Do the Collapse
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Do the Collapse
| type = Album
| artist = Guided by Voices
| cover = DoTheCollapse.jpg|border=yes
| alt =
| released = August 3, 1999
| recorded = 1999
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 43:45
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = Ric Ocasek
| prev_title = Mag Earwhig
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Isolation Drills
| next_year = 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
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/do-the-collapse-mw0000240976|title=Do the Collapse – Guided by Voices|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 11, 2020|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}
|rev2 = Alternative Press
|rev2score = 4/5{{cite magazine|title=Guided by Voices: Do the Collapse|magazine=Alternative Press|issue=134|date=September 1999|page=96}}
|rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev3score = B{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/08/06/do-collapse/|title=Do the Collapse|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 6, 1999|access-date=March 11, 2020|last=Hermes|first=Will|author-link=Will Hermes}}
|rev4 = The Guardian
|rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|title=Guided by Voices: Do the Collapse (Creation)|work=The Guardian|date=October 1, 1999|last=Cameron|first=Keith}}
|rev5 = NME
|rev5score = 7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19991007102749.html|title=Guided By Voices – Do The Collapse|work=NME|date=October 7, 1999|access-date=March 28, 2020|last=Patterson|first=Sylvia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000127223253/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19991007102749.html|archive-date=January 27, 2000|url-status=dead}}
|rev6 = Pitchfork
|rev6score = 4.7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/g/guided-by-voices/do-the-collapse.shtml|title=Guided by Voices: Do the Collapse|work=Pitchfork|date=August 1999|access-date=March 11, 2020|last=Lieberman|first=Neil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030608232221/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/g/guided-by-voices/do-the-collapse.shtml|archive-date=June 8, 2003|url-status=dead}}
|rev7 = Q
|rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Guided by Voices: Do the Collapse|magazine=Q|issue=158|date=November 1999|page=122}}
|rev8 = Rolling Stone
|rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/do-the-collapse-197066/|title=Do The Collapse|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 2, 1999|access-date=March 11, 2020|last=Weingarten|first=Marc}}
|rev9 = Select
|rev9score = 4/5{{cite magazine|title=Guided by Voices: Do the Collapse|magazine=Select|issue=113|date=November 1999|last=Muirhead|first=Stuart|page=87}}
|rev10 = Spin
|rev10score = 6/10{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGjsvmNt8UgC&pg=PA185|title=The Lo-Fi Meets Hi-Life|magazine=Spin|volume=15|issue=9|date=September 1999|access-date=March 11, 2020|last=Kreilkamp|first=Ivan|pages=185–86}}
}}
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave a negative review, giving the album 2 stars of 5. He 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.[http://woxy.lala.com/music/mr500-06.php woxy.com > Music > 2006 Modern Rock 500] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606233434/http://woxy.lala.com/music/mr500-06.php |date=2008-06-06 }}
Track listing
- "Teenage FBI" – 2:53
- "Zoo Pie" – 2:18
- "Things I Will Keep" – 2:25
- "Hold on Hope" – 3:31
- "In Stitches" – 3:39
- "Dragons Awake!" – 2:08
- "Surgical Focus" – 3:48
- "Optical Hopscotch" – 3:01
- "Mushroom Art" – 1:47
- "Much Better Mr. Buckles" – 2:24
- "Wormhole" – 2:33
- "Strumpet Eye" – 1:58
- "Liquid Indian" – 3:38
- "Wrecking Now" – 2:33
- "Picture Me Big Time" – 4:01
- "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