Pavement is the type of group that every hip new artist aspires to be. Their songs are all worth your while, no waste of time. Both life’s miseries and delights are fair game.
“Spit On A Stranger” sounds ridiculous, but the song is as sweet as, well, spitting on a stranger, or maybe a friend, if you are into that sort of thing. “Folk Jam” has a toe-tapping, funky, country groove that rocks you to and fro. My favorite song on this disc, “You Are A Light”, starts off with a Led Zepplin riff, coupled with creamy verses and a malted chorus. It’s a simple pleasure.
Love is in the air on “Major Leagues”, though the title wouldn’t suggest it. “Ann Don’t Cry” is a bizarre love song. One second it sounds typical, then there is a point where the lyrics aren’t sung but spoken, reminding me of those ‘death rock’ songs from the ’60’s where teens sang about lovers who died due to horrifying deaths from accident, suicide, etc. (i.e. “Teen Angel”). The vocals that Stephen Malkmus shares with the world are a treasure.
“Billie” starts off with a bunch of la’s to get you in the mood; you are quickly caught off guard with the lyrical twist: “but you never looked hard at a fetus in a jar/ you never saw your mama change.” If that isn’t bizarre enough, the chorus will completely throw you for a loop. As hooky as this all seems, the song is one of the best on the album. As most albums drop out toward the last tracks, Pavement reverses the trend and actually picks up steam. They get better and better the further you get into Terror Twilight. “Speak, See, Remember” is fabulous. “The Hexx” is a dark, Black Sabbath-inspired anomaly. It is so off-the-track that it is sure to inspire generations to come. ” And Carrot Rope” leaves you waiting for so much more. It is wonderful to have such a song to hang onto after ten tracks have already passed. These guys are amazing.
The album is a bit dark, but what do you expect with a title like Terror Twilight? This release is not the type of disc you’ll appreciate upon your initial listen; I’ve had the disc for a little while and I’m finally starting to understand its seemingly obvious appeal to my soul. When the album hits you, you’ll know. Just listen with your eyes closed and your mind open.
+ cc
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.