20033 keepers, nope, 5
keeper avg .454
An actual hardcore Pavement fan would be able to tell the obvious ways that this record sounds nothing like Pavement, but aside from a simpler, stripped-down sound, the largest element remains in Malkmus. However, the absence of the other members may have affected the depth of the material, as the most essential tracks are the opening trio. "Water And A Seat"**** has the ADD stream of consciousness of "Stereo", but also the busy and jokey meter which make it better than a typical solo outing. Likewise the comically bouncing guitar riffs in "Do Not Feed The Oyster"**** give the song a memorable texture, but also sets a big rock bridge. These two bookend the mellow and melodic "Ramp Of Death"****. Most of the songs are what I would expect, save "Dark Wave", seemingly copping the Cars' keyboards. The albums lags a bit in the middle with the hammy wah-guitar in "Sheets" - "it takes all night to get off you", and the lazy vocals of "Animal Midnight". "1% of One" starts as an pretty amazing impression of Sleater Kinney, until the goofy baroque arrangements corresponding to the 1% of one chorus; he should have quit with these elements, as almost seven minutes of noisy guitar wankery becomes unnecessary. But when most of the songs seem exactly like Pavement album tracks, taken as a whole the album is not bad at all.
keeper avg .454
An actual hardcore Pavement fan would be able to tell the obvious ways that this record sounds nothing like Pavement, but aside from a simpler, stripped-down sound, the largest element remains in Malkmus. However, the absence of the other members may have affected the depth of the material, as the most essential tracks are the opening trio. "Water And A Seat"**** has the ADD stream of consciousness of "Stereo", but also the busy and jokey meter which make it better than a typical solo outing. Likewise the comically bouncing guitar riffs in "Do Not Feed The Oyster"**** give the song a memorable texture, but also sets a big rock bridge. These two bookend the mellow and melodic "Ramp Of Death"****. Most of the songs are what I would expect, save "Dark Wave", seemingly copping the Cars' keyboards. The albums lags a bit in the middle with the hammy wah-guitar in "Sheets" - "it takes all night to get off you", and the lazy vocals of "Animal Midnight". "1% of One" starts as an pretty amazing impression of Sleater Kinney, until the goofy baroque arrangements corresponding to the 1% of one chorus; he should have quit with these elements, as almost seven minutes of noisy guitar wankery becomes unnecessary. But when most of the songs seem exactly like Pavement album tracks, taken as a whole the album is not bad at all.
Update comments:
"Vanessa From Queens"**** is pleasant and subtly charming, almost like Al Stewart or Steely Dan. And as much as I can't argue with my previous comments, the nine-minute "1% of One"**** rabbit hole is a fun one.
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