Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 8 / 10 / 2005

Label:
Domino Records
Format: CD
intro
Characteristically lo-fi and bitterly laconic latest solo album from former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus
'Face The Truth' yes, well? In the tradition of the third album by which we are meant to value an artist, Stephen Malkmus to me needs not make any further points. I'm one who eagerly awaits those streams of sung narratives held tight by whatever pours out of his little genius musical mind. Words like "Revelation artistry, so fed up with hypocrisy. There isn't a label large enough to fit your bill" are followed up with "Penny rich and dollar dumb." Those words must be a boost to all who once fell under judgement from indie hipsters. Somehow Malkmus still walks that same pavement. He'd squeeze in the odd beep, and in his laconic way do a "ooh" or "ah" as if he were Prince. All of the time though, he's mocking. And relishes in witty sulking. Stephen's latest album bears no real surprises, yet there's more elbow to his melancholic rants now. The Jicks, his hardly credited backing band, have had much less of a say on 'Face The Truth'. Music follows vocals more than ever before with Malkmus' solo efforts. He does not shy away from making eerie meanderings through a mish-mash of muddy lo-fi rock - now in this digital era freed of any surface noise. 'Face The Truth' is another homecoming and leaves the listener with the longing for a new departure.
Track Listing:-
1 Pencil Rot2 It Kills
3 I've Hardly Been
4 Freeze the Saints
5 Loud Cloud Crowd
6 No More Shoes
7 Mama
8 Kindling for the Master
9 Post-paint Baby
10 Baby C'mon
11 Malediction
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Malkmus-The-Jicks/56710584421http://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
interviews |
Interview (2008) |
![]() |
Mark Rowland speaks to former Pavement front man Stephen Malkmus the night after playing a show to a packed audience in London about both his latest band the Jicks and their recently released compplex latest album, 'Real Emotional Trash' |
reviews |
Traditional Technqiues (2020) |
![]() |
Stunning return to form from former Pavement front man who is aided by critically acclaimed guitarist Matt Sweeney |
Wig Out at Jagbags (2014) |
Real Emotional Trash (2008) |
Kindling For The Master (2006) |
Pig Lib (2003) |
Stephen Malkus (2001) |
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