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. 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. has been described as "a multi-faceted instrumental opus, evoking a shadowy steampunk dystopia."
In 2013, Tobias released I RAZOR, a soundtrack album for the experimental film of the same name, followed by Impossible Cities in 2014 and Tristes Tropiques in 2015. Todd's EP Moorea was featured in John Diliberto's NPR program Echoes' top 25 in September, 2015.
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. 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. 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, offering a personal glimpse into the band's music.
2001:<br /> Circus Devils: Ringworm Interiors
2002:<br /> Guided by Voices: Universal Truths and Cycles<br /> Circus Devils: The Harold Pig Memorial<br /> Guided by Voices: The Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet
2003:<br /> Guided by Voices: Earthquake Glue
2004:<br /> Guided by Voices: Half Smiles of the Decomposed<br /> Robert Pollard: Fiction Man<br /> Clouds Forming Crowns: All the Pharmacies<br /> Circus Devils: Pinball Mars
2005:<br /> The Celebrity Pilots: Beneath the Pavement, a Beach!<br /> Clouds Forming Crowns: self-titled<br /> Circus Devils: FIVE<br /> The Moping Swans: Lightning Head to Coffee Pot
2006:<br /> Robert Pollard: From a Compound Eye<br /> Robert Pollard: Normal Happiness<br /> Brian Lisik: Happiness is Boring<br /> Clouds Forming Crowns: Race to the Blackout<br /> Psycho and the Birds: All that is Holy<br /> Psycho and the Birds: Check your Zoo EP
2007:<br /> Circus Devils: Sgt. Disco<br /> Robert Pollard: Standard Gargoyle Decisions<br /> Robert Pollard: Coast to Coast Carpet of Love<br /> Robert Pollard: Silverfish Trivia<br /> Psycho and the Birds: We've Moved<br /> The Celebrity Pilots: Spooky Action <br /> The Library is on Fire: Cassette <br /> George Griggs: Transmitter Man<br /> Coffinberry: God Dam Dogs<br /> Humphry Clinker: WhatâÂÂs the Story With the Knife?<br /> The Sorrys: The Last Clear Thought Before You Fall Backwards
2008:<br /> Robert Pollard: Robert Pollard Is Off to Business<br /> Circus Devils: ATAXIA <br /> Slark Martyr: Cave in the A-Frame<br /> Kramies: Golden Like a New Thing<br /> The Softrocks: Summer Apocalypse<br /> The Frozen Hellsicles: Oh No Wait a Minute...<br /> Humphry Clinker: Among Cutting Threads EP<br /> Slark Martyr: Imagination and a Pile of Dirt
2009:<br /> Robert Pollard: The Crawling Distance<br /> Robert Pollard: Elephant Jokes<br /> Circus Devils: Gringo <br /> The Sleeptalkers: Back to Earth <br /> Kramies: Castle of Ghosts <br /> The No Real Need: Thistles Where We Slept <br /> Ceiling Star: New Advances in the Field of Obsolescence
2010:<br /> Robert Pollard: Moses on a Snail <br /> Robert Pollard: We All Got Out of the Army <br /> Circus Devils: Mother Skinny <br /> The Celebrity Pilots: Hawks of the Lesser Antilles <br /> The Library is on Fire: Magic Bumrush Heartz<br /> Brother Earth: Pajama Party <br /> Clouds Forming Crowns: Ouija Board Taxman <br /> Hospital garden: Hospital garden
2011:<br /> Robert Pollard: Lord of the Birdcage <br /> Robert Pollard: Space City Kicks <br /> Circus Devils: Capsized! <br /> Clouds Forming Crowns: Allowing Thunderhead <br /> The Library is on Fire: Works On Paper <br /> The Flower Machine: Lavender Lane
2012:<br /> Robert Pollard: Jack Sells The Cow <br /> Robert Pollard: Mouseman Cloud <br /> Guided by Voices: The Bears for Lunch <br /> Guided by Voices: Class Clown Spots a UFO <br /> Kramies:The European <br /> The No Real Need: Nonlocal Motives<br /> Brother Earth: Brother Earth III <br /> Scarcity Of Tanks: Ohio Captives<br /> Johnny Render: Rendervoux
2013:<br /> Robert Pollard: Blazing Gentlemen <br />Robert Pollard: Honey Locust Honky Tonk <br /> Kramies: The Wooden Heart <br /> Circus Devils: When Machines Attack <br /> Circus Devils: My Mind Has Seen the White Trick <br /> King Pedestrian: King Pedestrian
2014:<br /> Circus Devils: "Escape" <br /> Brother Earth: "Positive Haywires"
2015:<br /> Robert Pollard: Faulty Superheroes <br /> Circus Devils: Stomping Grounds <br /> The World Of Dust: Womb Realm <br /> The Flower Machine: Tangerines and Opium Trees
2017:<br /> Circus Devils: Laughs Last <br />
2018:<br /> Moonchy & Tobias: self-titled <br />
2019:<br /> The World Of Dust: Samsara <br /> Moonchy & Tobias: Atmosfere <br />
2020:<br /> Moonchy & Tobias: III <br />
2021:<br /> The World Of Dust: True Sound <br /> Moonchy & Tobias: Venus Mirror <br />
2022:<br /> Moonchy & Tobias: Golem <br />
2023:<br /> Circus Devils: Squeeze the Needle <br /> Moonchy & Tobias: Wild Eye <br />