayward and rebellious son of Nick's uncle Frank Sobotka. Plot details Season 2 Nick is a do ...

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.

Guided by Voices

Doug Gillard Douglas Scott Gillard (born December 23, 1965) is an American guitarist and songwriter. He has been a member of major indie pop and punk bands, most notably Guided by Voices, Nada Surf, Bambi Kino, Death of Samantha, and Cobra Verde. Early ...

* Tim Tobias * Nate Farley

Additional musicians

*Scott Bennett – cello * John McCann – drums * Chris Slusarenko – piano (track 7) * Chris George – cello * Steve Berson – cello * Suellen Ogier – effects *

Asha Mevlana Asha Mevlana (born Asha Mevlana Clayton-Niederman) is an American violinist and travel presenter. She is known for playing an electric 7-string viper violin and for performing with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She has released two albums with the ...

– viola, strings * Helen Yee – violin

Technical

Todd Tobias Todd Tobias (born 1967) is an American multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Robert Pollard and his band Guided by Voices. Other projects include Circus Devils, Kramies, The Library Is On Fire, and musical the ...

– production * Scott Bennett – assistant engineer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Universal Truths And Cycles 2002 albums Guided by Voices albums Matador Records albums