Stephen Malkmus

Like I said, I've only heard it once via the NPR stream so I'm trying to withhold final judgement until I spend more time with it. But, based on that one listen, it sounds really promising! And hits at a lot of what I like about Malkmus. My "ugh" was referring to the tone and style of the review, as I said, I don't like those headfake reviews - just be straight up with me.

I'm definitely not a Malkmus apologist, by any means, but I don't see how we have to be slavishly devoted to like this album? I mean, the funny thing is, I was all set to NOT like it because of the Beck production. I think he's got a little bit too heavy of a hand sometimes (see the overwhelming string arrangements on the Thurston Moore record) and I didn't think he'd at all be a good fit for Malkmus. But he surprised me.

Oh how we loved Stephen Malkmus in our youth! One of the few indie rock Prime Ministers to ever be elected to a second term. Oh how you dominated the 90s with your style and wit, your passion and melody. But those days are over. Your riddles have run dry. Your mystery is no longer engaging. Your sense of abandon morphed along the way from ‘not giving a fuck’ into ‘not giving a shit’. Even your high-faluting, scrabble-playing, crossword-solving intellect seems to have deserted you (using ‘bourgeoisie’ as an adjective, really Stephen).

i think this is awful. that is what made me say "ugh." how old is this writer, 20? i just think it's nonsense, a refusal to take a record on its own terms, instead trotting out tired cliches about the guy.

dusted review: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/6637

He has revealed himself to be kind of a sphinx without a secret, no? And I like him!

Yeah, I really like that Dusted review.

i think this is awful. that is what made me say "ugh." how old is this writer, 20? i just think it's nonsense, a refusal to take a record on its own terms, instead trotting out tired cliches about the guy.

Even the Pitchfork review pulled a similar line out of the stable -- something about how we thirtysomethings have all longed for dear Stephen to make a solo album as good as a Pavement record. I don't care if he ever does! Why hold on to an illusion?

because you're a dumbass music writer for pitchfork and you cant think of anything decent to say about Malkmus

kidding! i love pitchfork! it's a wonderful website!

but yeah i hate how his stuff is always compared to pavement. i read an interview with joanna, the bass player of his band, and she pointed out she's played with SM as long as anyone from pavement now.

Thanks for engaging people! I like that Dusted review too. It too leans heavily on referencing Pavement and his legacy but goes for a mostly positive spin - but still an interesting take.

"Oh how we loved Stephen Malkmus in our youth! One of the few indie rock Prime Ministers to ever be elected to a second term. Oh how you dominated the 90s with your style and wit, your passion and melody. But those days are over. Your riddles have run dry. Your mystery is no longer engaging. Your sense of abandon morphed along the way from ‘not giving a fuck’ into ‘not giving a shit’. Even your high-faluting, scrabble-playing, crossword-solving intellect seems to have deserted you (using ‘bourgeoisie’ as an adjective, really Stephen)."

Tyler :I guess this just points to the fact that the writer is struggling to overcome the Malkmus past- his 'legacy' etc. Isn't that just being honest about where he is coming from and why?

Does he want a cookie as a reward for his honesty?

Doesn't make him the right guy for the piece & doesn't make it a well-constructed piece. xp

After a listen and a half, I think the record's solid. I know what I like about Malkmus, and a lot of what I like is here. Sometimes I wish he would aim a little higher or step out of his comfort zone or whatever, but I'll take it for what it is - aiming for significance has never been his metier, and he was already a pretty mellow guy at 26. He still writes good songs, but because he's mellowed out even more since Pavement split he'll probably never write anything major again. Just keep cranking out dependable, crafty records. In the context of his solo oeuvre, this is one of the craftiest. And that's OK - I don't need it to *matter*. Anyway, Beck is a fresh and receptive pair of ears - the thing sounds great. Even the throwaways have a flourish here or a guitar line there to recommend them.

He can't aim higher or step out of his comfort zone cuz he's a fortysomething who probably can't, especially after he already recorded Pavement albums that aimed pretty high.

one thing about that dusted review -- "on Mirror Traffic, there’s a recapturing of the joy he clearly felt on Pavement’s final full-length, Terror Twilight."
joy? man, that's not what i hear happening on that record at all. he sounds like he's having a LOT more fun on his first solo rec.

when is he not having fun? Whatever else, the dude likes to sing wacky lyrics and play guitar.

pig lib was not much fun

oh if I have to judge Mr. Malkmus' idea of fun on top of mine I wouldn't have time to eat.

OK, as the Pavement poll thread is dormant here might be the place to ask the stans to recommend some really great writing about the band. I was always a casual fan (though somehow I was at the 1992 show that's preserved on the Slanted & Enchanted deluxe edition) and didn't vote in the poll but I have most of the albums so I created a poll results playlist and was surprised how much of it I loved and how hard I found it to put why I loved it into words given that so many of their signature qualities are, on paper, incredibly aggravating. There was much more emotion beneath the smartassery than I remembered and it doesn't derive from obvious emotional triggers in the lyrics. I feel in need of some smart writing about what made them great.

why do people feel the need to read about bands so much? what are you going to get from a piece of writing that you don't get from the music? serious question.

Christgau's essay-review of BTC contributed to my developing passion. I'll post it in a sec.

what are you going to get from a piece of writing that you don't get from the music?

Seriously? Insights ("I never listened to this song this way") and good turns of phrase.

and a paycheck, xxp

Thanks Alfred.

xp Well I'm a music critic who studied English Literature so this is what I do. I always get something out of good criticism - fresh insights, different angles, sharp observations, clarity of thought. If you don't get why reading criticism is pleasurable fair enough.

i get criticism of English Lit, totally. but even that is ridiculous at times.

I get weary of criticism when it's written badly.

Good criticism is good. Bad criticism is bad.

Malkmus was a hero to most but he never meant shit to me

Reading about music is great, for a ton of reasons. Great understanding of context, culture, etc - especially important when reading about a band or scene from before your time. Lots of funny, interesting studio stories.

Does he want a cookie as a reward for his honesty?

A few problems with this Alfred.
1.He has not stated what his favourite cookies are. We could choose oat and it might be chocolate chip. Therefore the recipient might actually just feel as though we didn't really want want our gift to be seen as sincere.
2.Who would send the cookies? Would this be every person who appreciated his honesty- like me? Or just those who are annoyed by it- like you?
3. There is also a risk that the mail service would crumble parts of the cookie in handling and processing the mail, therefore making the cookie somthing of a 'claytons' gift. Who would want a crumbly mess for a reward?

Malk's lyrics really rub me wrong nowadays. Not sure if my taste has changed or they've actually gotten worse. I think it's the latter.

"will come back to bite you in the rearest of ends"?

groan

"too busy putzin' 'round the Internet"

this album seems ok. definitely picks up steam in the second half.

andrew beckerman is the most tediously self-indulgent dusted reviewer. can't think of a single review where he's so much as mentioned a song title

Malkmus shreds on a few of these tunes.

musical ideas in half?

Despite everything my relationship with the rcord is growing stronger. Catchy bits running round in my head at starnge moments . I like what Beck has done with the vocals - using echo occasionally etc.... I also think the bits where Malk (generally to conclude a song) cranks up the guitar are more interesting, succinct than previously. His best solo record I think.

He shreds musical ideas in half, then multiplies them by two - all the while demonstrating pretty impressive chops for a guy who has never used a pick and who was kind of known as a sloppy musician for a long time.

why do people feel the need to read about bands so much? what are you going to get from a piece of writing that you don't get from the music? serious question.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Que.

Mr. WTF.

'Que?' would've been better I think.

i'm just glad someone came out against music criticism. maybe congress can put an end to this travesty, and soon.
― Mr. Que, Monday, March 22, 2010 4:01 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

you're a weirdo.

new drummer is pretty great!

http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/news/watch-stephen-malkmus-performs-hollywood-in-store/#.TlWUIeYx-wd

Que, I <3 you, I just think it's funny that someone who dislikes the entire enterprise of music criticism hangs out on ILM.

cool dude, <3 u, but it's not called I Love Music Criticisms, ya know? i'm here to shoot the shit and have some laughs

so is most criticism!

joos > jicks > pavement

smh

sb

when SM mockingly refers to his new bandmate as "the only guy left who still buys new R.E.M. albums" does he not realize that that is roughly the same set as "guys who still buy SM/Jicks albums"