Indie rock was once described as the "next generation of electric
white-boy blues." That description is pretty accurate when applied to
Pavement's new album, Terror Twilight. It's a combination of infectiously
catchy songs, blues, classic rock-influenced jams and Steve
Malkmus' signature dose of irony, just to keep things from getting too
serious. With tracks like "Spit on
a Stranger" and "Carrot Rope," Pavement
infuse cynicism and wit into care-free sounding, pop sing-alongs. And
that's their genius, a perfect combination of sarcasm blended with dumb
old rock & roll.
The rest of the songs have a relaxed, almost contented feel to them. If
you're one of those fans that only likes Slanted and Enchanted or "the
early stuff," then save your money. Terror Twilight is pretty much an
extension of their last album, Brighten the Corners. Lazy shuffles,
and off-the-cuff lyrics add to this relaxed tone, but there are
moments when Malkmus loses his sarcastic facade and gets downright
serious on us. "Cream of Gold" begins with the lyrics, "So much for
destiny...Time is a one way track and I am not coming back/I dream
in biege/Why'd you lead me so far now?" And again in the song, "Ann
Don't Cry": "The damage has been done/I am not having fun anymore."
Malkmus has rarely emoted in such a comprehensible manner. Whether
these lyrics refer to a personal relationship or to the band itself,
these more solemn songs add weight to the lightness of the pop numbers.
This gives Terror Twilight an emotional balance that keeps it from
veering too far in one direction or the other.
Pavement has reached a point where they are mining their "classic rock"
influences, resulting in music that sounds a little more standard upon
first listen. But looked at more closely, the music on Terror
Twilight is filled with the same complexity and inventiveness that
previous Pavement albums featured. Only now the stream-of-consciousness lyricism,and spur-of-the-moment arrangements have given
way to more subtle and defined music.
If you like Pavement, check out:
Pavement Slanted and Enchanted
Pavement Major Leagues EP
Pavement Wowee Zowee
Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Quasi Featuring: Birds
Sebadoh The Sebadoh
Superchunk Foolish
--Jason Dearen
