Guided by Voices, Vampire on Titus (side A)

1993's Vampire on Titus strikes me as the most confusing album from GBV's canonical era. It has the fewest catchy songs, and even some of those, like "Dusted" and "Marchers in Orange" appeared in friendlier versions on a 7". The original CD release (paired with Propeller) sounds far worse than the vinyl that appeared at the same time. Vampire on Titus nonetheless holds up remarkably well—the Chrome-like murk makes it special. The diminution of visceral impact and memorable melody draws attention to just how strange the group's albums could be. Unlike the CD, the original vinyl captures the primitive recordings nicely, and the simple cover is iconic and appropriate.