Like most I cut my teeth on Stephen Malkmus’s work back in the day with  pavement, but his latest offering “Real Emotional Trash” put out with the assistance of his new band the Jicks is quite impressive in it’s own right.  I loved the early pavement albums and enjoyed the later offerings I’ve heard, but for some reason this is the first Malkmus solo album I’ve given a shot to. I can’t say their is a reason for my procrastination into this part of his catalog it is just one of those oddity’s in my music collection.

That said this album was nothing like I anticipated it would be based on my obsessive love of early pavement offerings. In no way does that mean it was bad though just different from that time, but in many ways that is refreshing.  What artist wants to make the exact same music fifteen years into his career?

The first thing that jumps out at me is how impressive the entire band is individually with their instruments and cohesively as a whole! The band consist of Joanna Bolme on bass, Mike Clark on guitar, Janet Weiss (ex Sleater Kinney Drummer) on drums, and Stephen Malkmus singing and playing guitar. This is the first album Janet has recorded with the Jicks and she seems to fit in perfectly. Perhaps I should have prepared myself for the impressive musicianship based on my recent listen to the Bob Dylan movie Soundtrack “I’m not There” that features Malkmus on a few songs particularly “Ballad of a Thin Man” where you hear him handle his instrument quite capably. As i mentioned they all shine and sound like a 70’s psychedelic jam band that has taken a shot of indie rock to their main vein! The guitar playing is borderline indie rock guitar hero good like you come to expect from other indie rock guitar gods such as J Mascis and Doug Martsch! Coming from someone who idolizes their guitar playing that is high praise indeed.

The beauty of this album is I have come to enjoy every song. If it has a fault it is some songs may be too long and they maintain the jam a little bit too much, but they really find some nice areas to play in while they are jamming. The title cut in particular takes off in a muscular form right past the six minute point that really puts the song over the top. I have listened to this album working out a lot and I find I’m dragging along a bit and then that magical moment hits were they all come together and I find that second burst of energy from the music. A much more straight forward rock sound then what I am used to from Malkmus, but he still never wanders too far from his indie rock sensibilities and soundscapes.

The songs tend to find a nice groove and work with it and intertwine them. None more so then perhaps “Hopscotch Willy” that has an incredibly catchy riff that the song just grooves around. “Baltimore” may be the strongest track on the album in my opinion. With many of the songs ranging over the five minute mark they do mix in a few shorter songs like the pleasant Gardinia, the emotional “We Can’t Help You”, and “Cold Sun” for good measure to keep the pop sensibilities alive.

The lyrics are typical of Malkmus perhaps not his strongest showing but still pleasant. Ultimately for me this album finds its strength within the bands musicianship and their ability to put out a very catchy psychedelic sounding jam, that still maintains enough originalityand quirkiness to keep the songs very interesting. My biggest complaint with this album is that I took so long to check it out. It is easily one of my favorites from 2008 trumping everything else i heard with the exception of the top albums. I feel good recommending this album. It is a nice breath of fresh air and it seems like one I will listen to numerous times in the future.

4 out of 5 Stars

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