Pavement

About the Artist
Five artists whose style creates an original vibe that rides 'power-folkified-funk-rock-sweetness' all the way to the love-illennium. LOFT redefines the landscapes of music with their unique spin on energy, groove, style and soul. What do you call a sound that is influenced by artists like Sting, Matthew Sweet, The Foo Fighters, and Lenny Kravitz? LOFT calls it SMOOTH POWER-POP. Once you experience LOFT, you'll surely embrace the love-illennium.

Product Description
Bursting with good vibes and the only sweetness you can find in the love-illennium, ENTER: PAVEMENT. PAVEMENT is a roller coaster of energy with such songs as Wanna Say and the CD's title track. Blending suntan visions of Another Time with the fireplace passions of Everything, there is no doubt this work of art is: the one CD you bring to a desert island.

Pavement

Pavement,Loft,Loft,PAVEMENT is a roller coaster of energy. Blending suntan visions of Another Time with the fireplace passions of Everything, there is no doubt this work of art is: "...the one CD you'd bring to a desert island."

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Average customer rating: love it Great record oops, I misjudged them Deeper on every listen. Great Pop (Which May or May Not Change Your Life)

Chutes Too Narrow The Shins Manufacturer: Sub Pop ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Crane Wife Garden State We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank Plans The Good, the Bad & the Queen ASIN: B00009LVXT Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

1. Kissing the Lipless
2. Mine's Not A High Horse
3. So Says I
4. Young Pilgrims
5. Saint Simon
6. Fighting In a Sack
7. Pink Bullets
8. Turn a Square
9. Gone For Good
10. Those to Come

Amazon.com

The Shins' sophomore album is a joy from start to finish, though it's rather different from their 2001 leftfield pop genius stunner Oh, Inverted World. That album was like a warm embrace from a long-lost pal. True to its title, all of the songs were of a piece, seeming to inhabit one landscape, with an invitingly similar sound throughout. Chutes is more far-reaching and decidedly eclectic. Each song is essentially its own genre exercise. There's singer-songwriter James Mercer's surprisingly Perry Farrell-ish wail on the almost indie-metal opener, "Kissing the Lipless"; the lovely pedal steel lilt to "Gone for Good"; the moody folktronica of "Those to Come"; and the Cars-gone-rockabilly riffing on "Turn a Square." The strongest song, the acoustic "Young Pilgrims," is stripped-down and brilliant. On every tune, Mercer packs more hooks and melodic invention than most bands do on one album. As a whole, it's an even better record than Inverted World. --Mike McGonigal

Album Description

Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins heavily anticipated follow-up (to Oh, Inverted World), was recorded in (singer/songwriter) James Mercer's basement home studio, with later mixing assistance from Phil Ek. And, with 10 songs, clocking in at just over 30 minutes, the new record is a brief yet entirely scintillating glimpse at chiming, reflective and perfectly skewed pop innovation.

Customer Reviews:

love it.......2007-06-27

after I saw "Garden State" I became obsessed with the Shins. Love the entire CD.

Great record.......2007-05-25

These guys can really cover every genre of music but what sets them apart are the lyrics and when they rock out. Great music.

oops, I misjudged them.......2007-01-15

I first heard the Shins off of the soundtrack "Garden State" and instantly loved their sound. The soundtrack featured "Caring is Creepy" and "A New Slang". I went out trying to find the album that had these songs but "Chutes Too Narrow" was the only one I could find, so I purchased it instead. I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but I guess I was expecting a different sound. Right away I loved "So Says I" and "Saint Simon". I found that the more I listened to the album that I loved every song. I felt bad that I didn't feel impressed when I first bought it, because I was very wrong. James Mercer has a beautiful way of arranging his words making me feel that I can't get enough of the Shins. It's like that other guy said, you will find something new in each song as you listen to them over and over again.

Deeper on every listen........2006-12-28

On their softmore album, The shins shed alot of the overdubbed fluff and concentrate on good ol' honest to god songwriting. With the vocals suddenly thrust to the forfront instead of being buried behind layers of sound we find a real frontman whose words are competent and well placed who as groove and a nervous delivery to put in with the best of indie rock, alt-country and neo folk.

What really gets you about this album and indeed, the Shins in general is the depth. Repeated listens will give you new and exciting perspectives on the songs. It's one of those albums where eevry song on it ends up being your favorite at some point. Initial stand-out tracks are the bubbly jaunting pop of "Young Pilgrims", and the shiver inducing indie ballad "Pink Bullets". But each track here offers something subtly but wholly different. The jittery but smooth "So says I" will get right at you with a relentless drive and lyrical barrage. "Gone For Good" will please any country purist both musically and lyrically. Slide guitar and a bassline that may as well be belted through the lids of jars.

The plain fact is; this is a solid pop album. If you like music there should be no reason to not love this one. It'd be welcome in anyones music collection.

Great Pop (Which May or May Not Change Your Life).......2006-08-20

The Shins are truly unique. It's as if they are visiting us from a slightly parallel universe where whimsy and beauty are more highly prized.

Average customer rating: Good deal... The first, record from the great SM Could not be any better What is there to say about Pavement? Crucial Indie

Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Daydream Nation Loveless The Crane Wife Keep It Like a Secret Perfect From Now On ASIN: B00006JLX4 Release Date: 2002-10-22

Tracks:

1. Summer Babe (Winter Version)
2. Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at :17
3. No Life Singed Her
4. In The Mouth A Desert
5. Conduit For Sale!
6. Z - rich Is Stained
7. Chesley's Little Wrists
8. Loretta's Scars
9. Here
10. Two States
11. Perfume-V
12. Fame Throwa
13. Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era
14. Our Singer
15. Summer Baby (7" version)
16. Mercy Snack: The Laundromat
17. Baptist Blacktick
18. My First Mine
19. Here (alternate mix)
20. Nothing Ever Happens
21. Circa 1762 (John Peel Session - June 23, 1992)
22. Kentucky Cocktail (John Peel Session - June 23, 1992)
23. Secret Knowledge of Backroads (John Peel Session - June 23, 1992)
24. Here (John Peel Session - June 23, 1992)

Tracks:

1. Texas Never Whispers (from Watery, Domestic)
2. Frontwards (from Watery, Domestic)
3. Lions (Linden) (from Watery, Domestic)
4. Shoot The Singer (1 Sick Verse) (from Watery, Domestic)
5. Sue Me Jack (Watery Sessions)
6. So Stark (You're a Skyscraper) (Watery Sessions)
7. Greenlander (Watery Sessions)
8. Rain Ammunition (John Peel Session - December 16, 1992)
9. Drunks with Guns (John Peel Session - December 16, 1992)
10. Ed Ames (John Peel Session - December 16, 1992)
11. The List of Dorms (John Peel Session - December 16, 1992)
12. Conduit For Sale (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
13. Fame Throwa (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
14. Home (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
15. Perfume V (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
16. Summer Babe (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
17. Frontwards (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
18. Angel Carver Blues/Mellow Jazz Docent (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
19. Two States (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
20. No Life Singed Her (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
21. So Stark (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
22. Box Elder (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
23. Baby Yeah (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)
24. In the Mouth a Desert (Live Brixton Academy London December 14, 1992)

Album Description

The remastered version of Pavement's seminal debut. 2 CDs, 48 tracks , 23 unreleased recordings , 8 unreleased songs . The complete "Slanted" recording sessions along with the contemporary "Watery, Domestic" EP, B-sides, compilation tracks, outtakes, two Peel sessions and a complete live concert.

Simultaneous release with "Slow Century" double DVD chronicling the band's entire career.

Album Description

Full Title - Slanted & Enchanted - Luxe & Reduxe. The classic 1992 debut from indie rock originators, remastered and expanded with 6 tracks from the Slanted Sessions (2 previously unreleased) & 4 previously unreleased tracks from the John Peel Session #1 on disc 1. Disc 2 features 7 studio tracks along with 4 previously unreleased live tracks recorded for the John Peel Show, BBC Radio 1, 1992. To finish the set, 13 previously unreleased live tracks recorded at the Brixton Academy, London 1992. Slipcase with 62 page color booklet. Matador. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Good deal..........2007-07-19

I'm so proud that I got this amazing album at just half the original price over Amazon. Talk about perfect timing! :D It was listed as one of the indie classics, and Amazon was kind enough to offer them all at the incredible price of $9.99. It was like... only a couple of months ago? Makes me sad to see the price gone all the way back up to $18.98...

The first, record from the great SM.......2007-07-14

When I first bought this album, five years ago, I knew very little about indie/punk rock. I was into Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Nine Inch Nails (all great bands, but hardly uncommon preferences). I hated it. I found it boring, noisy, and uninteresting...
One year later, I stumbled upon the discs, and thought I'd give them a second chance. All I could think was, "What the hell was wrong with me, back then." The openning track, "Summer Babe" is a shining example of amazing lo-fi indie rock. "Here" is a beautiful, downtrodden ballad. Full of lyrics that start off nice, then a split second later, become rather depressing - "I was dressed for success... But Success, it never comes." And "Perfume V" is a small but very clear window into Stephen Malkmus' undeniable ability to write a good, solid pop song.
This album defines late 80's-early 90's underground rock. It helped birth bands like Weezer and Bright Eyes. If you already own the original release, you're probably a fan, and should get this for the extra thirty-something tracks. If you've never heard pavement, don't start here. Try something more palpable, first. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain and Terror Twilight are excellent records and are very listenable. Start there, then get this.

Could not be any better.......2007-05-21

All I can say about this CD is that it is an incredible value. You get one of the best albums of the 90's(Slanted and Enchanted), one of the best EP's of the 90's (Watery, Domestic), a short but highly energetic great sounding live show, and a bunch of outakes........However if you have not heard tracks 20-23 on disc 1, you have not heard lofi Indie. These 4 tracks define lofi at it's best. If I could only have 5 albums on the proverbeal dessert island this would be one of them. AND IT'S ONLY 9.99!! Amazing!!!

What is there to say about Pavement?.......2007-04-18

Pavement represents for most what "indie" rock sounds like: witty, ironic, clever pop songs wrapped in guitar noise. Steve Malkmus created some very catchy tunes like the lead song off the album (it has a killer bass-line!). The guitar noise squelches are very good and are on par with those of the Jesus and Mary Chain. To me, Pavement, on this album, sounds like a poppier and funnier version of the Jesus and Mary Chain.

A truly great album is both innovative and stands the test of time (at the time of this review it is nearly 15 years). While I doubt that this album was truly innovative (see Psychocandy and White Light/ White Heat) it did spark a revolution in the world of indie rock, much like REM's Murmer album in the early 1980s.

To fans of noisy pop music, like myself, this album is wonderful. Pavement may have made better albums (see Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain) but this album is great and stands up to the test of time almost perfectly (this record smells of the 1990s but maybe that isn't that bad). Don't let this record's faint aura of indie-rock-hipster "greater than thou" elitism get in the way of your listening pleasure. I highly recommend this recording from Pavement.

Crucial Indie.......2007-01-28

Quite possible the best indie albums you'll ever come across (not to mention that fact that your getting two crucial fresh albums for the price of one.) I stumbled upon this a few years ago at the suggestion of a friend: no media hype influence what so ever. With me some songs jump out at you and some grow on you over time. Summer babe, here, and in the mouth of a desert are some of their 'hits' while trigger cut, two states, perfume v, fame throwa, our singer, mecy snack, my first mine, baptist blacktick, my first mine, nothing ever happens, kentucky cocktail, secret knowledge, frontwards, and so stark all have a carisma to them (alot of which are pop songs in their own goofy and/or sophisticated way) that make this album worth buying twice. It's not a masterpiece in the way it's compiled and transitions from song to song, but, there are so many substantially effective and well developed songs here that stand strong on their own. There's more melodies and stoner rock than you can shake a stick at. You can definitely pick up on pavementisms that weezer later incorporated into their sound. There's a good chance that these songs will grow on you. If not you can just pick up weezer's blue album and enjoy the corporate driven commercial version of pavement.

side note: other than westing these are the only pavement songs with predominant lofi punk influece (IE the fall)

Average customer rating: the album in constant rotation on the jukebox in my brain This album goes up to 6 A Great Reissue of a Great Album wowzer four and a half for the album and four for the extras

Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ys The Good, the Bad & the Queen We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank The Information Orphans [Fold-out Digipak with 24-page booklet] ASIN: B000IOMXXA Release Date: 2006-11-07

Tracks:

1. We Dance
2. Rattled by the Rush
3. Black Out
4. Brinx Job
5. Grounded
6. Serpentine Pad
7. Motion Suggests Itself
8. Father to a Sister Of Thought
9. Extradition
10. Best Friend's Arm
11. Grave Architecture
12. AT & T
13. Flux = Rad
14. Fight This Generation
15. Kennel District
16. Pueblo
17. Half a Canyon
18. Western Homes
19. Sordid [previously unreleased Wowee Zowee session outtake]
20. Brink of the Clouds [Rattled by the Rush b-side]
21. False Skorpion [Rattled by the Rush b-side]
22. Easily Fooled [Rattled by the Rush b-side]
23. Kris Kraft [Father to a Sister of Thought b-side]
24. Mussle Rock [Father to a Sister of Thought b-side]
25. Give It a Day [Pacific Trim EP]
26. Gangsters & Pranksters [Pacific Trim EP]
27. Saganaw [Pacific Trim EP]
28. I Love Perth [Pacific Trim EP]
29. Sentinel [previously unreleased Wowee Zowee session outtake]

Tracks:

1. Sensitive Euro Man [I Shot Andy Warhol soundtrack]
2. Stray Fire [previously unreleased Wowee Zowee session outtake]
3. Fight This Generation [recorded March 3, 1994 at Hilversum, Holland]
4. Easily Fooled [recorded March 3, 1994 at Hilversum, Holland]
5. Soul Food [Wowee Zowee jam session w/Doug Easley on piano]
6. It's a Hectic World [from Homage to Descendents tribute album]
7. Kris Kraft [BBC in-studio; Steve Lamacq Evening Session, March 15, 1995]
8. Golden Boys/Serpentine Pad [BBC in-studio; Steve Lamacq Evening Session, March 15, 1995]
9. Painted Soldiers [BBC in-studio; Steve Lamacq Evening Session, March 15, 1995]
10. I Love Perth [BBC in-studio; Steve Lamacq Evening Session, March 15, 1995]
11. Dancing With the Elders [from Medusa Cyclone/Pavement split 7"]
12. Half a Canyon [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
13. Best Friend's Arm [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
14. Brink of the Clouds/Candylad [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
15. Unfair [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
16. Eaily Fooled [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
17. Heaven Is a Truck [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
18. Box Elder [live; Wireless JJJ Radio, Australia, July 7, 1994]
19. No More Kings [from Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks comp]
20. Painted Soldiers [from Kids in the Hall in Brain Candy soundtrack]
21. We Dance (alternate mix) [previously unreleased Wowee Zowee session outtake]

Album Description

Originally released in April 1995, fresh off the success of "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain", the band recorded a deliberately chaotic and eclectic album that sounded nothing like its predecessor. With influences from the Groundhogs to the Frogs, Captain Beefheart to the more obscure mid-'80s central California hardcore bands, "Wowee Zowee" confused critics and alienated fans. Yet it became a fan favorite over time. The songs have a darkness that now seems appropriate and with Bryce Goggin at the mixing desk, the production was the band's most rocking to date. This super-deluxe re-mastered comp contains an embossed slipcase with two CDs and a 64-page perfect-bound book, fifty tracks total; eighteen unreleased recordings, nine non-album b-sides, four compilation tracks, five BBC Evening Session tracks and much more.

Customer Reviews:

the album in constant rotation on the jukebox in my brain.......2007-07-20

i imagine that everyone has a record or two that they know every note from beginning to end, not a wasted nanosecond. from the moment that i hear that opening Eminor chord, i'm whisked away on the Nostalgia Magic Carpet back to my freshman year of high school, emphasis on the former. i can practically smell the hacking-coughed exhales of after school bong hits, shooting pool w/'brinx job' in the background, swearing that the vocal effect on the last few seconds sounds exactly like "Twin Infinitives" era Royal Trux, catatonic on the couch in statuesque bliss by the time 'at&t' comes on. In a time when insecurities both internal and physical were abound, the brilliance of this album was one thing i was absolutely sure about. the best part of the re-issue is the inclusion of the b-sides from the 'rattled by the rush' single. the 'give it a day' single is included as well. it's not as "groundbreaking" as "S&E," and lacks the instant confectionery appeal of "CRCR," but this is the album that marked their creative peak. it takes at least 5 listens before its genious slowly reveals itself, but trust me--invest that time in Wowee Zowee.

This album goes up to 6.......2007-07-14

My favorite Pavement record (and quite possibly my favorite album of all time. Right up there with The Clash's London Calling and Built To Spill's You In Reverse), re-released, with and additional 32 tracks! Few things, in this world are capable of reaching this caliber of awesomeness.
This album is absolutely every face of Pavement. From their noisy roots, to their folky love, to their jazzy experiments, to... Well... Almost every kind of rock n' roll you can think of.
The album starts with "We Dance", a song full of mindless lyrics, with absolutely no sense of meaning, that still seems strangely emotional. "Father To A Sister of Thought" is a progressive masterpiece with folk rhythms and harmonies. "AT&T" just makes me smile every time I hear that openning gasp, followed by "Lately... Someone's gonna save me... My Heart Is Made of gravy...". I don't know what it is about that lyric, but it just makes me happy.
This is, however, an album for fanboys (like me) and music geeks (like me), that are in love with diversity and experimentation, and can't stand songs that sound like they fit perfectly into a genre. So, if you are a punk, jazz, or folk purist, just be warned that you will be disappointed with a large portion of these cd's.
For the rest of us, not only is this my favorite Pavement album, it's also my favorite re-release, so far. The bonus tracks here are genuinely great songs. Especially "False Skorpion", "Sensitive Euro Man", and the short but sweet "I Love Perth".

P.S. I heard a rumor that the band might get back together for a tour!

A Great Reissue of a Great Album.......2007-06-13

Wowee Zowee is one of the most impressionistic rock albums that I have ever heard. The lyrics appear to be complete nonsense, the music is unstructured and chaotic, and the album as a whole is inconsistent and uneven. You could consider all of these things drawbacks, and for a typical band, they are. But Pavement is different. All of those negatives I mentioned are what define Pavement and what make them great.

Wowee Zowee is probably the most difficult of Pavement albums. It's incredibly scattershot and some of the songs are downright goofs that don't really click. But the best of the bunch are classics. Grounded, We Dance, Rattled By the Rush, and Half a Canyon are all great songs. Songs like Brinx Job and Flux=Rad are not bad necessarily, they just seem like half formed ideas or goofs that the band decided to record.

The Sordid Sentinels addition continues the great run of Pavement reisssues. If you're looking to purchase this album, then go with the deluxe addition. It's relatively cheap for a two disc package with a huge booklet, and there are several gems scattered throughout the b-sides like Sensitive Euro Man.

For a Pavement newbie I would recommend Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain first. I think that's there best album and the song structures are coherent and some of the lyrics (though not many) even make sense. I'm hoping for similar two disc treatments for Brighten the Corners and Terror Twilight in the next few years.

wowzer.......2007-05-21

a very good listen.a mixture of well known and less well known tracks.great electric guitar rifts,some really wierd noises.alot of effort went into this with feeling.

four and a half for the album and four for the extras.......2007-05-21

this is an album that makes people wish they could make music as beautiful as this. the vocals are iconic, and the guitar tone is absolutely perfect! every time i listen to "rattled by the rush" it makes me want to write more music like this. pavement is what every other indie band in the early 90's wished they could be. as great as CRCR is, this is where they really reached their most mature and the songs on here are just absolutely incredible. there are a few that i don't dig that much, but luckily their pushed towards the end of this.

Average customer rating: Oh... Pavement... You make me smile "Out on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins..." Not A Masterpiece! Back to the Gold Soundz Some of the outtakes should remain as they were

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain: L.A.'s Desert Origins Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Daydream Nation Loveless Bee Thousand Sister Perfect From Now On ASIN: B0003JAIYG Release Date: 2004-10-26

Tracks:

1. Silence Kit
2. Elevate Me Later
3. Stop Breathin'
4. Cut Your Hair
5. Newark Wilder
6. Unfair
7. Gold Soundz
8. 5-4=Unity
9. Range Life
10. Heaven Is A truck
11. Hit the Plane Down
12. Filmore Jive
13. Camera
14. Stare
15. Raft
16. Coolin' By Sound
17. Kneeling Bus
18. Strings Of Nashville
19. Exit Theory
20. 5-4 Vocal
21. Jam Kids
22. Haunt You Down
23. Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence
24. Nail Clinic

Tracks:

1. All My Friends
2. Soiled Little Filly
3. Range Life
4. Stop Breathing
5. Ell Ess Two
6. Flux = Rad
7. Bad Version Of War
8. Same Way Of Saying
9. Hands Off The Bayou
10. Heaven Is A Truck (Egg Shell)
11. Grounded
12. Kennel District
13. Pueblo (Beach Boys)
14. Fucking Righteous
15. Colorado
16. Dark Ages
17. Flood Victim
18. JMC Retro
19. Rug Rat
20. Strings Of Nashville (Instrumental)
21. Instrumental
22. Brink Of The Clouds
23. Tartar Martyr
24. Pueblo Domain
25. The Sutcliffe Catering Song

Amazon.com

This deluxe double disc reissue is a superbly done follow-up to the treatment afforded Pavement's brilliant `92 debut Slanted & Enchanted. L.A.'s Desert Origins is a joy for fans, with the majority of the second disc previously unreleased demos and outtakes. Crooked Rain is enjoyable and has some of their best songs ("Range Life," "Gold Soundz," "Silence Kit") but it's a strange, transitional album by a band still a little wobbly on their prog-rock feet. With this '94 release, the stadium-ready lineup of the erudite garage group had solidified, though it was not quite solid. Erratic, eccentric producer/drummer Gary Young had been booted out of the band, whose previous recordings were primarily made by Scott Kannberg and Stephen Malkmus. With two percussionists and bassist Mark Ibold brought into the studio, Crooked Rain has a far warmer, less trebly sound to it. Among the many extras included on this expanded version are the band's two exceptional, unironic tributes to R.E.M. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Oh... Pavement... You make me smile.......2007-07-14

Any critic, worth their salt, knows that Pavement is one of the most underrated bands of all time. This album is the shining star that proves it. Very few bands have the ability to marry Noise Rock with Pop sensibility and get away with it (Sonic Youth manages quite well). Pavement had the uncanny ability to create a beautiful (sometimes haunting) melody, drag it through the mud, kick it in the face, and then make sweet, sweet love to it. "Stop Breathing" does just that. "Cut Your Hair" is a jovial romp through the barber shop, that could lighten the heart of even the worst of skeptics. "Unfair" is that punch you in the face, angsty punk anthem that just makes my heart skip ten beats.
"5-4=Unity" is an experiment in time signatures and overtones that us geeks just go nuts for. Not to mention all those luscious bonus tracks (37 to be exact). Some of which are kind of "meh", but when the original album is this good, it's hard to justify a score drop.
The only real downside is the last three songs, from the original album ("Heaven Is A Truck", "Hit the Plane Down", and "Filmore Jive"). Not that they're bad, they just aren't as good as anything else pavement's done (hence the lack of a fifth star).
Nonetheless, get it. Get it now. It will change your life.

"Out on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins...".......2007-06-13

Pavement's second album is the one whereby previously dominant duo singer-guitarist Stephen Malkmus (S.M.) and guitarist Scott Kannberg (Spiral Stairs) rounded out their sound to integrate bassist Mark Ibold and percussionist Bob Nastanovich and become 90s alt-rock's slackest band.

Whereas 1992's Slanted & Enchanted's impudent lo-fi homage to The Fall had infuriated Mark E. Smith, the band - with drummer Steve West replacing the erratic Gary Young after he had jokingly pulled a gun on Malkmus - turned their attention to an incongruous take on, primarily, California surf-rock.

Malkmus' characteristically sardonic wordplay is at its most roguish on Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, aiming affable barbs at The Fall, the Happy Mondays, the Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots. Crooked Rain... is something of an amalgam of the band's previous album and E.Ps, produced in more of a classic rock fashion, yet retaining their leftfield approach to songwriting and composition, harnessing the ramshackle aesthetic of Swell Maps, Sonic Youth-esque fuzz rush, R.E.M.-tinged despondency and the artful artlessness of The Replacements.

A further plus point of Crooked Rain... is that although the album is strikingly cohesive, the band pull off the feat of never repeating themselves, the album's twelve tracks skirting the boundaries of rock n roll, pop, balladry, jazz, jive, blues, punk and country to create a sound transcendent of each style's innate tropes.

The 2004 reissue of the record, entitled Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: L.A.'s Desert Origins is even more impressive, featuring 37 non-album tracks, some of which were altered and/or embryonic versions of songs that feature on the band's following album, 1995's Wowee Zowee.

An indie cornerstone, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain proved beyond doubt that a band - even one as derisive as Pavement - could build a strong following outside of major label structures. Vibrant, innovative and droll Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain remains the standout in a discography full of seminal recordings.

Not A Masterpiece!.......2006-09-22

All the critics adore this album. Is like a religion I do not understand. 5 stars is the norm (Rolling Stone, Spin, and who knows who else!) Myself, sometimes I like to believe that critics know more about good music than myself. That they perceive inuendos, trends, genius more than I am able to detect. Like going to the Museum and looking at a piece of art and you say to yoursel, "what is this crap?" only to be told a moment later, by a knowledgeable and reputable so called "art critic", that what you have or are witnessing is a masterpiece for whatever the fricking reason. Stephen Malkmus gets so many accolades I thought this guy was hot! So I bought the "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: L.A.'s Desert Origins. Yes, I bought it in 2006 figuring a classic will sound even better years after its release. Forgive If it seems I am committing a mortal sin when I say, this CD sucks, the hype is a lot better than the actual thing. And so many songs...These guys were recording any crap that came to mind, their egos bubbling through the process and yes, there are some tasty songs that stand up against any other but, 5 stars?! Who is kidding who? 4.5 stars? That is far too generous. And don't tell me I am missing the point, that is an "in" thing and either you are part of it or you are not, because I do not buy it. Disjointed, abrasive, lacking musical direction, at times downright depressive (probably one of its appeals), monotonous, what more can I say? The critics also say that James Brown "Live at the Apollo" is hot hot hot, and it sucks. I can probably bang a two chord tune and make a better song than Mr. Stephen Malkmus and his precious band. Too many songs for very little good ones is its main flaw. Yes, I did get emotional and for that I truly ask that you listen to this so called masterpiece and tell me, what is so hot about it? Is is a state of mind, a generational critical thing? Because musically is sure no great work. Sometimes an album has only one song that makes it worthwhile buyin and I can live with that. "Crooke Rain, Crooked R...." has more than one but to listen to the other crap diminishes the joy of owning this CD. Oh, but I am not an authority so please don't shoot me if I missed the secret point but somebody is going to have to tell me what is so magnifecent about this CD. The packaging is above average, if that counts. Pavement's "Crooked Rain, Cro....." 5 stars for the few jewels to be had, for the overwhelming rest 3 stars is more than kind.

Back to the Gold Soundz.......2006-07-09

One word that has often been used to describe Pavement is genius. And now their best work of art has been re-released in a 2 cd box. CD 1 included the brilliant 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain'

You know when a band is considered great when other bands are compared to them. And Pavement was one of those. On their first singles and albums they were still a noisy, Sonic Youth type band but this album shows that they were now on their own. It also represents the move from pure noise to songwriting. This album is a balance between these two.

If the 90's were a reaction to the 80's, CRCR is a good example. Warm guitar sounds with emotion and lyrics fighting the fakeness of their day, to be seen in some bands (Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins) but also as shown by the fast and furious life in Los Angeles. Bye bye cold 80's and welcome warm 90's.

There are so many good songs that are indie classics on CRCR. 'Cut Your Hair' with the sighed chorus (and hilarous video) or P 'Range Life', with some harsh words about the Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins, sung over a rolling country beat.
Of the best songs ever is the love-song 'Gold Soundz'. This song is almost too amazing to describe and maybe pure genious shouldn't be talked about too much.

CRC made Pavement and Stephen Malkmus an instant hero in the (intellectual) indie scene around the world, up there with J Mascis and maybe Lou Barlow and Doug Martsch.

The rest of CD 1 is mostly songs that were not good enough to make it on any album, and you can hear. But they are still well worth listening too.

I consider this CRCR with a lot of bonus songs. A great overview of the period in which Pavement made one of the best indie albums in history.

The package itself also includes a fine booklet with some commentary on all the songs by Stephen Malkmus and also a history of the band and the album. Worthwhile.

Some of the outtakes should remain as they were.......2006-05-20

The original is a four star album. It's a bit more cheerful (Get a Haircut, Gold Soundz) than usual Pavement and a bit country (Range Life.) Oh how I love the scratchy noise of 'Slanted' and the sparse bummer ditties of 'Watery Domestic'. There's more sunshine here. Nice and lazy vocals of cryptic innuendos(?) There are too many outtakes on here for my liking. The second half of disc two is pure garbage. 'Grounded' is a phenomonal tinkly guitar jam, something Sonic Youth would be doing on something like Sister. One of the reasons I didn't give this reissue a 3 star rating.

Average customer rating: t e m p o DO c l a r i t y YOU m e l o d y LIKE m u s i c SOUND r h y t h m ?

Penthouse and Pavement Heaven 17 Manufacturer: Blue Plate Caroline ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Luxury Gap How Men Are Before / After Systems of Romance Homosapien ASIN: B000FL7AU2 Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

1. (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
2. Penthouse And Pavement
3. Play To Win
4. Soul Warfare
5. Geisha Boys And Temple Girls
6. Let's All Make A Bomb
7. The Height Of The Fighting
8. Song With No Name
9. We're Going To Live For A Very Long Time
10. Bonus Track: Groove Thang (B.E.F.)
11. Bonus Track: Are Everything 12' Version
12. Bonus Track: I'm Your Money 12' Version
13. Bonus Track: Decline Of The West (B.E.F.)
14. Bonus Track: Honeymoon In New York (B.E.F.)

Album Details

2006 Digitally Remastered Edition of the Debut Album by the Group that was Originally an Ancillary Project of the "British Electrical Foundation" of Bef, Formed as a Result of a Rift in the Human League. Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware Had Separated from Phil Oakey (Who Retained the Human League Moniker) and Recruited Vocalist Glenn Gregory, who Not Surprisingly Sounded Very Similar in Style to Oakey. Their Objective was the Give the Synthesizer a More Soulful Sound. The Trio's First Single "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" Became the First of a Log String of UK Hits, Not at all Suffering from a BBC Ban Due to the Title in Lady Thatcher's Reign. It was Followed by "Play to Win", "The Height of the Fighting" and "Let's all Make a Bomb". This Edition Adds the 12" Tracks of "Are Everything" (A Buzzcocks Cover), "i'm Your Money" and the B-sides of Bef Tracks "Groove Thang", "Decline of the West" and "Honeymoon in New York".

Customer Reviews:

t e m p o DO c l a r i t y YOU m e l o d y LIKE m u s i c SOUND r h y t h m ?.......2006-09-02

WOW - WOW !!! I have heard a new god! This remaster is beyond comparison. How could I be shocked since the BEF guys behind Heaven 17 were involved with this project - the aural landscape provided in this release is mind expanding. No need for a crappy stepped on X pill. This is a masterpiece. Fresh musical experimentation in the early 80s - truly amazing. As a huge Human League fan, I can only say that, now - without a doubt - H-17 had the soul and energy; if Phil and Martyn could get over whatever happened ...... Am waiting for the 2 other Heaven remasters. This is ear candy with a smart kick in the head and two in each hip. Truly, absolutely groundbreaking - and brilliant.

Average customer rating: Decent swan song for seminal band hardly capitolizes on their true indie brilliance Reap the Benefits Introducing Pavement... and their final album. Bad Lo fi go Hi fi

Terror Twilight Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Bee Thousand Slanted & Enchanted EVOL Perfect From Now On Keep It Like a Secret ASIN: B00000IKUQ Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

1. Spit On A Stranger
2. Folk Jam
3. You Are A Light
4. Cream of Gold
5. Major Leagues
6. Platform Blues
7. Ann Don't Cry
8. Billie
9. Speak, See, Remember
10. The Hexx
11. ...and Carrot Rope

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Always acknowledged as sloppy, laissez-faire geniuses of the indie set, Pavement continue to refine their singles-to-noise ratio on Terror Twilight. Working with Beck and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, the lyrics remain inscrutable, but the songs, which opened up slightly on Brighten the Corners, finally begin to reveal themselves. --Randy Silver

Amazon.com essential recording

Terror Twilight is Pavement's fifth proper studio album and perhaps their most confident effort to date. Opening with the surprisingly subdued leadoff single, the sinewy-sweet "Spit on a Stranger" (which sounds like the Velvet Underground after a couple of cartwheels), it's clear that Pavement is in no hurry to re-create Slanted and Enchanted's fractured and raw indie-pop. Instead of short bursts of jive poetry and razor guitars, the band opts for slightly longer songs with more subdued sonic explorations. Still, Terror Twilight never quite veers off into predictable directions; the boys' talent continues to confound expectations. Unforeseenly unironic heartstrings seem to be the thing these days for Pavement. This album boasts their finest ballads to date--"Major Leagues" and "Stranger"--but the days of fiery songs like "No Life for Ginger" may be over. Malkmus and crew seem to be heading in the same avant-pop direction as Built to Spill. But while Pavement may be more laid-back, they're still standing firm. Terror Twilight could be the bedrock upon which they build the rest of their career. --Jason Josephes

Album Description

5th album by this U.S. alternative act, their first to use a 24 track studio and Nigel Godrich for production (Radiohead/Beck). Matador Records.

Customer Reviews:

Decent swan song for seminal band hardly capitolizes on their true indie brilliance.......2007-05-08

3 1/2

Legendary alternative band's final outing was a partially successful synthesis of the cerebral pop hooks and angular sonic assaults the band had become known for. This partially succeeds only because one can hear too much strain in trying to get that synthesis correct. It was a beautiful and appropriate way to go, but Terror Twilight holds fewer compelling songs then past albums. A strong 1-2 finish brings to light the unnecessary distractions that a possibly splintering band indulged while spraying excessive off-kilter sentiment all around some of their more access able basic melodies, and only in a determined minimalist approach guided by the haunted guitar melodies from Malkmus (The Hexx), does it seem we are once again reminded of Pavement's true genius.

Reap the Benefits.......2007-05-02

Like most music I have come to Pavement, in the words of Giant Sand, "always late and a day behind"; glad I did though, because through their music I have come to realize their place, mine as well, in modern rock & roll. Being of the Generation X variety, I was sucked into the Nirvana/Alice in Chains/Pearl Jam, etc. vortex of alternative rock without the proper introduction to bands like The Minutemen and later, Pavement. It seems like California and Seattle shared the same scene with the development of alternative/indie rock, with Seattle gaining more commercial notoriety, in my opinion. In any case, Pavement's status seems cemented, and after listening to Terror Twilight, I believe it. After listening to this record I could certainly hear the similarity of sound and thematic development currently harnessed by bands like Modest Mouse, the late great Grandaddy and even Wilco. This being Pavement's last release, it is the lasting impression I take from the band. Though I've listened to their other albums, which I have no problems with, none comes off as cohesive and polished like `Terror Twilight', though `Brighten the Corners' comes close.

Through and through, the album is consistently solid with the laid-back yet intense machinations of the `genius slacker' mentality. Surprising that after only one listen I couldn't find a song I didn't like. There are real standouts here...'You are a Light', 'Cream of Gold', `Folk Jam', `Major Leagues', `Billie', `...and Carrot Rope' come to mind immediately. The complexity of the lyrics is evident; you know you've found a good band that delivers something new upon each listen. Even when the rhythm and melodies are so catchy that the lyrics take a back seat, that's a great sign too. In any case, I'm glad I found Pavement. Not my favorite band, but `Terror Twilight' is becoming a favorite album.

Introducing Pavement... and their final album........2007-02-19

As a latecomer to the Pavement party, I found their earlier efforts more difficult to dive into, at least initially. The raw guitar and unique vocal-style with those often bizarre, stream-of-consciousness lyrics created an overall lazy sound that was too much (or too little) for me at the time. Then I stumbled upon Terror Twilight (thanks to Nickel Creek's 2003 cover of "Spit on a Stranger"), a Malkmus-heavy, darker, yet more straight-forward, Pavement album that serves as not only the perfect segway into Malkmus' solo career, but also as a wonderful starting point for any listener who was unfamiliar with the band's earlier works. I wouldn't call it their best (everyone seems to have a different opinion here - mine would be 1997's Brighten the Corners) nor would I call it their most influential or experimental (1992's Slanted and Enchanted). I do, however, have no problem calling it their most approachable album and for this reason, it deserves high ratings. Songs like "Spit on a Stranger", "Folk Jam" and "and Carrot Rope" keep the unfamiliar listener interested while songs like "the Hexx" ease that listener into the idea of Pavement. And after going through their catalog, it is safe to say that Pavement is now my favorite band, thanks in no small part to their final album.

Bad.......2006-03-22

What is this? Worst ever. This should never have been recorded. An embarrassmenrt...

Lo fi go Hi fi.......2005-07-29

Pavement's last album(or arguably Malkmus' first solo record)sees them embrace a fuller,more streamlined sound that surprisingly (since their initial charm was their roughness)works in their advantage giving Malkmus' songwriting a more refined tone and enhancing the band's challenging musical detours.
It's no "Crooked Rain,Crooked Rain" but "Terror Twilight" ends the group's run in an undeniable high(Carrot Rope,Spit on a Stranger and Cream of Gold are already among their classics)and it also gave very positive clues of what Stephen Malkmus' solo career would sound like.

Average customer rating: Pavement's Warmest Record. A complete album Indie Rock Classic among the greatest albums of all time... Not there best but....

Wowee Zowee Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Slanted & Enchanted Perfect From Now On Keep It Like a Secret Daydream Nation Washing Machine ASIN: B00000JHAL Release Date: 1999-06-23

Tracks:

1. We Dance
2. Rattled By The Rush
3. Black Out
4. Brinx Job
5. Grounded
6. Serpentine Pad
7. Motion Suggests
8. Father To A Sister Of Thought
9. Extradition
10. Best Friends Arm
11. Grave Architecture
12. AT & T
13. Flux = Rad
14. Fight This Generation
15. Kennel District
16. Pueblo
17. Half A Canyon
18. Western Homes

Customer Reviews:

Pavement's Warmest Record........2007-07-27

Like in my title, I would have to say that this record is Pavement's warmest endeavour. They have more emotion here than on any other record. I think it is musically better as well.

But most importantly, I can listen to the whole thing. With Crooked Rain and Slanted, I get worn out and feel as if I am listening to the same tunes over and over. Wowee Zowee feels very fresh to me.

A complete album.......2006-03-03

This is the album where it all came togather for Pavement. This captures their full range of music/emotions perfectly. Starting off very slow with "We dance" to a more typical later Pavement song, "Rattled By the Rush". Its got the fast/dirty playful tunes like "Serpentine Pad" and just over all brilliant songs like "Grounded". Thats not even counting the Pavement classics like, "Grave Architecture", which has a whole slew of musical styles in one song.. This album is just plain brilliant and should work with ANY Pavement fan.. Be it the newer or older albums (like Slanted and Enchanted, etc..) A perfect album.. start to finish. Refreshing in todays world of singles and 1 song downloads.. Nice to hear a great peice of work, with no songs to skip.

Indie Rock Classic.......2005-11-29

One of the top albums of the nineties. Less accessible than its predecessor 'Crooked Rain Crooked Rain' but every bit as essential. Some Pavement fans call it the band's 'White Album' due to the album's length and variety. 'Father To A Sister Of Thought' may be my favorite Pavement song ever. Looking forward to a Matador rerelease treatment like for the first two Pavement LPs as the B-sides from this era are among the band's finest.

among the greatest albums of all time..........2005-10-15

Wowee Zowee is often left in the shadow of Pavement's more famous albums---Slanted and Enchanted, and of course the critically acclaimed Crooked Rain. But Wowee Zowee is remarkable in its eccentricities. The songs spiral, fall, crumble, throb, and shiver with emotions---but they certainly never turn emo or depressing. Pavement's unique take on 90s alternative rock is still unmatched. Every single song will blow you away, but the best part of this album is that every time you listen you'll find a new favorite song, guitar riff, lyric or even a single, perfectly-placed note. Songs like "A T & T" and "Extradition" are immediately singled out as the best on the album by most people, but after repeated listenings you'll fall in love with the spinning melancholy of "Kennel District" and the half-crazed, half-coughing lovely mess of a song that is "Best Friend's Arm." Pavement even dips into the punk-rock pot briefly in "Serpentine Pad" but keep it short and breathtaking. In my personal experience, this is the one album that is so multi-dimensional that I never, ever get sick of it---it's definitely a desert-island pick. This album deserves to be up there with "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "OK Computer"---it's simply amazing.

Not there best but...........2005-10-15

it is better then most cds release today. There are weak songs are here but they are so short so it really is not a problem. My favorite is father to a sister of thought manily i like the country feel to it. To bad Pavement did not do much of these type of songs the only other one i heard is Range Life from crooked rain. The one thing this cd has over there last 2 ,which are good, is that is more loose and experimental. If you are a fan of Pavement then buy this cd you would not be dispointed. It is only like 6.00 used on amazon so why not pick it up. Warning the weaker songs on this cd are also on the deluxe edition of Crooked Rain but if you have that cd already there is still plenty of other songs on this cd that are worth the price

Average customer rating: Pavement at their near best So good...if you want it to be. handmedown Gold Sounds well, have you heard music from the 90s?

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Slanted & Enchanted Daydream Nation Loveless Perfect From Now On Keep It Like a Secret ASIN: B00000JH3F Release Date: 1999-06-23

Tracks:

1. Silence Kit
2. Elevate Me Later
3. Stop Breathin
4. Cut Your Hair
5. Newark Wilder
6. Unfair
7. Gold Sounds
8. 5-4=Unity
9. Range Life
10. Heaven Is A Truck
11. Hit The Plane Down
12. Fillmore Jive

Amazon.com

On their second full-length album (not counting a compilation of early singles and EPs), Pavement emerge from the noisy clang and clutter to reveal the once-hidden songcraft and passion that made their previous recordings so mysteriously fascinating. The mystery may have receded on Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, but the fascination increases, for this album confirms what we only suspected before: Pavement are a great rock & roll band. The two Stockton, California, slackers who founded the band in 1989 have mastered the pop alchemy of transforming the collision of impatient youthful desires and a hostile world into aching, melodic vocals and driving, melodic guitar riffs. The band's cofounders use an element of suspense to illustrate just how fragile romantic optimism really is. When Steve Malkmus yearns for a human connection in his suburban community ("Silence Kid," "Range Life") or in the alternative-rock scene ("Cut Your Hair," "Fillmore Jive"), the elegant melodies let us know that the yearning is unironic, while the unstable guitars let us know the prospects are bleak. On the album's last song, they bid "good-night to the rock & roll era" even as they're giving it a new lease on life. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Pavement at their near best.......2007-07-13

I enjoy pavement. Reviewing music is difficult due to the fact that liking music revolves around personal taste. That being said, if you are a fan of pavement, this cd is for you. I enjoy the vocals, melodies, and lyrics of this album. This is my 2nd favorite album by the group, and if you don't own it and are considering purchasing it, GO FOR IT, YOU WON'T BE LET DOWN.

So good...if you want it to be........2006-05-01

I was in Florida on vacation the day Kurt Cobain shot himself. I remember staring out into the ocean trying to understand why he would do such a thing. Later that night I saw the video for 'Cut Your Hair' and my world shifted ever so slightly. I bought this record on the recommendation of a friend who was an avid ministry fan. I'm not sure how or why he knew about it but I owe him big time. The thing is when I got this record I hated the sh*t out of it. It was terrible, the worst music ever, oh my god, my allowance for the year...WASTED. But somehow I kept listening and slowly it crept in between my synapses and has been blocking the flow of relevant thoughts ever since. When you listen to the music you feel filled with sad beams of sunlight. You are traveling across the desert with an ex-girlfriend to drop her off in a different city. But you are strangely at peace with this and you are angry in a fun way. You want to f*ck s*it up...melodically. Gold Soundz, Fillmore Jive, Elevate Me Slowly, Unfair, Range Life, and Silence Kit are all brilliant individually. The rest of the songs are essential to make the album whole. This is my favorite album of all time.

handmedown.......2006-03-25

i didn't get why my older bro used to liek this, though i always thought cut your hair was funny, but now i think i get it,

Gold Sounds.......2005-02-26

1. Silence Kit
"Conduit For Sale!" was music for driving through the one-story cement chain stores of America. "Silence Kit" is music for cruising down Highway 1, cliffs on your left and the Pacific Ocean on your right.
2. Elevate Me Later
Yet another "girl left me and moved to Los Angeles" song, but Pavement does it with more poetry than, say, Reel Big Fish's "She's Famous Now". Some great lyrics in here: "Does he sleep with electric guitars/Range roving with the cinema stars/And I wouldn't want to shake their hands/Because they're on such a high-protein plan/And there's 40 different shades of black/So many fortresses and ways to attack"
3. Stop Breathin'
A slow song about death. Weird lyrics. Not great, not bad.
4. Cut Your Hair
Pavement's only "hit" song. Definately more pop than what you'd find on Slanted and Enchanted and Wowee Zowee, but the lyrics are definately Malkmusian. Speaks of people's shallow judgement of music, referencing how before they got big, all anyone talked about was their hippie drummer's long hair.
5. Newark Wilder
Creepy, uneasy jazz. You could see Christopher Walken walking through a rainy city on his way to kill somebody to this song.
6. Unfair
A song declaring Northern California's supremacy over Southern California over distorted punkish guitars, comparing our Shasta Gulch and Tahoe Lake to their "manmade deltas and concrete rivers". Sort of a continuation of Slanted's "Two States".
7. Gold Soundz
In a sort of pre-emo song, Malkmus sings of angst and self-loathing over heartfelt guitars with an intelligence and way with words that a modern emo band like Death Cab For Cutie could never duplicate.
8. 5-4=Unity
Very un-Pavement, an instrumental piano-centered jazz song.
9. Range Life
Chill country rock that references 1994 youth culture: skateboards, Walkmen, the Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins.
10. Heaven is a Truck
The companion to "Range Life," another country ballad, with a little bit more of a late night edge to it.
11. Hit the Plane Down
People say that they sound like The Fall on this song. I'm gonna come right out and say that I've never heard anything by the Fall. A repetative guitar riff plays as a man who isn't Steven Malkmus sings weird lyrics about crashing a plane.
12. Fillmore Jive
An amazing song. A six minute epic about the future of music. The first minute just has Malkmus singing over a single guitar, with lyrics that develop into the refrain "I need to sleep," which is complimented by a burst of music (drums, bass, and guitar). The following verses reference a music scene featuring glum "kids on vespas", streets full of punks, rockers with their long curly locks, all saying good night to the rock and roll era. The song has a melencholy optimism to it, like the band is saying goodbye to an era of music, while welcoming a new era in, one that filled with drug addicts, skinny arms, and the "dance faction/a little too loose for me".

well, have you heard music from the 90s?.......2004-08-29

... or any music by pavement or even their post-pavement projects? then you better own this. this is the single greatest recording of that era. nevermind "nevermind", or screw that album by whats-their-names that probably came out on that great label or any other band from the "half cocked" soundtrack. you're crazy. think of an album like this being a feature in entertainment weekly and rolling stone now-a-days. it couldn't happen. it'd have to have a crappy house or disco beat (and *thats* post punk, eh? [circa 2004]) on it's best song. i think those gentlemens knew the price of an orange juice LP and a swell maps 45. and god bless them. also, this album is very stoney. also i drank too much when i wrote this (and i'm over the age of 13, thanks).

also i'm a moron, so take that into consideration before you buy this classic. matador is making all the money off it anyways and they are putting it into awful music and have been since years and years, no? although they picked up (probably) a few albums that other labels put out that were decent. right? don't deny that, come on! i know you bought that belle and sebastian album. admit it, i know you aren't a transvestite, so i won't say a word! but really, what about the interpol cd you sold three weeks back because you heard the new one was bad and you wanted to jump ship? you know they had a flag on that one! no, no don't try to say you think they're lame, because i saw that haircut in december 2003 and it had a very black very skinny tie that went with it you fathead. i'm just kidding. anyways, later days, give yourself indie rock!

Average customer rating: Fine Pavement Wonderful Very good Alternative Rock I like this cd. A must buy

Brighten The Corners Pavement Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Keep It Like a Secret Bee Thousand EVOL Sister Slanted & Enchanted ASIN: B00000JHAR Release Date: 1999-06-23

Tracks:

1. Stereo
2. Shady Lane
3. Transport Is Arranged
4. Date With IKEA
5. Old To Begin
6. Type Slowly
7. Embassy Row
8. Blue Hawaiian
9. We Are Underused
10. Passat Dream
11. Starlings Of The Slipstream
12. Fin

Amazon.com

Even before it totally kicks in, Brighten the Corners displays a sense of improvement over the listless, shapeless Wowee Zowee. A few simple musical touches like Mellotron strokes and ever-developing vocal harmonies open up Pavement's sound without carrying them off into overly textured snooziness. While this is often cited as Pavement's "domestic" record--several members got married around the time of its creation--its songs more often evince puzzlement than McCartneyish delight with family matters. And as always, Pavement is buzzed about rock; the album's final song is called "Fin" not so much in homage to French film as in rhythm to the marching cadence of Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk."--Rickey Wright

Album Description

1997 release 'Brighten The Corners' is a record that reveals its gifts gradually, giving you enough information the first time to make you want come back for more. Matador Records.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Two Bonus Tracks: Wanna Mess You Around, and No Tan Lines.

Customer Reviews:

Fine Pavement.......2006-07-27

I've heard this album referred to as the first one where they don't sound like they're just putting muddy demos on store shelves. In some ways, I agree. In other ways, it still has that muddy sound that many love about Pavement.

It's definitely the most accessible Pavement album, possibly second to Terror Twilight, but if you're interested in them either album is a great place to start.

But is it good? Yes! The riffs are catchy, the guys are adding new sounds to their style, and you just have a good time hearing the songs. Malkmus continues to belt out absurdist lyrics in his quirky yet alluring voice, and the rest of the band backs him with equally quirky charm. Give it a spin.

Wonderful.......2006-05-25

It's impossible to pick a favorite Pavement album, but this one would definitely be close. I've always loved the songs "Shady Lane" and "Passat Dream". Not one of their most adventuresome albums, but still insanely awesome.

Very good Alternative Rock.......2006-03-13

Listenening to this album reminds one who can know better of when it actually meant something to be labled "alternative" and "indie"..Not that the label itself means anything, but the fact that it used to represent an aspect of music that was meant to dissect the normality of predictable, zombified sludge that sucks the life out of people and passes for the majority of consummed goods in our audio markets.. When bands like Pavement were in their prime back in the 90's, it must have felt really good to be a part of, as opposed to the marketed indie-esqe bands that continue to amplify today.. What seperates Stephen Malkimus from the wannabe generation to follow? The utmost respect for his own creative process in every track, and fortunately he has the talent to back it up..In what may be Pavements most solid album, the singer-songwriter does not waste any time in trying to get to know you and like you..If you want to get to know him and his band though, you will be entitled to some first class warped lyrics and first class defragmented pop songwriting..

I like this cd........2005-07-08

I bought this cd solely based on the fact that this one chick from this tv show I like named herself "Shady Lane" because she liked the song (Shady Lane) so much. I suppose that's a pretty lame reason to buy an album. I read the Amazon review before buying the cd, which honestly did not want to make me buy the album anymore than I already did because they apparently labeled this cd to be Pavement's "domestic album" as opposed to all of their other albums that are somewhere out there running free, I suppose. I was actually very suprised when I liked the cd, obsessively, and began playing it over and over (many of the songs are really catchy). But, to sort of make this review less boring, I suppose I'll break each song down in detail, because I think it makes reviewers look really arrogant when they do that, and well...nm...

1. Stereo- there are some fun rhymes ("malaria hysteria"), not to mention voices in this song, as well as allusions ("high ho silver, ride"). My favourite part is when he asks his "fact checking cuz" about "geddy lee's" voice. it's great. really.

2. Shady Lane- I like the use of repetition in this song ("dutch dutch dutch dutch"), I also like that all the members of pavement are guys, but they know what an emory board is, that's great, I even struggle with that word sometimes.

3. Transport is Arranged- the "voice coach taught me to sing" part is great because it's being sung off key, which is okay with me.

this is boring me... i'll speed it up

type slowly- I like the name of this song; why would you actually want anyone to type slowly?

random (not the name of a song)- I love the pronunciation of "guillotine"

11- Starlings of the slipstream-- at first I thought they were saying "Stalin" i was moderately sad to find out that it was actually "starlings"

For my summation I would just like to say that the lyrics to this cd are ingenious. I really do like all of the allusions to everything from many aspects of life (I particularly enjoyed the literary allusions about grammer, acts (like in a play), etc.). The lyrics writer/s definitely know the intricacies of life as well as the english language. If you want complex, meaningful, symbolic, descriptive lyrics sung in an intensely pleasing way, this is your cd.
fav lyric "the actress is always breaking things"
fav song title "fin"

A must buy.......2005-02-26

I bought Crooked Rain back in the 90's after the Cut Your Hair song was popular and it became one of my favorites with it's offbeat buy catchy tunes. Later on I listened to Wowee Zowee and couldn't get into that CD at all. It seemed to me to be a bunch of filler music. I only listened a few times so maybe it just took more listens. After that, I kinda moved on thinking Crooked Rain was the only Pavement CD I'd like.

Recently a friend mentioned that he listed to his Pavement CD recently and realized that it was just perfect. I borrowed it. This CD is really good. Better than Crooked Rain I'd say. Very similar in structure and sounds to Crooked Rain.

My advice is if you like Crooked Rain, buy this CD and you will probably like it.

Also if you like both of these you might want to check out Cake's Fashion Nugget which is one of my favorites. Very similar is style.

Average customer rating: You really don't need this, casual buyer there are those albums... pavement Great album for Pavement fans... Of BOTH types of Pavement It has Box Elder on it... That's the only reason you need

Westing (By Musket and Sextant) Pavement Manufacturer: Drag City ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement Sister Bad Moon Rising Spit On A Stranger [EP] Shady Lane ASIN: B0000019PI Release Date: 1993-03-30

Tracks:

1. You're Killing Me
2. Box Elder
3. Maybe Maybe
4. She Believes
5. Price Yeah!
6. Forklift
7. Spizzle Trunk
8. Recorder Grot
9. Internal K-Dart
10. Perfect Depth
11. Recorder Grot (Rally)
12. Heckler Spray
13. From Now On
14. Angel Carver Blues/Mellow Jazz Docent
15. Drive By Fader
16. Debris Slide
17. Home
18. Krell Vid-User
19. Summer Babe (Winter Version)
20. Mercy: The Laundromat
21. Baptist Blacktick
22. My First Mine
23. My Radio

Amazon.com essential recording

Warning: This collection is not for fans of high-fidelity music. Pavement's early days were marred by murk; call it the limitation of the early days of any band, but nobody in the early '90s wanted this sound. Pavement seized it, wrapped it up in enigmatic packages, and soon a cult following was born. Westing (by Musket and Sextant) captures several early 7-inches and EPs for a look back at Pavement's gestation. All the essential elements are here, from Stephen Malkmus's beyond-bebop lyricism to white-heat guitars that sound like they're coming from the dark side of an Edison cylinder. Anyone swayed by the last couple of Pavement albums may not enjoy this collection unless they also appreciate edgy acts like the Fall and Swell Maps. It sounds quite tinny and one may wonder if there's anything on Westing that resembles a radio-ready hit. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

You really don't need this, casual buyer.......2006-11-22

...but if you are a big enough fan to be a completist, why the heck not, if you want to hear your fave band's demos and snippets of practice sessions, go 'head. Out of the thirty or so songs on this album, only maybe five are fully fleshed out, the rest is just Pavement f'ing around.

Let me be clear-Pavement was a really cool and fun band, but this is not meant to be casually enjoyed. I mean, if you think this music speaks to you or describes anything around you, you are likely in need of shock therapy. Or you're 19 and don't know any better yet. This is coming from someone who thinks "Sister Ray" is one of the greatest songs ever made. Some noise is brilliant. Some noise is just noise.

there are those albums..........2006-04-29

there are those albums that you listen to, say what the??? and they sit for a year or two. then you revisit them and find a lost treasure. this is one of those albums. i bought this little gem when it first came out, loved a couple of songs and basically shelved it for 2 or so years. grabbed it for a road trip and fell in love . this album, in some cynical produced unproduced way, captures the insanity that is pavement live. go see stephen malkmus... he's still making the rounds and gives me faith that some where great music is still being made... this album ist rad from start to finish. pop it in yer ipod and walk around the city watching people for a few hours.... just make sure it's loud... ...

pavement.......2006-04-12

in my opinion this album is worth it for one reason alone. 23 songs in 47 minutes, it may not have the majesty of the fine albums to follow, which ever be your favorite, but it showcases pavement in the early nineties, its beautiful on vinyl and not much more than the cd , well worth owning

Great album for Pavement fans... Of BOTH types of Pavement.......2006-03-01

I've read many reviews about this album (showing my age with that word) stating that its a great album for those who like Slanted and Enchanted, but those who like albums like Wowee Zowee or anything else, will hate it. That cant be further from the truth. Here's the deal. Like most good bands, Pavement grew. They started with a pretty indie/punk sound (which is great) that turned into the amazing Slanted and Enchanted. With that being said, this is the roots of that sound. Very raw, indie recordings that are uptempo and very fun. I love later Pavement albums, and I love this album. If you like the bands full catalog, not just Terror Twilight/Brighten the Corners, then you'll love this album. Get it! The good bands dont sound the same on every album, Pavement included. Yet, there ALL great. Just different. You dont get a completely complex album like Wowee Zowee, without having some roots. These are those roots. Enjoy! I do.

It has Box Elder on it... That's the only reason you need.......2006-01-14

Worth it for Box Elder alone. Otherwise, Westing is mostly a mixed bag of old home recordings by the band that would soon fully blossom into Slanted & Enchanted.

Christian Music:

1. Peace & Quiet
2. Phunk Shui [Extra tracks] [Import]
3. PIZZA
4. Pressure The Streets [Explicit Lyrics]
5. Rhythmundergroud
6. Rosario De Nuestra Señora De Dolores
7. Rosary Of Our Lady Of Sorrows
8. Self-Titled EP
9. Set Me Free
10. Sounds of the Circus - Vol. 24

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Live [Import] [Live]

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

Le Rouge

Mozart, Massonneau, Stamitz, Krommer: Oboe Quartets

Mighty Mike

Nadie Nos Quita Lo Bailao

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