Released: 17/02/23
Sandbox, Guided By Voices’ second album of 1987, took a bold turn from the lo-fi psychedelia of Devil Between My Toes into brighter, crunchier power pop with full-colour packaging and polished production. Aimed as a more commercially ambitious release, it features tighter arrangements, lush harmonies, and moments that hint at the band's future sound. Still, GBV's signature weirdness shines through in tracks like “Electric Jam Soul Aquarium” and the moody “Trap Soul Door.” An outlier in their early catalogue, Sandbox is a fascinating listen for fans tracing the band’s evolution.