Universal Truths and Cycles explained

Universal Truths and Cycles
Type:	Album
Artist:	Guided by Voices
Cover:	Editing Universal Truths and Cycles.JPG
Released:	June 18, 2002
Recorded:	2001
Genre:	Indie rock
Length:	46:25
Label:	Matador
Prev Title:	Isolation Drills
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	Earthquake Glue
Next Year:	2003

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 [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p45032|pure_url=yes}}].

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

11. "Everywhere with Helicopter" – 2:36
12. "Pretty Bombs" – 3:06
13. "Eureka Signs" – 3:06
14. "Wings of Thorn" – 2:10
15. "Car Language" – 4:44
16. "From a Voice Plantation" – 2:06
17. "The Ids Are Alright" – 1:10
18. "Universal Truths and Cycles" – 2:19
19. "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.^{[1] [2]}

Guided by Voices

• • Robert Pollard Doug Gillard
• 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 – viola, strings
• Helen Yee – violin

Technical

• Todd Tobias – production
• Scott Bennett – assistant engineer

Notes and References

1. Web site: Guided by Voices - Universal Truths and Cycles (credits). Allmusic.
2. Web site: Guided By Voices – Universal Truths And Cycles (credits section). Discogs. 2002 .