| Todd Tobias | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 (age 55–56) | 
| Origin | Akron, Ohio, United States | 
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, musician | 
| Instrument(s) | drums, bass guitar, 6-string guitar, keys, samples | 
| Years active | 2001–present | 
| Labels | Hidden Shoal Recordings, Tiny Room Records | 
| Website | Todd Tobias website | 
Todd Tobias (born 1967) is an American multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Robert Pollard and his band Guided by Voices. Other projects include Circus Devils, Kramies, The Library Is On Fire, and musical theater composer and lyricist George Griggs.
Tobias began producing albums in 2002, first working with indie rock pioneers Guided By Voices on their album Universal Truths And Cycles.[1] One year earlier in 2001, Tobias joined Guided By Voices front man Robert Pollard and brother Tim Tobias in the psychedelic rock trio Circus Devils.
In 2012, Tobias began recording solo albums of instrumental, atmospheric mood music ranging in style from ambient to post-rock. Todd's debut album Medicine Show, released on Hidden Shoal Recordings.[2] has been described as "a multi-faceted instrumental opus, evoking a shadowy steampunk dystopia."[2]
In 2013, Tobias released I RAZOR, a soundtrack album for the experimental film of the same name,[2] followed by Impossible Cities in 2014 and Tristes Tropiques in 2015.[2] Todd's EP Moorea was featured in John Diliberto's NPR program Echoes' top 25 in September, 2015.[3]
In 2018, Tobias joined with English vocalist and songwriter Chloe March on the ambient album Amialluma, on which vocalist March invented a language to accompany Tobias' music.[4] Also in 2018, the self-titled debut from the psychedelic rock duo Moonchy & Tobias was released, featuring music composed by Tobias and vocals/lyrics by Italian vocalist Pat Moonchy.[5] Other collaborations include The World Of Dust with Dutch musician Stefan Breuer, and Brother Earth with Steve Five.
In 2019, Tobias authored the book Circus Devils: See You Inside,[6] offering a personal glimpse into the band's music.
Discography
Albums and EPs
- Medicine Show (2012)
- Night Above Ground (2012)
- I Razor (2013)
- Impossible Cities (2014)
- Impossible Cities 2 (2014)
- Tristes Tropiques (2015)
- Moorea (2015)
- Gila Man (2016)
- Massabu Evening Entertainments (2018)
- Amialluma (with Chloe March) (2018)
Bibliography
- Circus Devils: See You Inside (2019) (Tiny Room)[7]
Discography for Todd Tobias as producer/ performer/ writer
2001:
Circus Devils: Ringworm Interiors
2002:
Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles
Circus Devils: The harold pig memorial
Guided by Voices: The Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet
2003:
Guided by Voices: Earthquake Glue
2004:
Guided by Voices: Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Robert Pollard: Fiction Man
 
Clouds Forming Crowns: All the Pharmacies
Circus Devils: Pinball Mars
2005:
The Celebrity Pilots: Beneath the Pavement, a Beach!
 
Clouds Forming Crowns: self-titled
Circus Devils: FIVE
The Moping Swans: Lightning Head to Coffee Pot
2006:
Robert Pollard: From a Compound Eye
 
Robert Pollard: Normal Happiness
 
Brian Lisik: Happiness is Boring
 
Clouds Forming Crowns: Race to the Blackout
 
Psycho and the Birds: All that is Holy
Psycho and the Birds: Check your Zoo EP
2007:
Circus Devils: Sgt. Disco
Robert Pollard: Standard Gargoyle Decisions
 
Robert Pollard: Coast to Coast Carpet of Love
 
Robert Pollard: Silverfish Trivia
 
Psycho and the Birds: We've Moved
 
The Celebrity Pilots: Spooky Action 
The Library is on Fire: Cassette 
George Griggs:  Transmitter Man[8]
Coffinberry: God Dam Dogs
 
Humphry Clinker: What’s the Story With the Knife?
 
The Sorrys: The Last Clear Thought Before You Fall Backwards
2008:
Robert Pollard: Robert Pollard Is Off to Business
Circus Devils: ATAXIA 
Slark Martyr: Cave in the A-Frame
Kramies: Golden Like a New Thing
The Softrocks: Summer Apocalypse
The Frozen Hellsicles: Oh No Wait a Minute...
Humphry Clinker: Among Cutting Threads EP
Slark Martyr: Imagination and a Pile of Dirt
2009:
Robert Pollard: The Crawling Distance
Robert Pollard:  Elephant Jokes
Circus Devils: Gringo 
The Sleeptalkers: Back to Earth 
Kramies: Castle of Ghosts 
The No Real Need: Thistles Where We Slept 
Ceiling Star: New Advances in the Field of Obsolescence
2010:
Robert Pollard: Moses on a Snail 
Robert Pollard: We All Got Out of the Army 
Circus Devils: Mother Skinny 
The Celebrity Pilots: Hawks of the Lesser Antilles 
The Library is on Fire: Magic Bumrush Heartz
Brother Earth: Pajama Party 
Clouds Forming Crowns: Ouija Board Taxman 
Hospital garden: Hospital garden
2011:
Robert Pollard: Lord of the Birdcage 
Robert Pollard: Space City Kicks 
Circus Devils: Capsized! 
Clouds Forming Crowns: Allowing Thunderhead 
The Library is on Fire: Works On Paper 
The Flower Machine: Lavender Lane
2012:
Robert Pollard: Jack Sells The Cow 
Robert Pollard: Mouseman Cloud 
Guided by Voices: The Bears for Lunch 
Guided by Voices: Class Clown Spots a UFO 
Kramies:The European 
The No Real Need: Nonlocal Motives
Brother Earth: Brother Earth III 
Scarcity Of Tanks: Ohio Captives
Johnny Render: Rendervoux
2013:
Robert Pollard: Blazing Gentlemen 
Robert Pollard: Honey Locust Honky Tonk 
Kramies: The Wooden Heart 
Circus Devils: When Machines Attack 
Circus Devils: My Mind Has Seen the White Trick 
King Pedestrian: King Pedestrian
2014:
Circus Devils: "Escape" 
Brother Earth: "Positive Haywires"
2015:
Robert Pollard: Faulty Superheroes 
Circus Devils: Stomping Grounds 
The World Of Dust: Womb Realm 
The Flower Machine: Tangerines and Opium Trees
2017:
Circus Devils: Laughs Last 
2018:
Moonchy & Tobias: self-titled 
2019:
The World Of Dust: Samsara 
Moonchy & Tobias: Atmosfere 
2020:
Moonchy & Tobias: III 
2021:
The World Of Dust: True Sound 
Moonchy & Tobias: Venus Mirror 
2022:
Moonchy & Tobias: Golem 
2023:
Moonchy & Tobias: Wild Eye 
References
- ↑ "GBVDB - Guided By Voices Database". Gbvdb.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 "Todd Tobias Artist Profile". Hiddenshoal.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Echoes Top 25 for September 2015". Echoes.org. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Chloë March Artist profile". Hiddenshoal.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Moonchy & Tobias". Tinyrtoom.nl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ tinyroom.nl
- ↑ "Circus Devils: See You Inside". Tinyroom.nl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Untitled Page". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2007-10-14.