Scalping the Guru received positive reviews from critics noted at review aggregator Metacritic. It has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on four reviews.[2] Editors at AllMusic rated this album 4 out of 5 stars and named it the Best of 2022,[3] with critic Fred Thomas writing that this period of Guided by Voice's career had "some of the strongest indie rock of its era as well as being emblematic of the lo-fi movement the band was at the forefront of".[4] Pat King of Paste rated the compilation an 8.5 out of 10, calling it "a must for longtime fans who have logged countless hours trying to nab original copies of these EPs".[5]PopMatters' John Garratt rated Scalping the Guru a 7 out of 10, calling the music "fun, rough, and artful" and "a treat".[6]
"Grandfather Westinghouse" (R. Pollard) – 2:24 (Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer)
"Johnny Appleseed" (J. Pollard, R. Pollard, and Sprout) – 2:21
"Scalping the Guru" (R. Pollard) – 0:59 (Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer)
Tracks omitted include "Queen of Second Guessing" (Get Out of My Stations), "Blue Moon Fruit" (Get Out of My Stations), "3rd World Birdwatching" (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle), "Snowman" (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle), "Marchers in Orange" (Different Version) (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle), "Dusted" (Different Version) (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle), "Kisses to the Crying Cooks" (Fast Japanese Spin Cycle), and "Broadcaster House" (Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer)
