Kniferide wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:58 am

jeff fox wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:18 am I find SM to be the least insufferable person in this band, by far. Steve West would be better.

Jeff wants new Pavement record, as do I.

Me three.

jeff fox wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:18 am I'm psyched that he lives in Chicago now, hopefully he starts sitting in with other bands on occasion! (MINT MILE?!)

Yes, this too.

No reason why I shouldn’t like this - enjoy all players… but threw it on a long car ride today and had to turn off after track 3 or 4… something just very annoying about it all. But maybe that’s my intolerant middle aged guy response to a band which would mainly appeal to grumpy middle aged guys?

Iancee wrote:had to turn off after track 3 or 4… something just very annoying about it all. But maybe that’s my intolerant middle aged guy response to a band which would mainly appeal to grumpy middle aged guys?

Yeah. It's unappealingly bland and cartoonish at the same time. And that name—I'm sure it's intended as hilariously ironic, but oof.

jeff fox wrote:I find SM to be the least insufferable person in this band, by far. Indie rock snobs gobbled up the 'slacker' narrative that the music journalists pulled out of thin air in the early 90's and are still using it against him.

Agree here, too. Even if I don't have much time for Pavement after Crooked Rain, barring a song here, a song there. And am both perplexed and amused by that band's renaissance w/Gen Z thanks to some kid dancing on TikTok over a forgettable B side from one of the weaker albums. Or however that came about. (Although part of me also thinks it's absurdly perfect and hey, good for them; a bunch of overly earnest kids who often profess to hate sarcasm and cynicism are gushing over one of the sharper-tongued indie bands of yore.)

Malkmus is a little bit of a diva and comes across like some stoned preppy at this point in time, but I also think he's a genuine eccentric and a shit-hot guitarist whose playing has a lot of character.

I've spent a few days listening to this album now.

The things I love about SM (and Pavement) are the freakout moments, which generally have been fewer and farther between after Wowee Zowee.

While SM isn't the only player on this record, he still dominates. Maybe 50-75%? I hear some Terror Twilight and a lot of the Jicks.

Though I'm not a huge fan of Sweeney, I think I actually like a couple of his songs better.

Anyway, I'm sort of agreeing with the above FMs. There are perhaps three or four "YEAH!" moments but stretched out over 50+ minutes.

I certainly don't dislike it, though. Would definitely see them live.

I saw the the Jicks and the most recent Pavement reunion, and that was all cool. This sounds alright. That Sweeny guy rubs me the wrong way a little bit in that starfuckery type vibe with his youtubes and his Zwans and all. Maybe that's an unfair characterization, and just get the heebs because he looks like that Eagles of Death Metal d-bag. From what I understand this was his initiative because Malkmus couldn't be arsed.

Y’’all are mad they’re still at it. Not crap.

OrthodoxEaster wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 9:12 am Malkmus is a little bit of a diva and comes across like some stoned preppy at this point in time,

Met him at a shitty bar here in Portland once and he seemed generally cool and nice but I didn't bother him long.

Kniferide wrote:

OrthodoxEaster wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 9:12 am Malkmus is a little bit of a diva and comes across like some stoned preppy at this point in time,

Met him at a shitty bar here in Portland once and he seemed generally cool and nice but I didn't bother him long.

I should clarify that it's his public persona that seems like so. In interviews and shit. It's possibly more how he comes across than a reflection on his actual character.

Tbh on the more rocking songs Jim White sounds not that far from Gary Young at his most cohesive.

I’m liking this way more than I expected once I got past the first couple songs.

I'm really liking this. It sounds like Pavement crossed with early Grateful Dead.