Courtesy of Matador Records
Pavement
Brighten the Corners
Matador Records
Old Gold and Black Reviewer
Maybe your exposure to Pavement is limited to their only song to hit most modern rock radio stations, "Cut Your Hair." At least it's a start, because this is one band that you should definitely take a listen to. Their newest album, Brighten the Corners, while not their best work to date, is still another solid album from the epitome of a non-commercial alternative rock band.
Pavement is a band that has only received the credit it deserves from alternative music critics and not from the mainstream media. Unfortunately, their new album is bound to follow this trend.
Already garnering rave reviews from alternative magazines such as Addicted to Noise, Brighten the Corners is pure Pavement, which means that if you only watch MTV or listen to the radio, you probably will not see or hear much of the album.
Luckily, MTV's alternative video show, "120 Minutes," has picked up the video for the first single, the blustery rocker "Stereo."
The song starts innocently enough, with bits of bass, feedback; and what is reminiscent of a band tuning their instruments before a show.
However, the drums and vocals kick in and you realize that the beginning bits that before seemed entirely meaningless now play an intricate part of the song.
This song most likely represents Pavement's best chance to receive mainstream media attention, and, ironically, it is a song about the music industry. Steve Malkmus sings, "Listen to me /I'm on the stereo / My baby baby baby baby baby / Gave me malaria hysteria." This type of seemingly nonsensical lyrics is part of the fun and enjoyment of listening to Pavement.
However, the intensity of "Stereo" does not last throughout the entire album, which has more slow songs than upbeat anthems. Pavement proves that it can shine with these types of songs as well.
Evidence of this lies in "Shady Lane / J vs. S." Pavement does well at mixing their R.E.M. influence with a tempo reminiscent of Sonic Youth and instrumentation. "Shady Lane" also shows Pavement's uniqueness in their lyricism.
With the extended lyric, "You've been chosen as an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequel to your life," Pavement keeps the listener off balance as they seemingly refuse to insert a chorus where it sounds as if it belongs.
If you're after a more commercial-sounding song, "Date with IKEA" is the closest you'll get.
Up-tempo and full of great instrumentation, this song's only detraction is that it is too short.
A fantastic departure from their usual sound lies in "Blue Hawaiian." Starting with the keyboards, the song presents a mental picture of a haunted house.
The beginning of the song almost sounds like the introduction to Beck's "Where it's At." It even sounds like a wind blowing in the background as Steve Malkmus sings "This slap is a gift because your cheeks have lost their luster."
Pavement is one of those bands that continues to put out quality work at an astounding pace.
Brighten the Corners cannot be considered a step backwards for Pavement, but it may be considered a neutral move. Perhaps the lack of growth comes from the fact that it was the first album that Pavement really recorded as a band.
This album may not be the album that you'll never take out of your CD player, but it will not stay on the shelf for long either.
And to capture Pavement's true essence, try to catch them live: they'll be in Carrboro May 15 and in Charleston, S.C. May 17.