Labels

Pavement


Formed: 1989
Location: Stockton, California, USA
Genre: Rock, Indie Rock, Slacker Rock
Years Active: 1989 - 1999; 2010; 2022 -
Meaning of the Name: Guitarist Scott Kannberg studied Urban Planning. Pavement is the name for sidewalks in the UK.
Core Members: Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich, Mark Ibold, Steve West, Spiral Stairs (Scott Kannberg)
Way of Working: Led by Stephen Malkmus
Associated: Silver Jews, Ectoslavia

Essential Releases

Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted

Slanted and
Enchanted (1992)

Debut album that set the stage for the slacker culture of the '90s.

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Crooked Rain,
Crooked Rain (1994)

More accessible and polished record that produced singles such as Gold Soundz and Range Life.

Pavement - Wowee Zowee

Wowee Zowee (1995)

A return to their chaotic noise rock origins. An experimental, sprawling mess of an album that works because it dares to take risks.

Pavement - Brighten the Corners

Brighten the
Corners (1997)

Droll, witty album that could be played on the radio. More traditional than their previous effort.


In the early '90s, Pavement combined the slacker culture of Generation X with lo-fi production and wordplay to chart a new course for American indie rock. Their independent, and at times chaotic sound stood in defiance of their baby boomer parents, raised to believe that company loyalty guaranteed success because their reality was job-hopping, concentrated wealth, and corporate power.

Entire cohorts of the era's youth perceived wearing a suit and tie as submission to an increasingly stifling corporate world and dressed in the rebellious 'homeless chic' of dirty jeans and patchwork jackets. For example, bands with a similar anti-authoritarian stance, such as Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine, emerged from the same conditions and found large audiences eager to reject conformity.

This same disposition informed Pavement's counter-cultural approach: they never signed with a major label despite finding critical acclaim and being courted by several A&R's; both Slanted & Enchanted (1992) and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994) are frequently cited as two of the decade's best albums, though you would never know it by looking at the charts.

Pavement declined such advances because they began as an experimental band making uncompromising music for a small but dedicated crowd of true believers. Inspired by the 'anti-music' noise rock and no wave scenes of the '80s, they channelled the same disorderly spirit into early releases such as Demolition Plot J-7 EP (1990). For such a band, exchanging potential riches for creative control was a non-starter.

However, Pavement is best characterised by their detached vocal delivery and lyrics. Penned by songwriter Stephen Malkmus as a non-linear train of thought, he was indie-rock's version of James Joyce. In 'Cut Your Hair' (1994), for instance, he mocks the image-obsessed mainstream with a rambling aside that that could have been a magazine headline: "Did you see the drummer's hair?"

Despite their initial attitude, Pavement became a sophisticated band with accessible tracks, such as 'Gold Soundz', that define the era's indie rock. However, the band did it on their own terms, retaining their independence and anti-commercial perspective. They were a key part of '90s slacker rock whose shrugging indifference paved the way for subsequent artists, such as Beck, Modest Mouse, and Courtney Barnett to treat mainstream acceptance as an mere inconvenience.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
60

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
75

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
90

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
55

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
85

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
60

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
80

Singing

i Technical attributes.
70

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
65

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
70

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
90

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
80

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
90

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
40


Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications >>>

  • Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - Silver in the UK

Charts

Critics >>>

  • Pitchfork - Slanted & Enchanted: Top 100 Albums of the 1990s (2003): 5th
  • Pitchfork - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: Top 100 Albums of the 1990s (2003): 8th
  • Rolling Stone - Slanted & Enchanted: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): 135th
  • Rolling Stone - Slanted & Enchanted: 100 Best Albums of the '90s (2010): 24th
  • Rolling Stone - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2003): 210th
  • Rolling Stone - Wowee Zowee: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020): 265th
  • Spin - Slanted & Enchanted: The 90 Greatest Albums of the '90s: 5th

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