AMG Review of I Am a Tree

Bart Bealmear
All Music Guide

In 1997, Matador Records released a single for Guided by Voices' "I Am a Tree," a song that includes a nagging, Beatlesque guitar part throughout. Three non-LP B-sides appear on the CD edition, one of which is unavailable on the 7" vinyl version ("Do They Teach You the Chase?"), and is least appealing of the three. Strongest is "The Ascending Master's Grogshop," a brief, Beatle-John sounding piano number concerning Evil's reluctance to drink in God's bar. The one verse tune, co-written by Tobin Sprout, brings to mind the Sprout-penned, "You're Not an Airplane" from Bee Thousand. The track also features an atypical falsetto vocal from GBV leader Bob Pollard.