Stephen Malkmus

I'm a rare mega-Pavement fan who feels that his solo work (& American Water) is stronger than BTC & TT...

I def. rate “American Water” above BTC / TT... not his solo stuff, tho. Except the “Pig Lib” bonus disc – that was as special thing.

Mirror Traffic is better than any of the other albums after Pig Lib, right?

yes.

new one is sounding better than mirror traffic imho

who's doing PR for this one? A different company than for previous SM albums? Because isn't that all we're talking about here? Matador springing for a major PR push? Call me cynical.

yes. but why now, is what i'm saying. what changed.

it's not a huge deal, i'm just interested in that kind of stuff.

he's one of a few whose new stuff is pretty eagerly awaited i'd say and discussion doesn't need much pushing from matador or billions or whoever

Maybe Malkmus and Matador just feel he has a strong record here and want to give it the push it deserves? Sparkle Hard definitely sounds more carefully crafted and has a higher standard of quality than most Jicks albums. I'd be proud of it too.

This is the guy who greeted his last album with a pull quote that "nothing classic is probably going on here, let's face it" so I take the increased push now as a way to broadcast that this album is a little more special than your usual Jicks release

“America’s Favorite Slacker Grows Up and Buckles Down”

I guess Corgan was right all along, Malkmus says, looking genuinely contrite as he gazes into his coffee cup. It took me all these years to realize the importance of a rock ‘n roll work ethic. I hope Billy accepts my apology...

bunny slopes probably otm

Anyone who hasn't read the Washington Post story needs to

“Slanted and enchanted” his greatest turn of phrase imho

Should make its way to the OED

“America’s Favorite Slacker Grows Up and Buckles Down”

/I guess Corgan was right all along,/ Malkmus says, looking genuinely contrite as he gazes into his coffee cup. /It took me all these years to realize the importance of a rock ‘n roll work ethic. I hope Billy accepts my apology.../

Just some speculative fiction (lol)

“Slanted and enchanted” his greatest turn of phrase imho

I think that was “Crooked Rain (x2)”?

“The title Slanted and Enchanted is taken from the title of a cartoon made by Silver Jews frontman David Berman.”

From wiki. Not sure about Crooked Rain. Great title nonetheless. Enjoy them both immensely as lyricists, as different as they are. Always be a Berman man myself if I had to choose, though.

Oh wow. I didn’t think DB could improve in my estimation but yet.

DB:slanted and enchanted::SM:wowee zowee

well there is a Zappa song called Wowie Zowie

Hence also the ingeniously triple-entendre–titled odds ’n ends bootleg “Stuff Up the Cracks” (also a Zappa title) – which I think actually came out before “WZ,” so not sure how they anticipated the title?

DB:slanted and enchanted::SM:wowee zowee

― calstars, Friday, May 18, 2018 7:39 PM (three hours ago)

another nope:

The album's title is an homage to former drummer Gary Young, who would frequently yell "Wowee zowee!" when excited.

really into "solid silk"

yes, this album is really good, one of his best. "bike lane" is Malk at his most political and angry

i'm at peace with my mentors

This is really good. Highlights after the first few listens:

-the little instrumental breaks after the verses on "Bike Lane"
-Kim Gordon!

not sure I'm ready for Woke Malkmus tbh

I don't know what that even means tbh

"Malk at his most political and angry" sounds exactly like "Malk not being political and angry at all" to me fwiw

I mean he literally namechecks Freddie Gray which is kinda tough to imagine on...any other Malkmus record

Oh I know, I was just saying that it still sounds like Stephen Malkmus, and in no way did it even occur to me that someone would hear it and think "oh man, I am not prepared to process this stage of this man's career."

he did write Senator on the last record though - which i took to be obviously political - i think he should do more of this stuff - to my ears it was his best song in an age because it seemed to be so pointed

But Senator was two records ago! #justiceforjagbags

oh sorry i am sure you are right - yep - just making the point that he hasn't been entirely apolitical this whole time

(apologies for the unnecessarily pedantic post that really was just an excuse to post a hashtag that I thought was funny)

He referenced Bob Packwood's sexual harassment scandals about 15 years ago in "Vanessa From Queens".

Oh I know, I was just saying that it still sounds like Stephen Malkmus, and in no way did it even occur to me that someone would hear it and think "oh man, I am not prepared to process this stage of this man's career."

― cwkiii, Tuesday, May 22, 2018 9:41 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

wasn't thinking "oh man, I am not prepared to process this stage of this man's career," was thinking "this artist who has built a career on sarcasm and above-it-all ironic detachment is now obliquely referencing social justice in a way that seems conspicuous and a tad insincere given that he has been basically shrugging at such things for decades"

I guess if part of what someone enjoys the most about him is his sarcasm and above-it-all ironic detachment then if they pay attention to the lyrics of this one song they might be slightly let down? But it's a really good song! Especially if you dig him as a guitarist.

I get how that could bug you but it was kind of a bummer to think that it would dissuade you from checking out the record because, like I said before, it still sounds like a Malkmus song and it doesn't scan as like, preachy or whatever.

it's like processing that joe strummer grew up relatively privileged

fwiw, he did write that Pavement song “Grounded”

conspicuous? yes.
a tad insincere? i don't hear/believe that.
a little disjointed / not fully formed as a concept / political statement? yes, i think that's a fair criticism.

Writing a (good) politically / socially conscious song must be particularly challenging for even a good songwriter

Maybe "insincere" is harsh, I take that back. I mean, I'm quite sure the guy's heart is in the right place. I just don't listen to Malkmus wanting or expecting social commentary. Does anyone?

FWIW I repped hard for Jagbags (see upthread) and am definitely a fan, in case that wasn't clear.

Maybe "insincere" is harsh, I take that back. I mean, I'm quite sure the guy's heart is in the right place. I just don't listen to Malkmus wanting or expecting social commentary. Does anyone?

I care quite a bit more about Malkmus' songwriting than your opinion of it, if that's what you're asking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKpi9cAmnfo

malk doing "solid silk" on the 12-string <3

I had missed this interview, it's great: https://www.spin.com/featured/stephen-malkmus-and-tim-heidecker-in-conversation-fleetwood-mac-internet-trolls-and-hating-frank-zappa/

Heidecker: What’s your take on Frank Zappa?

Malkmus: I’m not a fan, to be honest.

Heidecker: I have never met a fan! I’ve never met a fan!

Malkmus: Yeah, I don’t think it’s good music. I know a lot of people compare me to him, especially in Brazil. For some reason, the Frank Zappa underground there thinks of me as Zappa-esque. It’s parody in the end, but you can’t put all your chips on parody unless it’s full parody. Weird Al is one thing, he’s awesome. But that’s a different thing.

Wow, that's a better (off-the-cuff) take on Zappa than I think I've ever been able to put together the many times I've tried to explain my distaste. Zappa fans have much in common with the neckbeard ime

yeah, reducing Zappa's entire body of work to "parody," what a hot take. so original

Malkmus schmalkmus

Could just reduce it to “garbage”