Do the Collapse

Do the Collapse
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Studio album by Guided by Voices
Released	August 3, 1999
Recorded	1999
Genre	Indie rock pop rock
Length	43:45
Label	TVT/Orchard (US) Creation (UK) East West (Germany)
Producer	Ric Ocasek
Guided by Voices chronology
Mag Earwhig (1997) Do the Collapse (1999) Isolation Drills (2001)

Do the Collapse is the 11th album by Dayton, Ohio indie rock group Guided by Voices. In contrast with their lo-fi reputation, the album features glossy production work from Ric Ocasek, which drew a mixed reception from critics and fans. "Hold On Hope" was covered by country singer Glen Campbell on his 61st album Ghost on the Canvas in 2011. In his introduction to James Greer's book Guided by Voices: A Brief History: Twenty-One Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll, Academy Award-winning film maker Steven Soderbergh referenced the album stating "that album Ric Ocasek produced was terrific."

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Alternative Press	4/5
Entertainment Weekly	B
The Guardian
NME	7/10
Pitchfork	4.7/10
Q
Rolling Stone
Select	4/5
Spin	6/10

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine criticized the album for having similar compositions of past releases despite major production differences, and considered the band to be lost musically speaking. He also believed the production didn't work with the tracks and resulted in the band creating an "overblown" sound which contrasted negatively with their indie aesthetics. Conversely, in a warmer review for NME, the album was praised as a “timeless, seamless, psychedelic folk-rock soul-quaver perfection to fall in love with life to”.

Accolades

The track "Teenage FBI" was named the 160th on the "500 Greatest Modern Rock Song of All Time" by 97X in 2006.

Track listing

1. "Teenage FBI" – 2:53
2. "Zoo Pie" – 2:18
3. "Things I Will Keep" – 2:25
4. "Hold on Hope" – 3:31
5. "In Stitches" – 3:39
6. "Dragons Awake!" – 2:08
7. "Surgical Focus" – 3:48
8. "Optical Hopscotch" – 3:01
9. "Mushroom Art" – 1:47
10. "Much Better Mr. Buckles" – 2:24
11. "Wormhole" – 2:33
12. "Strumpet Eye" – 1:58
13. "Liquid Indian" – 3:38
14. "Wrecking Now" – 2:33
15. "Picture Me Big Time" – 4:01
16. "An Unmarketed Product" – 1:08

Personnel

Guided by Voices

• Robert Pollard – lead vocals, guitar
• Doug Gillard – guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
• Greg Demos – bass guitar
• Jim Macpherson – drums

Additional musicians

• Ariane Lallemand – cello
• Dylan Williams – viola
• David Soldier – string arrangements, violin
• Ric Ocasek – keyboards
• Brian Sperber – keyboards

Technical

• Ric Ocasek – production, mixing, engineering
• Brian Sperber – engineer, mixing
• George Marino – mastering