Tobin Sprout
Encyclopedia
Tobin Sprout is an American artist and musician, best known for his contributions as a member of indie rock
group Guided by Voices
.
and a home studio he contributed to the unique lo-fi sound of Guided by Voices and he was a member of the band from 1987 through 1997. The band frequently recorded in Sprout's home studio, and as a member of the band he contributed as a co-writer, multi-instrumentalist and studio engineer. Guided by Voices songs written by Sprout include "It's Like Soul Man," "Awful Bliss," and "Atom Eyes". Since the 1997 split he has appeared on three Guided by Voices recordings. Contributing piano to the Isolation Drills
song "How's My Drinking?" and guitar to the Half Smiles of the Decomposed
tracks "Girls of Wild Strawberries" and "Huffman Prairie Flying Field" the latter of which was the final track on the album.
Although a visual artist by trade, he has continued to write his own music, releasing Carnival Boy
in 1996, Moonflower Plastic
in 1997 and Let's Welcome the Circus People
in 1999. He wrote songs for a project called Eyesinweasel which were collected on 2000's Wrinkled Thoughts. His Demos and Outtakes collection was released in the following year. In 2001, Sprout rejoined with Robert Pollard
(of Guided by Voices) to form Airport 5
, independently releasing numerous singles and 2 full length albums, Tower in the Fountain of Sparks and in 2002, Life Starts Here. He has continued writing and composing independently, from his home in Leland, Michigan
, recording and releasing his most recent solo effort Lost Planets & Phantom Voices.
In 2009, Sprout released his first children's book, Elliott, published by Mackinac Island Press. He is rumored to be working on a music video/single under the same title.
In July 2010, Robert Pollard announced that the "Classic Lineup" of Guided By Voices would reunite for a U.S. tour, with a lineup featuring Pollard, Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos
. The tour culminated with a performance in New York City on New Year's Eve
, 2010.
As Eyesinweasel
As Airport 5
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
.
History
A self taught musician. From an early age he played with and was a major collaborator to the Dayton, OH band Guided By Voices. Employing a four-track recorderMultitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
and a home studio he contributed to the unique lo-fi sound of Guided by Voices and he was a member of the band from 1987 through 1997. The band frequently recorded in Sprout's home studio, and as a member of the band he contributed as a co-writer, multi-instrumentalist and studio engineer. Guided by Voices songs written by Sprout include "It's Like Soul Man," "Awful Bliss," and "Atom Eyes". Since the 1997 split he has appeared on three Guided by Voices recordings. Contributing piano to the Isolation Drills
Isolation Drills
Isolation Drills is the twelfth album by Dayton, Ohio indie rock group Guided by Voices. It was their second and final LP released under TVT Records and their second to feature a major rock producer in Rob Schnapf. The album was also their first to chart on the Billboard Top 200, peaking at #168...
song "How's My Drinking?" and guitar to the Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Half Smiles of the Decomposed is the 15th album by Dayton, Ohio rock group Guided by Voices. It was the final album by the band before their 2010 reformation.-Track listing:All songs written by Robert Pollard....
tracks "Girls of Wild Strawberries" and "Huffman Prairie Flying Field" the latter of which was the final track on the album.
Although a visual artist by trade, he has continued to write his own music, releasing Carnival Boy
Carnival Boy
Carnival Boy is debut album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 1996.- Track listing :# The Natural Alarm - 2.59# Cooler Jocks - 1.16# E's Navy Blue - 2.43# The Bone Yard - 1.17# Carnival Boy - 2.48...
in 1996, Moonflower Plastic
Moonflower Plastic
Moonflower Plastic is second album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 1997.- Track listing :# Get Out Of My Throat - 4.01# Moonflower Plastic - 2.18# Paper Cut - 3.00...
in 1997 and Let's Welcome the Circus People
Let's Welcome the Circus People
Let's Welcome the Circus People is third album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 1999.- Track listing :# Smokey Joe's Perfect Hair - 3.40# Digging Up Wooden Teeth - 3.57# Mayhem Stone - 2.23# And So On - 2.03...
in 1999. He wrote songs for a project called Eyesinweasel which were collected on 2000's Wrinkled Thoughts. His Demos and Outtakes collection was released in the following year. In 2001, Sprout rejoined with Robert Pollard
Robert Pollard
Robert Pollard is an American rock musician and singer-songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices, who disbanded in 2004, only to reform in 2010...
(of Guided by Voices) to form Airport 5
Airport 5
Airport 5 was a musical collaboration project between Guided by Voices's Robert Pollard and one-time fellow bandmate Tobin Sprout, released through the Fading Captain Series imprint by Luna Music in Indianapolis, Indiana. Collaborating chiefly by mail, Sprout provided completed backing tracks...
, independently releasing numerous singles and 2 full length albums, Tower in the Fountain of Sparks and in 2002, Life Starts Here. He has continued writing and composing independently, from his home in Leland, Michigan
Leland, Michigan
Leland is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It was the county seat of Leelanau County from 1883 to 2008, when a new government center was completed in Suttons Bay Township, closer to the county's geographic center....
, recording and releasing his most recent solo effort Lost Planets & Phantom Voices.
In 2009, Sprout released his first children's book, Elliott, published by Mackinac Island Press. He is rumored to be working on a music video/single under the same title.
In July 2010, Robert Pollard announced that the "Classic Lineup" of Guided By Voices would reunite for a U.S. tour, with a lineup featuring Pollard, Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos
Greg Demos
Greg Demos is a Dayton, Ohio musician best known as the bassist in Guided by Voices. By trade, he is a partner in the law firm of Fowler, Demos & Stueve in Lebanon, Ohio...
. The tour culminated with a performance in New York City on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, 2010.
Singles & EPS
- Popstram (1 Toaster, 2 Sadder Than You, 3 Bottle Of The Ghost Of Time - 7") - Recordhead (1995)
- Wax Nails (1 Get Your Calcium, 2 Cereal Killer, 3 Seed, 4 The Crawling Backward Man, 5 In Good Hands, 6 How's Your House? (Demo) - CD, EP) - Recordhead (1998)
- Let Go Of My Beautiful Balloon (A Let Go Of My Beautiful Balloon, B Shirley The Rainbow - 7", Single) - Wigwam Records (2001)
- Untitled - Split with The Minders (1 Can I Have This?, 2 Lust - 7") - Sprite Recordings (2002)
- Sentimental Stations (1 Secret Service, 2 Branding Dennis, 3 I Think You Would, 4 Inside The Blockhouse, 5 Are You Happening?, 6 Doctor #8 [Piano Version], 7 Sentimental Stations - CD, EP) - Recordhead (2002)
Albums
As Tobin Sprout- Carnival BoyCarnival BoyCarnival Boy is debut album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 1996.- Track listing :# The Natural Alarm - 2.59# Cooler Jocks - 1.16# E's Navy Blue - 2.43# The Bone Yard - 1.17# Carnival Boy - 2.48...
(1996) - Moonflower PlasticMoonflower PlasticMoonflower Plastic is second album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 1997.- Track listing :# Get Out Of My Throat - 4.01# Moonflower Plastic - 2.18# Paper Cut - 3.00...
(1997) - Let's Welcome the Circus PeopleLet's Welcome the Circus PeopleLet's Welcome the Circus People is third album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 1999.- Track listing :# Smokey Joe's Perfect Hair - 3.40# Digging Up Wooden Teeth - 3.57# Mayhem Stone - 2.23# And So On - 2.03...
(1999) - Lost Planets & Phantom VoicesLost Planets & Phantom VoicesLost Planets & Phantom Voices is 4th album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 2003.- Track listing :# Indian Ink - 1.55# Doctor #8 - 2.29# Catch The Sun - 2.30# All Those Things We've Done - 3.04...
(2003) - The Bluebirds Of Happiness Tried To Land On My ShoulderThe Bluebirds Of Happiness Tried To Land On My ShoulderThe Bluebirds Of Happiness Tried To Land On My Shoulder is 5th album solo by Guided by Voices member Tobin Sprout released in 2010.- Track listing :Side A# Pretty# She's On Mercury# Apple Of My Eye# You Make My World Go Down...
(2010)
As Eyesinweasel
- Demos & Outtakes (1999)
- Wrinkled Thoughts (2000)
- Live In The Middle East (2001 - recorded live at the Middle East Club, Cambridge MA on 10/28/00)
As Airport 5
Airport 5
Airport 5 was a musical collaboration project between Guided by Voices's Robert Pollard and one-time fellow bandmate Tobin Sprout, released through the Fading Captain Series imprint by Luna Music in Indianapolis, Indiana. Collaborating chiefly by mail, Sprout provided completed backing tracks...
- Tower in the Fountain of SparksTower in the Fountain of SparksTower in the Fountain of Sparks is the debut album by the Airport 5, released in 2001..-Track listing:Al song written by Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout except were noted.#Burns Carpenter, Man Of Science - 3.40#Total Exposure - 4.08...
(2001) - Life Starts HereLife Starts HereLife Starts Here is the second and last album by the Airport 5, released in 2002..-Track listing:Al song written by Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout.#Intro - 1.07#We're In The Business - 2.31#Yellow Wife No...
(2002)