Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Really enjoyed this. Can’t believe it’s the first time I’ve heard this. Especially since I was in high school in 1992 and this is exactly what I would have listened to
4.5
4.5
Listened to it twice. Saw comparisons to other bands from that era like Sonic Youth, but this was much better. Couple throwaway songs but in that 3.5 range.
Not bad, instrumentals are all great, the vocals are… unique, which is both a good and bad thing in my opinion. This, to me, sounds like an album a few friends made in their garage, the writing is very solid but the way the vocals and everything else clash sounds very homemade which I both like and don’t like, but I lean towards like. Rating: Pretty Good (Light ☆☆☆☆) Favorite Tracks: Trigger Cut, Here, and Our Singer.
I love this album, it's been a go-to for me for a long time. 4.5
This was surprising I enjoyed it a lot, feels sort of ahead of it's time to me in the songs that have that unique sort of indie-emo vibe. Honestly feels a lot like a precursor to modern baseball who I enjoy a lot. Will be coming back to this. Trigger Cut and zurich is stained were some of my favorites
I would have loved this if I had heard it when it was released. This was a pleasant surprise. Very good. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 58/107
I do not know these guys. Ah, happy to hear that it's rock. 1992..could be pretty good. Some of these songs give me a King Missle vibe didn't finish this album yesterday but will right now. I liked that album had some nice 90s nostalgic vibes
This is okay, but everything begins to sound the same after a few songs.It's like listening to a playlist where the melodies blur into one another, leaving me with a lingering sense of monotony. The artists, each talented in their own right, seem to fall into the same patterns, reusing chords and hooks that, while catchy, lose their charm after the third or fourth track. It's as if the magic of diversity gets drowned out by the repetitive beats and lyrical themes. I find myself longing for something unexpected, a song that breaks the mold, that challenges the ear with a fresh perspective or an innovative sound. Sure, there are moments of brilliance amid the familiarity, but they’re often overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of déjà vu. I crave the thrill of being surprised, of feeling that rush of discovery when a song takes an unexpected turn or introduces a rare, bold harmony. After all, music is a vast universe, and it feels like too many artists are orbiting the same sun when they could be exploring entirely different galaxies. I want to encounter rhythms that dance off the beaten path, lyrics that provoke thought, and arrangements that keep me on my toes. Let there be experimentation, let there be quirks! In a world where creativity knows no bounds, it's disheartening to hear echoes of the same ideas, rather than a vibrant tapestry of inspiration.
Old and new at the same time
Listening to this album now I was struck by how much it sounded like Weezer. Then I read that 'Weezer is Pavement for people who like Elton John instead of David Bowie', which I can't entirely disagree with. Either way, this album was groundbreaking. And still sounds remarkably fresh after 35 years!?
“Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Cake! With guest vocalist, Lou Reed!”
I felt like I should have liked this more than i did on the first listen. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, rather that it just didn't seem to stand out or leave a lasting impression despite theoretically being right up my street. I gave it another listen and then it all seemed to fall into place, lots to enjoy here
Stockton strong! If you've ever been there--or passed through--Pavement makes perfect sense. So Nirvana was 1991, opening the doors for all kind of tries and this is a helluva try. Diamond Sharp words? Oooo ooooh ooooh, yep that's working for me. They call it lo-fi--I call it a start at ditching overproduced, overengineered, overaudience-tested pop sameness. Soon we get Beck and Car Seat Headrest. Relistening now I'm delighted at how distinct each song comes off. There's a lot going on. A lot. Oh and many thanks to Scottymac for my first Pavement tape.
How to be slacker and melodic, how to be poetic and apathetic. I love how these guys can be so powerful while sounding like they don't care about anything.
Reminds me of the Fall but way better.
Oh the loveliness of lo-fi. This is fun and fuzzy, but not as strong overall as the Crooked Rainx2. “Here” might be the most authentic (i.e., non-ironic) song they ever did and – what a surprise – it works. "Summer Babe" and "Zurich is Stained" are also quite strong. "Fame Throwa" is epic and askew. As ever with this lot, full marks for originality and doing their own things though one's always wished that they mighta tried just a little harder or played it a little straighter (not trying to be the coolest dudes in the room) or not been so slacker, so hopelessly whatever about their business.
Excellence. I know they pretend to play it sloppy but this is precision songwriting and finely crafted musicianship. One of their best
You know, I feel like it's been a hot while since I got an indie rock album that actually belongs on this list. From my estimate, it's been about a month. Fortunately, Pavement has got my back with their 1992 debut, Slanted and Enchanted. This album's pretty good! I don't really have any major complaints here. The singing isn't spectacular or anything, but it fits the vibe pretty well. The instrumentation is nice. It's got a pretty lo-fi production to it while still being enjoyable to listen to. The album has some pretty good songs on it. "Summer Babe" is a pretty good opener. "Zurich is Stained" is a great representation of this album at large. "Here" is just a really nice song. The pacing is solid, there's some nice variety, and the writing is good. This is a strong debut. Apparently, the other Pavement album on the list, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, is better than this one, so I'm pretty excited to hear that eventually. I'll give this one a 4/5.
I liked it. Kind of a cross between Lou Reed and the Kinks
Fun album to listen to, and also really interesting to look at geographically: Pavement is a Cali band, but there's a lot of influence from Lou Reed and Velvet Underground vocally. There's also some songs that sound like James Murphy. Cool listen just based on influence.
I first heard of pavement from a Chuck Klosterman article in GQ that I read on a plane around 2005 sometime so naturally I really wanted to like them but they’ve always been more of a greatest hits band for me than a full album listen. That being said, I appreciated this album more on this listen. Still up and down but 5 or 6 really good songs. Another 3-4 tweeter for me but I’ll round up out of respect to Chuck.
4.0 I think this one is a bit critically over-rated, but not saying I dont like it. I feel their song writing gets better in subsequent albums and solo work but this one does have a unique rawness to it
I was in collage again and rooming with people I haven't seen in decades I think a couple are dead now. I was trying to separate playing cards from gaming cards that were for a class. I was also try I ng to remember, y schedule and where my classes were. Next to me was a bag of Wendy's and the fries were cold but the burger was warm. I took a bite of the burger and asked if someone brought this bag of food this morning but I felt it was impossible because everyone was asleep just ,omens ago. A girl who I knew but don't remember says I wouldn't eat that.
Grew on me a lot on second listen, it's actually very weird and very good!
Skramlet, distorted Lo-Fi rock lyd med en sanger der lyder som om han knap nok gider synger. Love it ❤️
Quintessential indie band. Their next album was better though
About half way through, it seems a bit the strokes and sonic youth. Decent grunge
3.9/5
Another background vibe
This is one of my favorite albums, love seeing it here! I think their next album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, is even better. But this one’s great. The ultimate in slacker millennial vibes. Somehow both disaffected and emotional. That’s the nineties paradox, the coolest thing is not to care, so you try to project that image while deep down you’re in a turmoil. While being their debut, Slanted and Enchanted fully embodies the Pavement sound. Guitars are distorted but somehow not fully in your face. Orchestration is noisy but very spacious. Catchy melodies are sometimes obscured by this general sloppy feeling. This airy sloppy feeling is part of what keeps the songs fresh and varied. Pavement is unpolished and loose, and that makes it feel more honest and personal. They’re not giving you a polished rock star show, but a draft of their feelings. Sometimes it sounds downright silly or unprofessional, shouldn’t they have re-recorded this guitar part? Does the backing vocals really make sense (“shalalala”s on Trigger Cut)? It doesn’t matter, it’s all part of the package. Styling aside, this is also just a collection or very good songs. A lot of music in this genre tends to be overly introspective and sophisticated but Pavement are just fun. This is just fun to listen to. Four stars because I like Crooked Rain better.
4.5 cracking album
Interesting, great in places, good in others. I think 4 is a fair number for my enjoyment, as I prefer Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, but this was good too! :)
I always thought I’d enjoy pavement if I gave them a proper go, and I was right, I do.
My first listen to this album. If I was coming of age when this album came out, it definitely would have been on heavy rotation. Listening to it for the first time, as an adult, it's harder to appreciate the raw jangly, discord, but there are some great songs here. Standouts: In the Mouth a Desert, Perfume-V and Fame Throwa.
I can see this being inspiring for people but not really my cup of tea
Albumi #138, 18.12.2024 Pavementin debyyttialbumi on mainio teos
Great but the fillers are too quirky. I bet they never played them live.
Musicalement plutôt bon, un son de guitare assez cool, de bonnes mélodies, pas mal d’idées dans les structures des chansons, une certaine forme de rock indé se met en place, mais j’ai plus de mal avec la voix du chanteur qui donne un côté un peu amateur à l’ensemble. Les instruments font monter la sauce et puis paf, le mec commence à chanter et d’un coup ça retombe d’un cran. Dommage. Et je ne suis pas sûr d’ajouter des titres dans ma rotation, même après plusieurs écoutes, peut être “Conduit for sale!” qui se démarque forcément puisqu’il hurle la même phrase en boucle pendant la moitié de la chanson, ou “Loretta’s Scars” qui fonctionne pas mal, “Here” ballade visiblement désabusée. Ça aurait pu me plaire plus. J’y viendrais peut-être un jour alors je mets un 4 préventif.
Sonic Youth hvis de havde Lou Reed som sanger (positivt)
Original songs! I love it when the vocals just blends into the background on some of the songs, when the guitars gets louder and noisier
Listening to this again was like a breath of Fresh air. It has been years since I last listened to it in full. it starts at 100 miles per hour and just never stops. 40 minutes of pure guitar driven addrenallin
I like this. A lot of lyrics. A lot of interesting images. I feel the thought processes. It's quite absorbing - a book of an album. I feel it's like wearing all your favourite clothes and not caring how you look ... because, why would you? A bit Elliott Smith. A bit Nirvana. And Pixies. A shabby scarf to wear with everything. The power of grunge is its ability to shine in muted colours. I shall return to this.
An album I own but not listened to for many years so intrigued to revisit it as apart from the first two songs I couldn’t recall what the rest of it was like. Summer Babe is still as good as I remember and Trigger Cut was also one of my favourites back in the day and that was still good. I had suspected that maybe the rest of the album didn’t hold up as well but I was pleasantly surprised how many of the other songs I also enjoyed now. Ok so a lot of the songs followed a similar vibe but I found my toes tapping to quite a few. Definitely going to listen to this again before too long. Probably a 3.75 rating so rounded up to a 4.
Only recent grown to appreciate Pavement. Chose to diss them in the 90s to wind up a mate. What a fool I was. Takes me straight back to the 90s and lo-fi US rock is my thing. Still can't give them a 5 though.
Classic grunge punk.
I am not sure I had ever heard of Pavement but the whole surf rock vibe is among my favorites. Odd how this is imperfect, his vocals waver, things get a bit off track, but somehow it all works. I pretty much knew I was sold on it before the mid-point of the first song. I find it an oddity that I had never been exposed to them before, but so be it, another one for the playlist! There is a lesson to be learned from Pavement. Especially today (but not due to some flaw in today's artists!!) but auto-tune, sound machines, amazing advances in technology, all contribute to the over-perfection of music often. It is OK for music to be a bit more raw, it makes it that much more real. I think that is very appealing here.
This almost felt like more of a Pavement album than the big ones.
Very strong but not yet fully accomplished debut
I feel like Pavement is one of those bands that nerds rave about. From my vague recollections, this is their big album, and I actually really dig it. Nothing really crazy or groundbreaking about it, but just good solid rock. I saved quite a few and would definitely return to this, there's absolutely something to it. Favorite tracks: Summer Babe, In the Mouth a Desert, Zurich is Stained, Loretta's Scars, Fame Throwa. Album art: Definitely iconic, seen this one hundreds of times. A curved set of piano keys, plus some alarming script of the band and album name, seems like graffiti written by someone about to die. 4/5
Whirry, distortion ladden lo-fi 90's indy stuff from NorCal. Straight up college nostalgia for me but I get it; this sound is not for everyone. For better or worse, this is my generation.
There is something so comforting about early 90s lo-fi, indie rock. It's fuzzy like your most favorite sweater.
It sounds cool it's just that there's not a whole lot of substance here. Very raw.
One of my favourite lo-fi bands. Not the "Chill Beats to Relax To" kind. This is my second time listening to this album in full. I liked it as much as I did the first time. "Loretta's Scars" is my favourite song on the album. 4 stars for "Slanted and Enchanted".
Screamy and angry, but I liked it...
I liked this a lot. It felt like a lot of future bands I like could have been influenced by this sound.
If every song on this album was "Conduit for Sale!", this would be five starts. Regardless, essential listening for any 90's kid.
Some bum songs scattered in here, but I enjoyed it overall 4 ⭐️
Like the start, reminds me of AJJ, of course looking for a more polished form than a folk punk project usually does. Really liked it!
What I’ve always loved about Pavement is how they manage to keep things laid back and chilled while layering in a ton of noise and chaos. It’s like they’ve mastered the art of controlled disorder, all set against a mellow backdrop. Pavement is a band that really reminds me of Dinosaur Jr., if I’m not in the right headspace, their music can completely pass me by. But when the mood hits just right, I get totally absorbed in their albums.
Rahhh pavement
3.5
I really liked the album, though this kind of low fi slacker rock isn't always my thing, but most of this fit right onto my taste. Especially some of the solos kinda sporadically sprinkled through out the album. (8.5) ★★★★
Really liked the slacker rock sound on here. I have a feeling this might rise further on subsequent listens. 4 stars
Heard this years and years ago and kind of hated it. I guess my ears have matured a lot and now I dig this. 4 stars
pretty good
When it comes to the 'slacker' subgenre of alternative rock in the 90s, I've always had a greater affinity for bands like 'Built to Spill' and, especially, 'Modest Mouse'. But I've always appreciated Pavement's commitment to this subgenre's defining aspects more than anything, with the clumsy, off-kilter vocals showcasing just how far this laid-back sound can be pushed. That's to say, Stephen Malkmus sounds like Lou Reed's (even more) awkward son. It's quite ahead of its time in certain respects, like how that rap-talk portion on 'Conduit For Sale!' predicted the sound of like every 2020s post-punk revival group. Lyrically speaking, this album's themes are nowhere near as clear-cut compared to those other groups in this genre - though the focus seems to be on tragically strained relationships. The best song, by a mile, is 'Zurich is Stained', a gorgeous culmination of all of Pavement's best attributes. Just wish the song was longer. 'Loretta's Scars' is another highlight, with it showcasing those fuzzy walls of guitars the band loves o-so much, and the lyrics are charmingly quirky, yet undeniably unsettling and even hopeless. 'Here' was another song that I feel flawlessly captures everything that made this subgenre so great in the 90s. I do love Pavement's sound, and I think I enjoyed this record a fair bit more than their follow-up 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain', which I was already familiar with going into this (though Gold Soundz off that album is still my favorite Pavement song). I think more than anything, Pavement's sound stands out in the sense that it's very easy to make out just how influential their aesthetic was (I'm looking at you CSH) - and that alone is worthy of praise.
I like this one, although it does tail off a little on the last few tracks. The vocals prevent it from being a top, top album, but it's still a lot of fun.
almost perfect. could i write poetry to this? y
A very good album, but I don't think it is Pavement's best. This list seems to add weight to debut albums, so here we are.
Every time I listen to Pavement I remember how much I like Pavement
I really dig this one a bit more than Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. 4.5 down to 4.
4+/5
Guter Alternative Rock.
I love it.
Favourite tracks: winter babe; trigger cut; Zurich's stained; Loretta's scars; perfume-v
Quite liked it have not listened to the this album before but have listened to pavement
probably gonna grow on me a lot. i like it a lot
I've heard some of the later Pavement stuff and enjoyed it. This is quite different, but I still really enjoyed it.
a little disappointed here, i know pavement and i know they make music in a style that i like, but this album didnt really strike me as anything special. this isnt to say its bad, it just isnt what i expected
Love the warm overdriven guitar sounds and the faux-effortless shaggy feel of the whole thing. His melodic phrasing, use of the pause and change of direction and slacker cadence are great, kind of sardonic and full of ennui. They're basically power pop songs - quick hits that get you a little hook, a couple verses, chorus and solo but recorded Lo-Fi and wierded up and given a thick layer of almost shoegaze fuzz. Bored and erudite but pretending to be lazy (as opposed to pissed and strung out and actually stupid) - this is the epitome of that pole of the 1990s white dude specturm.
I really enjoyed it. Had grunge sounds but more melodic almost? I really need to listen to more Pavement
Nice lo-fi indie rock. A keeper.
Out of my grasp for a 5 but this definitely hit a spot
This is one album that I've come back to many times over the years, "trying" to like it. I get why it's highly regarded and is very influential, but for whatever reason it's never fully clicked with me. I think it might be because I find it hard to tell what all of the songs are actually about. The lyrics seem a bit too random or nonsensical to me. I find the second half a bit dull too. But there are some great ones in the first half. It's probably around a 3.5 for me, so I'll round up.
I’ve heard pavement songs now and again over the years, but never really listened to an album. This style isn’t really my sweet spot, but there are a lot of interesting ideas throughout.
Like a looser Sonic Youth + pixies. Here is great.
Maybe Pavement is as good as they're supposed to be. I can't tell.
Trigger cut might be the blueprint 90s indie song.
IM TRYING IM TRYING IM TRYING IM TRYING Best pavement album IMO. Zurich is stained, Conduit for Sale, Summer babe, Jackals False Grails all bangers.
This one was tricky for me to rate. I enjoyed listening to it, but not quite as much as albums by Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis, which this album reminded me of a little bit. When trying to decide whether to rate an album a 3 or a 4, I ask myself "Will I listen to this again?" and if the answer is yes, I rate it a 4. I can see myself listening to this album again, even if not very often, so that's why I ultimately went with a 4.
I liked this
Pavement is top tier
4 - I love pavement, they are deffo not for everyone. Also don't think this is their best stuff. I wonder if there will be other albums to come
Cracking debut - not their best, there is some rough stuff here but also some solid gold. The sloppy guitar sound is pure heroin in my veins.
Surprisingly liked it. Im a fan of alt rock either way. But this was really good
Good - but I didn't think it was great.
This was surprisingly good
The albums that follow set a very high bar, but still a strong debut. Stephen Malkmus is among the most consistent songwriters in indie rock.
Interesting suggestive and unexpected. I am not really into Indie rock but this album caught my attention.
this pretty neat
Pavement was the defining underground/punk band of the 90s. They were critically successful were well known, but never became pop stars. Their music is a product of the era: dramatic changes like Sonic Youth, feedback like the Pixies, with guitar driven punk like too many references to list. Slanted and Enchanted is the band's debut studio album and may be the their best work. This album is a great snapshot of early 90s punk.
Ooh I like this. It sounds a bit less polished than Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain but it's still got quite a bit of charm. Will definitely have to revisit.
While I always like “Cut Your Hair”, I never had the patience for Pavement in my youth. Listening to this album now, I actually enjoyed it. Not sure how much I’d go back to it, but it’s a nice relief to go back to some indie or alternative rock.
Here
hmmm. so this came on and straight away i was pretty hooked, this vibe is great and the whole journey of all the songs was catchy and fun. i wanted to be wearing different clothes and on my way to somewhere other than work and about to go do cool stuff after 6pm with my cool friends in the summer, and you know - that’s what makes an album great if i’m honest. makes you feel things ans wanna do things and relate to stuff. however for some reason i was expecting a female lead… would have probably been a 5 if it was.
God I’m questioning a bunch of my old ratings again. I liked this album a lot, but I remember not loving their other album when I had it forever ago. But I probably WOULD like that one if I listened to it now. My taste has changed in several directions so now I’m second guessing everything. There are many albums I had on this challenge two years ago that I need to go reevaluate
This record sounds so bad but feels so good. Absolutely glad it's on this list.
Stephen Malkmus' is a love-or-hate kind of songwriter, and while I don't hate other Pavement LPs, his tongue-in-cheek, lackadaisical lyricism really didn't fit the instrumental vibe of those albums. Here, however, something just works - perhaps it's Malkmus' more serious tone, the grittier instrumentals, the darker songwriting. Whatever it is, this edgier version of Pavement stands miles above their previous work. Everything feels raw and exposed like a bleeding wound, the tube screamer guitar serving as a constant mids-heavy beacon in a relatively minimal mix. While I'm slightly biased here (I was put onto this LP by another band's cover of 'In The Mouth A Desert,' my overall fav Pavement track), I wished we had seen more of this side of the band given how hard this album goes.
De stem van Weezer meets de distortion van Dinosaur Jr meets de wazigheid van Sonic Youth meets de bas van Pixies. Allemaal ingredienten die een aantal van mijn medeluisteraars (de zure broeders) waarschijnlijk niet kunnen waarderen. Ergens begrijp ik ze wel, want er zitten ook genoeg elementen in van de postpunkcrap die we maar al te veel hebben moeten verstouwen in deze lijst. Maar ik kan hier gelukkig wel van genieten. En dan is het juist leuk dat ik nog nooit van dit bandje gehoord had. Een nieuwe ontdekking. Aangenaam kennis te maken! PS: Na dit album ga ik even wat verder zoeken en blijkt dat ik een nummer van hun 2e album wel ken: Cut Your Hair. Volgens mij is dat allemaal iets toegankelijker, maar dat album krijgen we nog blijkbaar, dus dat laat ik voor nu even buiten beschouwing.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Vocals were not perfect, but that’s kinda the point. Favorite songs were Summer Babe, Trigger Cut, Zurich Is Stained, and Two States.
Not my favorite Pavement album, but lots of highlights.
Not sure why I never paid these guys the attention I paid to Sonic Youth, the Pixies etc. It's a great album, favourite tracks are Conduit for Sale, and Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era. It was also interesting to hear Here - which I knew previously as a Tindersticks cover.
Two of my favorite artists back to back. A solid 4. Good stuff.
Debuting Pavement sounded a lot like an electric Violent Femmes, definitely not a bad thing. A solid opening album, and fulfills the early 90s criteria of fitting on one side of a 90 minute cassette with plenty of time to spare.
It’s an indie staple with a lot to like about it. Not quite as enjoyable to listen to as I want it to be but there are some fantastic moments, like Here and Fame Throwa. Really on the edge of a 3/4 but I’m in the mood to round up.
4.0
Really good stuff! A couple of songs stuck with me but really just a cohesive album that explains why pavement is so important to indie rock.
Pretty cool
Ok I haven’t listened to the entire album but I just finished the Elliott smith album and a song from this was the auto play after and I liked that song a lot so I’m prematurely giving it a review (9/10) before listening to more. ok went back and I think some of it is very overwhelming and too much noise for me but I really like some of it so staying overall positive 8.5/10
Classic indie rock. Not a big fan of Stephen malkmus’s voice, but I’m still a little biased because of the influence this has had on the genre. 7/10
Different experience for me but entertaining.
I am trying not to be biased but I love Pavement. I don't know that I think this album is revolutionary or anything, but it is definitely one I am into.
Grungy. Listened multiple times. 4/5
Classic! Great Album!
💖 in the mouth a desert 🗣️ 8️⃣
Surprisingly, really good and very polished. Not my favorite style of music, but was surprised that I liked it
This is what I imagine I'd make if I were casually making music with my mates. Super relaxed, lots of passion. Great album
"Slanted and Enchanted" by Pavement, released in 1992, is a groundbreaking indie rock album that encapsulates the raw and untamed energy of the early '90s alternative music scene. Pavement, led by Stephen Malkmus, forged a distinct sound characterized by lo-fi production, unconventional song structures, and Malkmus' off-kilter, cryptic lyrics. Tracks like "Summer Babe" and "Here" showcase the band's knack for balancing melodic hooks with dissonant noise, creating a sonic landscape that feels both chaotic and strangely alluring. The album's lo-fi aesthetic contributes to its charm, giving it an authentic and unpolished feel. "Slanted and Enchanted" is a landmark in indie rock, influencing countless bands with its experimental approach. While its sound may be an acquired taste, the album earns a well-deserved 4/5 for its innovation, impact on the genre, and its enduring status as a cult classic.
I never want to hear tutti frutti again in my life.
I heard so much of the 90s to come in this album - I heard Sublime, I heard Beck, I heard Foo Fighters. I wonder how mainstream popular Pavement could have been if Nirvana hadn’t come along. This album really made me consider what I missed in the golden indie era. Also, the drumming on this disc was sensational. RIP Gary Young.
Zanimljiv, dopada mi se na prvo slušanje 8/10
There's something so lovable about this slacker indie rock the early 90's bestowed upon us. It's rough around the edges, careless, and sometimes really heart warming, and the guitar tones are magnificent. Somehow they do get some filler songs in an album that isn't even 40 mins, but that's just a biproduct of how short some of these songs are. But as an introduction to the band, I'm quite impressed.
It's a great album, the songs are dirty and grungy and the lyrics are cool. I really enjoyed this one...
Really good, if all 'indie rock' was like this I'd listen to it much more. Will check out more from this band.
Comencé a escuchar Pavement éste año. En el primer semestre leí un libro sobre producción musical y se los citaba como una de los primeros proyectos indies a nivel mundial. Esto es algo que se nota a la primera escucha. Inevitable escuchar bandas de ése género y no conectarlas a ellos, además de sentir a Pavement influenciados por Sonic Youth, The Stooges, Yo La Tengo, siendo también contemporáneos (entiendo) a Fugazi y Dinosaur Jr. Gran época los '80 y los '90 en sus búsquedas de mayor oscuridad en contraposición al New Wave.
Grungy
Even as a Pavement fan I'm shocked 2 of their records made the list. I prefer Crooked Rain.
Like the Pixies without the quiet parts and with the dissonance turned up to 10. If you walked into any record store in a college town in the mid 90s you’d likely hear this playing.
Great indie rock music in the vein of 80's bands such as Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. It shambles its way between heartful and melancholy emotion, and real energy, as any good indie album does, that bounce off each other well as songs one after the other. Tracks like "Summer Babe" and "In the Mouth a Desert" in particular are on the very top end of the genre for me. Also definitely one to hear before you die as a hugely important piece of 90's indie rock, though I would argue in terms of influence its probably drawing a lot more from others than it is giving to future bands. Best album i've had so far.
It comes at you hard and smacks you on the head. It's along the same lines as a lot of albums that have popped up on this list recently: Post-punk, noise rock, alt-rock genre. I enjoy this genre and this was a decent album. I was reminded of Violent Femmes.
Musically, I really liked this. It's lo-fi and sparse, but not so much that it fades into the background. I think my issues, such as they were, came with the vocal delivery on some tracks. While Malkmus can sing well, and does, especially on Here, which is definitely the standout song, he occasionally veers into Mark E Smith territory of just talking quite abrasively, but without the, ahem, Mancunian (MES is from Bury but don't get me started on that one) charm.
My brain hit the "Pavement"
thought it was quite a good vibe actually! I was busily writing college essays during the listen so I wasn't exactly locked in but i did a lot of work during the listen. fantastic college essay writing album!
I really like Pavement, but I don't get the worship by white Xennial dudes.
Summer Babe, Zurich is stained, and Here are awesome songs. Love this album
Unsane
I'm unsure what I was smoking the first time I experienced this, but whatever it was, it gave me the "genius" idea to listen without headphones. Well, not today! Instead, I took the obvious path, and experienced this so the band could be as noisy or intimate as they felt like, all while making every song hit as hard as possible. I still adore In the Mouth a Desert, and think it's one of the best rock songs of the 90s, but now I've also come to appreciate the light chaos surrounding the rest of the album, as it feels like if a Guided By Voices album extended their tracks to full tunes, and it is magnificent. It still has some song-by-song memorability issues, but as an album this is a great project with the right amount of fuzz to scratch the inside of my head, and I just think it is extremely solid. Just a tad too much filler songs for the sake of hitting nearly forty minutes.
You either like Pavement or you don't. I do and so should you.
Évoque Placebo et les Pixies; emblématique de la musique alternative que me plaît, bien de cette époque
I think the first song was awesome, and then as the album wore on it didn't have the same feeling
Good album, miss this style of rock.
I wanted to love this: from what I've listened to Pavement are a good band. They have a somewhat distinct sound which I somewhat enjoy, liken it in my mind to a rocky almost grungy sound. Tbh that's just pure indie rock for you but it's still good. I wouldn't say I was blown away by what I heard but the strength in sound was enjoyable.
Pretty good album. I was pleasantly surprised. A great listen from start to finish.
4 stars
I love pavement. This stuff excites me, it's raw, creative, fun, doesn't take itself seriously, but has some seriously good vibes. Sure, they're not expert musicians but that's part of the appeal. bands often get boring the more they perfect their craft, I find joy on these young imperfect bands who reach and miss for something, but create something fresh in the process. 4.5
A glorious mess of an album that always satisfies. Each new listen reveals new charms. However it ain't Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain nor Brighten The Corners so I can't give it 5. 4.5 stars
4.5
i can see why ppl like this but nothing really stuck out here
Pavement's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain was one of my first 25 albums on this list, and at the time, I gave it two stars. I eventually went back and listened to it again, because I couldn't remember why I didn't like it that much, and over the past few months, I've listened to it probably a half a dozen times, and it's really grown on me, so I was really happy to get Slanted And Enchanted today. I really enjoyed Slanted and Enchanted, mostly for the same reasons that Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain has managed to grow on me: great guitar parts and Stephen Malkmus's vocals. Pavement's lyrics are a little too abstract for my liking, but their overall sound more than makes up for that. I wish I had something more enlightening to say about why I enjoyed this album, but the fact is that I just enjoy listening to Pavement.
The bored vocals sort of remind of Cake but I actually like the way it plays here where I find Cake really hard to get through outside their biggest tracks. The unpolished and messy sound makes it feel like a high end garage band, which I say as a plus.
Sounds really familiar, but don't think I've heard them before.... Some of it is very similar to Sonic youth, but then there's dinosaur junior in there too. Enjoyed it. Some tracks more than others. Highlights are: No life singed her In the mouth a desert Zurich is stained Here Not as good as Sonic youth or dinosaur junior, but I did enjoy the sound. 3.5 but feeling generous
Cool to listen to a Pavement album, I've wanted to for a minute. The overall vibe was nice, some of the lyrics were cool, few standouts though. BT - Trigger Cut - Loretta's Scars - Here - Perfume V
'Here' was my favourite track, solid album
A lanky American Fall
Sorry Leonard….. ja feela int de tillräckligt!! Banger dock!!
Banger album, even though after half a dozen listen I still can barely recall some of the songs. No offense!
It has taken me a bit more than 30 years to realise what a great album this is. Not as experimental as Wowee and not as brilliant as Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, but definitely following shortly after those two.
Would you like to know how the 90s sound? This is it.
Pavement is great. But this isn’t my favorite Pavement album.
This band sounds like working at Revs
Not perfect, but solidly enjoyable. Best tracks: In the Mouth A Desert, Conduit For Sale, Zürich is Stained, Flame Throwa, and Our Singer.
Pavement provides an excellent alternative to grunge in the early 90s rock scene with their unique sound.
Hmmmm, this has a lot of what I like about Pavement, but it's still no "Wowee Zowee". Benefits from a nostalgia bump as Pavement were one of the first indie rock bands I properly got in to, and I do enjoy Malkmus' schtick. Fave track - "Summer Babe (Winter Version)" is excellent.
Okay I liked this a lot and wish I had gotten into them more earlier
Early 90’s nostalgic
Great rough punk rock album!
Such raw sound! I feel the emotion. Cool aesthetic for sure. Only Trigger Cut really stood out, but still very pleasant. Four Stars
This is good. I'll bet it was super new-sounding in 1992. Now I've heard a lot like it, but in 1992, there's probably nothing like this. 4/5
For whatever reason, back in the day I disregarded Pavement as the kind of indie rock I had no use for. After spinning this album a few times, I don’t understand why, it’s great! Maybe their later stuff is a little more tame? Will discover soon. B+
Fits right in with Sonic Youth, Cracker, early Pixies, and Television. Even a bit of Primus (sans bass). Malkus’ voice works with the low fi production.
Slacker rock always slaps
3.5 Apathetic indie vocals over either jangly guitars or "Jesus and Mary Chain" style fuzzed-out pop. Not bad overall.
Don't let the revisionist reviews fool you, this is the essential pavement album and that has nothing to do with its relative quality to Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain or Wowee Zowee, they are pretty damn close. It's just that Slanted and Enchanted is everything indie in the 90s promised to be, and Stephen Malkmus is its prophet.
A bit crazy, a bit unhinged at times, but not to the point of being unlistenable by any means, at least in my opinion. Very raw and kinda punk-ish, and honestly I like it. Nothing too memorable to me but yeah, just a good album. Favourite: Here
My fave Pavement
I was a die-hard Pavement fan back in the day - they sounded so different, so fresh, and really launched the whole lo-fi indie rock sound of the 90s and early oughts. Their fuzzy guitar and clever vocals strongly influenced my music taste for two decades or more. This holds up pretty well on relistening, although Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is the better album in terms of cohesive sound and lack of filler. This earlier effort is less polished, but that's a good thing in this genre. I don't love every song, but it's full of good songs.
90s indie lo-fi classic, Here is one of the best songs ever written.
Before seeing them live I would have given this a 2. But having the pleasure of seeing them recently, I get it. Such a good band.
This was definitely an album of highs and lows, but overall I thought it was pretty great. The production was a bit rubbish, but the performances were brilliant. Didn't like the vocals much just a bit too nasal but the lyrics were great. Sort of an album of contradictions but I think that's part of the joy. A great record.
This album was decent. I wasn’t a big fan of a few songs, which is what is keeping this from being five stars, but the rest is really good. I especially enjoy the lyrics, they didn’t seem to be as rhythmic as most lyrics are, and I like that!
Very very nice record with a lot of interesting tracks. Probably one of the most important albums of the early 90s.
This holds up great.
no lo terminé tampoco, irresponsable
So of it's time...could be a handful of other bands from the early 90s, all much of a muchness but all really good too. Very much my era and area
If you looked up "90s Alternative" in the dictionary, this should come up. And if the Wikipedia Page for literally "Alternative Rock" counts, it does! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_rock
first listen very fun
7/10. Liked it, didn't love it.
Good ol slacker stoner core. 7/10
This has a lot of that rough Sonic Youth energy to it, but for whatever reason is much more compelling to me. I still don't love the occasional wailing vocals though.
Enjoyable. Somewhat up my alley
I like Pavement, but I feel like this is a weaker album compared to Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, which tends to have all the major bangers (and which Google autoplayed for me after this was done, really driving home the contrast). I'd say this is a true 3.5, but I'll round up cause I like the band in general.
Didn't really like it at first, but it grew on me as I listened. Quite enjoyable.
4.5
Ooooo I created logo-indie for the masses oooooo
Love the vibe. This is a good album. A band I have listened to here and there over the years and always enjoyed, somehow never got super into them but glad I get to keep rediscovering them
I dug this. Some great tunes and authentic performances. The singing and playing is not flawless by any stretch, and that’s the charm of it.
Rock sucio, un poco de grunge, no me ha disgustado. Es un estilo con el que me siento identificado. Algún tema, a otra velocidad
The kings of all slackers make their debut appearance. Songs rattle and nearly fall apart but somehow they manage to keep going. Not their best album, but a fucking great start. Best Tracks: Summer Babe (Winter Version); In The Mouth a Desert; Here*
Wowee Zowee! This is an old favourite. The secret of Pavement is that their slacker sound and appearance clearly takes a lot more hard work. It takes dedication to be this awkward and angular and still sound THIS GOOD. They go on to release even better albums though!
Ok
Liked this a lot more than I remember liking Pavement way back when.
good this one.
Slanted and Enchated, my God Pavement, you are really spoiling us. You usually expect one, but both is really quite special. What a day.
Pavement, basically, created a sound that defined a generation. You're never really sure if they're playing too fast, too slow? Doesn't matter because it all works so wonderfully. Stephen Malkmus' voice can be a bit of a...thing, but I couldn't imagine this band any other way. A perfect mess of a band. This album gets 4 stars only cause I, personally, think Crooked Rain is the better album.
Wasn’t too familiar with this but I liked it.
enjoyed it very much, moet ik nog eens beluisteren
I did not want to listen to an indie rock band from the early 90s today and was throwing a bit of an internal tantrum about it. But these guys have won me over, distortion and atonal speak-singing and all. I wouldn't mind if they lived on my block so I could hear them rehearsing in their garage. I'm still a long way from calling myself a fan of early 90s indie rock but I'll be happy to have several of these tracks shuffle up in my rotation.
I haven't listened to this in an age. I remember Everett's review in Melody Maker calling them the "New Nirvana", buying it based on that single written review from HMV in Exeter and being disappointed they sounded nothing like Nirvana. It really grew on me though, although it is a bit patchy. Listen to their other albums more regularly as they're more fully formed but would guess they're not going to be in the 1001.
This is okay. It's definitely not as good as Crooked Rain, but then few albums are...
Oh man this was exciting to discover! I’ve heard the name so much but never really knew what to expect. LOVED so many of the tracks. Will fit in nicely with my Nirvana and Pixies collection.
Uh oh am I about to become a Pavement head? Really liked this, especially the guitar playing and the lyrical delivery. You can feel the influence this had Saved: Summer Babe, In The Mouth A Desert*, Zürich Is Stained, Loretta's Scars
No són les cançons. És l'esperit del disc. El clima lo-fi, aquí sublimat, abans que tantes altres bandes malinterpretessin la filosofia DIY i es llancessin a publicar mediocritats disfressades d'andanades alternatives. Però també hi ha cançons: 'Trigger Cut', 'Summer Babe', 'Here'... Encara ho farien millor, però la ràbia i el to subversiu d'aquest primer cop els garanteix un lloc etern al podi del rock alternatiu
Quite good! Reminds me of both Nirvana (around the same time, too) and AJJ.
SO many of my friends were into Pavement at this time but I never really listened much. I wish I had - this was right up my alley!
Odličan album Pavementa. U 39min je stalo isto toliko minuta kvalitete.
Great album! I love the semi-chaotic sound.
When I first got into this band I probably connected with this album the least for whatever reason. It’s definitely grown on me a lot and it’s very easy to see how it became a blueprint for a very certain type of indie rock.
So I should love Pavement. They're right in my wheelhouse, and my best friend loves all things Pavement. Turns out I really like some of it. Probably deserves (and rewards) repeat listens. And it turns out I really like this album. Surprising gem for me.
I love Pavement!
Enjoyed this a lot. Not the sort of thing I’d usually turn to and I thought I had it’s number after a couple of tracks but it continually surprised and delighted. Here for it. Will go again. More power to you girl.
I like this one a LOT more than I did on my first listen. It's not in your face, but if you get into the "slacker vibe" and appreciate the instrumentation, it has a lot to offer.
Conduit for sale! Makes this album a 4 to me
didn't realize how many songs i knew from this album. likely will go into the regular rotation!
I remember first listening to this album in high school when it came out. They were the underground darlings when Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden were blowing up. I haven't listened to it since until now. The album personifies garage indie rock.
In mijn gedachte was dit album veel meer uitgesproken. Destijds een sterke plaat, verder niet veranderd maar toch maar 4/5 punten. Zou dit de plaat zijn waar iedereen positief over is?!
Know the band and a few songs, but have never listened to an album. I teetered throughout the whole thing - Really like the music, but the vocals annoy me...
Love this one.
I love the way this sounds
I really enjoyed this - Luke has been gradually getting me into Pavement. I thought it was fun!
Not bad. 4 stars.
Great album, would definitely listen again. I kept listening to more of their music after the album and I think I like more of their later music better, but overall feels like they were very influential.
Another album I listened to a ton at a certain time, but haven't much since. It's clear to me how some would find this massively annoying as I have some of the grunge/punk spectrum stuff that's come up on this list. No accounting for tastes: for what it is, though, I think it's tremendously solid.
bom
As I've aged I've grown to appreciate Pavement more and more. I still can't call this a total 5 star classic for me personally, but I'm much higher on it now than the last time I heard it.
Always forget that I love this record.
Two Pavements in 2 weeks! To be completely fair, there's almost nothing that serves as a better representative first impression of a band than Summer Babe does. Slanted and Enchanted is rougher around the edges, but Pavement as a band is already pretty defined from those specific chords and the idea of a girlfriend “eating her fingers like it's just another meal”. It's maybe just a shred less pointed in its cynicism, too, but I think any band would kill to have an album like this introduce them. I've always been partial to “Two States,” a bouncy little shout along gem that feels like it could only exist here. The album on the whole? It's a symbol of promise. By the second full album, that's fulfilled (although by the end of the year, we get Frontwards, one of their best songs, on an EP of all places). I bet this was exciting when the right people heard it in 1992. It holds up well in 2026, but exists intrinsically in the realm of what comes next, in the world of a completed Pavement catalog. I'd say that ends up like ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ for me, both gaining and being limited based on it's freshman-outing status.
Unimpressive
3,5
Not bad Wasn't a fan of the vocals at first, but it got better as it went on
Que diferencia entre los cantantes bots de IA y esto. Sí suenan a los reyes del indie y cansan un poco pero tienen buenas rolas cuando viran un poco más pop
Not terrible. If Pitchfork had a national anthem it would be this album.
Nothing special
Solid crunchy alt-rock listen
It's okay
Not bad.
I'll take UNKNOWN INDIE ROCK BANDS FROM THE 1990s for $400, Alex. “THIS BAND'S DRUMMER HANDED OUT HEADS OF CABBAGE AT GIGS BEFORE BEING FIRED A YEAR LATER.” What is Pavement? That is correct. Let's go with 1992 DEBUT ALBUMS HARDLY WORTH MENTIONING for $200, Alex. “THIS SCUFFED-UP, RAW-SOUNDING RELEASE WAS RECORDED IN JUST SEVEN DAYS AND INTRODUCED LISTENERS TO LO-FI FUZZ GUITARS, VOCALS SIMILAR IN STYLE AND TONE TO LOU REED MINUS THE HEROIN ADDICTION, AND MUTED DRUMS THAT SOUNDED AS IF THEY WERE PLAYED ON CARDBOARD BOXES. IT HELPED DEFINE AN ENTIRE DECADE OF INDIE ROCK WHILE GOING COMPLETELY UNNOTICED BY THE MAINSTREAM PUBLIC, WHO WERE AT MOST INDIFFERENT TO THE BAND'S DEBUT.” What is Slanted And Enchanted? That is correct. All right, let's change categories. I'm already tired of this one.
Once Nevermind kicked Michael Jackson out of the top spot on the albums chart there was no stopping it. This album got fully lost in Nirvana's wake. I was in my late teens at this time and fully engrossed in the grunge movement, but this album never entered my orbit at all. It's raw and doesn't have the polish of the other big albums of the time. It's OK, but i don't think I missed anything by having never heard it until now.
5/10
Good.
Good, but much better Pavement out there
nice sound to this quite meklow
This album to me is not as good as a lot of similar 90s grunge, it seems a little less polished and with more random noises than bands like Nirvana or Soundgarden. I could dig it, but I'm probably not listening to this over other more "mainstream" grunge albums.
I can appreciate this album because of this impact it made on indie rock but I don't want to listen to it again. 2.5
I feel like Pavement is another band I was supposed to get into when I was younger and I just missed it.
2.75 - This was a band that I’ve been curious about, but never listened to. It wasn’t awful, but I was disappointed.
- I might not have been fully in the mood for this today, but I still like it. It doesn't have as many hits as Crooked Rain, but the songs are high energy, and the instrumentation is full and surrounds you with sound. I don't find the songs very memorable, though. - I definitely like that the songs and album are short and sweet. There isn't a whole lot of filler on here, which I appreciate. - I don't think I'll ever love the out-of-tune singing, but it's not grating like it can be. That said, I have a hard time making myself pay enough attention to know what he's singing about.
I liked about half of it, then it became kinda tiresome.
if only because it's noisier and more abrasive, i like this more than Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. does fall off a bit in the latter half but the atmosphere and lo-fi sound are great. deserves to be in the 1001? ya. i guess not asssss much as Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, but i think it's nice to have this as an example of the link between Dinosaur Jr and Modest Mouse
137. ok
Chique mas parece que tudo do Pavement é meio igual. Eu daria 3,5 pq não é esquecível mas não é bom o suficiente pra um 4
Crooked Rain is a better album, this one is just not as fun or poppy. A few good tracks though.
enjoyed this quite a bit definitely influenced early 2000s indie 3 stars
Middle of the road. Liked some of it, disliked some of it.
Eh bah c’est plutôt bien !
It's like Pixies, I like it I want to give it 3.5
I knew of Pavement in the 2000s, but any time I tried to listen to them I ultimately got bored. No different now. Fine as something in the background, but nothing more.
Just a great time
Correcto
Pavement is just one of those bands that I acknowledge as being good but just makes me feel nothing at all. Favorite track: Here
Didn’t really do it for me on a single listen but suspect it may grow on you with repeated listening. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt
the concept of being a slacker is cool to me... i am a slacker
I’m not a huge fan of this early 90s era indie stuff but it isn’t offensive. Vocals were the low point. Some decent instrumentals. Listened at work and was unbothered but not moved.
This is hard to review. For indie rock, I can see this being a cornerstone. It has a consistent tone and the vocals to instruments to lyrics all build into something. I saw another review mention it sounds like a laid back Sonic Youth and I think that's a great description. Not my favourite genre but it is done well and is a great debut album. 3/5 for me, probably a 4+ if this is your genre.
Some of the songs are not half bad, some others are just rather annoying
This album is kinda on the periphery of what I listened to in this era. I rarely pulled any Pavement but I didn't mind them. I guess that's how I still am, listening to this album. It's good, it's inoffensive, but doesn't stand out for me. It stays out there in limbo, not in my playlist, but familiar enough to feel comfortable.
A trapezoid?
Another example where the music is okay but I can’t get behind the singing. Not really for me.
In The Mouth A Desert // Here // Jackals // Our Singer //
Pavement has always felt a little vanilla to me
Interesting album from a band I’m not familiar with. I liked a few tracks, but the over the top distortion that seems to be their signature sound on several tracks was too much for me, creating a bit too much dissonance.
Buen álbum. Lo aprecio, me encanta? No creo. Lo volvería escuchar? Tal vez
pavement is leuk maar niet super
Está bien pero es demasiado caótico. 2.5
90'er-vibes.
Extremely '90s pavement is not exactly my jam, but I can hear what they did in the echoes of Future music
Decent. Bit long for the genre but good 3asy
Standouts Zurich is Stained Here
I don't mind pavement, nothing about them have really jumped out to me, including this. Some solid rock.