Stephen Malkmus - Pig Lib

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 25 / 3 / 2003

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'Pig Lib' continues in the Pavement tradition, but much more so than the 'Stephen Malkmus' solo debut did. 2003 finds Malkmus returning to top form as 'Pig Lib' yields through common territory , yet digs up fresh new gold. The Jicks accompany him like  true believers. Now that Malkmus performs without opposition but with uncompromised support, his songs no longer have juxtapositions. Malkmus now is much less troubled. Gone is his college rock angst, and there's no indie delerium. He's funny, wearing ballerina tights around his head and at times he's a horny crooner. 'Pig Lib' is refreshingly coherent with no electronics and no experiments as an excuse for incompetence. He doesn't choose the easy Badly Drawn Boy way out. Instead the vocals, and some licks and riffs are so lush and slick that at times he reminds me of Al Green. When you've been a fan of Pavement from the beginning onwards , you won't be too surprised except by the instant quality of 'Pig Lib'. Again, the title of the album, like 'Terror Twilight', is a prophecy and 'Animal Midnight', my current favourite on the album, introduces subtle 'poop poop' vocals that round off a vocal styler that only Malkmus himself can perfect. These sounds then echo in the subsequent track 'Dark Wave', but by this stage you're not sure whether you should be listening to a guitar or to a voice. 'Pig Lib' is full of wacky surprises yet remains pretty conventional. Can we have Malkmus in the charts for God's sake?

Track Listing:-

1 Water And A Seat
2 Ramp Of Death
3 (Do Not Feed The) Oyster
4 Vanessa From Queens
5 Sheets
6 Animal Midnight
7 Dark Wave
8 Witch Mountain Bridge
9 Craw Song
10 1% Of One
11 Us

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Malkmus-The-Jicks/56710584421
http://stephenmalkmus.com/
https://twitter.com/malkmusandjicks
http://stephenmalkmusandthejicksblog.tumblr.com/

Label Links:-

http://www.dominorecordco.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DominoRecordCo
https://twitter.com/DominoRecordCo
https://www.youtube.com/user/DominoRecords
https://plus.google.com/+DominoRecords

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