Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Meh. The guy sounded bored and it brought nothing new or exciting to the table
**a loud noisy album. Not easy to listen to.
I really wanted to like this because I’ve heard so many people sing its praises. But man, I just can’t do the off pitch / half singing, half talking vocal style. He obviously has a good voice, he uses it from time to time. So why not actually sing? Good instrumentals though so it’s not all bad.
This was a hard listen :(
Gutter ....
I just can’t get into it.
Another band that I have heard of, but never actually listened to a single note, which is pretty much the point in this exercise I guess, listening to the album today, it's pretty good indie rock, but I'm not enjoying it much really.
i bet this hits hard for marty supreme fans Would I listen again? No Deserves to be on this list? No 2.3
Random thoughts: * This was good to listen in the background while I cleaned my garage. But I still really am not a Pavement fan. * It just kind of melted into a background noise for me. * I'm definitely just giving up on Pavement for me. It's just not for me.
My favorite part was all of the intermittent "shalala" surprises. I think America is broken because people simply aren't doing whatever the hell Chesley's Little Wrists is in their garages anymore.
Sure, it’s the Velvet Underground by way of Stockton, California, with guitars turned up like Thurston left his amp running and a frontman who couldn’t sound more disinterested if he were actively trying to nap between verses. But for all its revered slack and lo-fi mythos, this debut doesn’t quite enchant—it leans hard on charm-by-abrasion and dazed nonchalance, which won’t cut it if you’re immune to indie’s perma-smirk. “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” coasts on Lou Reed cool and noise-pop crunch, “Zurich is Stained” actually bothers to hum a melody, and “Here” floats in a dreamy limbo that defines the whole scene’s shrug. If this is your gospel, fine. I’ll keep my enthusiasm slightly restrained—like Malkmus himself.
I keep trying to like Pavement. I just don’t get it.
lifeless lyrics and monotone guitar. a whole album to say "shit sucks but fuck you for trying to help."
Competent but I don’t see why this is on the list. The guitar playing was boring and annoying and the lead singer often yelled tunelessly. Not a very good album
couple of standouts but im afraid most of this was not my bag
Peaks and troughs in terms of quality owes a lot to the pixies 2.5*
It's ok. Definitely not great work music lol. It sounds like something a local punk band would record in a garage and there's nothing wrong with that... but this is not my vibe. I liked a couple songs, I skipped a few as well. Not my most tuned in listening, hence the vague review.
Im about to go off again, sorry yall. A group of my Saskatoon friends love Pavement… for some reason. 90s punk I guess. Sounds like me on the drums back there. Although, I feel like I have better fills and beats to throw in at least though, idk maybe I’m over confident but it’s pretty lacking. I’ve never understood the appeal of this type of punk and bands like this and Pup. It’s like noisemaking which I guess I do enjoy some aspects, the complete lack of not giving a single fuck is kinda satisfying. But idk the rest of it just feels like they gave a few fucks, but not enough to be actually good, and not little enough for it to carry that not giving a fuck vibe. Meh. The drums continue to suck as I listen. They also are pretty poorly recorded/tuned. This is what happens when your music is meant to be listened to live and just absolutely blowing out people’s eardrums so you don’t actually notice that the tone sounds like ass. Kinda disappointing production. Fame Throwa I had a physical reaction when the vocals came in with a “more of this shit huh” but the heavy drop was kinda cool. 2
I don’t like punk
Nothing to call home about.
Yet another early 1990s album for gen x kids whose parents don't understand them ;_;
herky jerky , bratty , agitated, fizzy, in thrall to the Velvets and The Fall, tiresome
It's okay. Idk. There were better choices tbh
It was fine I guess. I know they were revolutionary and all that but idk I’m not a fan of the vocals Band was pretty tight and there were maybe a couple of cool songs (eg Lorettas scars) but I wasn’t particularly impressed by anything / it seems like neither post punk or indie which maybe is the point but it doesn’t do either particularly well
forgot I listened to this one. deebo!!! nareeez! that weird party! eeh. started off strong and ended week. tWO !
I don’t expect much from a vocalist in a punk band, but I wish the singer gave me something more. I was begging for a shred of creativity. You can toss this in a pile of a ton of similar records from the 90s.
Hat elsk Conduit sale har ein banger intro og backingrif, men sucky tekst og heavy gitar og ekta søppel refreng... Here var fin, Zurich Is Stained va grei, Fame Throwa va crazy Beste sang: Zurich Is Stained
There are some bits where I’m thinking this is decent but I despise the drawling, uncaring vocalist. Put it in the back with the other bored artists.
Beh
I haven’t listened to any Pavememt in a really long time. Now I remember why.
Fuzzy, moan-y, not my style.
Really don't like this style of music. Just really lo-fi and too random sounding for me to enjoy
I really liked Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, so I was excited to get another Pavement album. But this one was... lackluster. It didn't have the Pavement sound that I liked from Crooked Rain and Harness Your Hopes... also Conduit for love was annoying. It wasn't a bad album I just didn't really vibe with it.
It definitely didn't appeal to me. It has some interesting post-grunge and punk elements, all wrapped in a thin layer of pop that holds it all together. But the album's sound, and that incredibly lazy vocal, bored me to death, to the point where I had to make a huge effort to keep my eyes open and not fall asleep from the middle of the album onwards. I think two stars are generous enough.
Briefly threatened to suck me in but on balance think I'll stick with Lou Reed.
Yeah, I don't hate this, but it didn't grab me at all.
Just anothe garage rock band
One of these days, I'll be able to put my finger on why I love alternative rock, but can't click with this, The Fall or, indeed, The Smashing Pumpkins. To start with the positives, the production is raw and fun, and the energy and attitude are good. But the songs are only okay (I quite liked "Here") and I disliked the vocals.
It was ok, not super remarkable.
At times I got it, then the next song came on and I didn’t know what the fuck was going on
If you took all this music and removed the talking I would probably enjoy it.
This just wasn’t that good
nah
This one does remind me of early Beck but I didn’t really enjoy it. Not enough musicality to get me into it
I don't think I'd heard this one before. It's pretty standard indie as far as that genre goes. Not really my cup of tea but I can see how it inspired a lot of what came next, for better or worse. I like the loose-sounding guitars but the production is overall awful. The whole album sounds like it's wrapped in some kind of muddling cloak. Vocals are terrible and very poorly recorded. The drums seem to be sort of playing in the background at the same time rather than as a part of the whole. The bass is almost like a drone that just washes over everything. I can't say I'm a fan. There were a few parts here and there that I enjoyed but nothing that stuck out enough for me to want to listen again or listen to more from them. 2.5/5
2/5. It's pop rock through a blender. It does give the confidence of Dylan, knowing full well the quality of the vocals is not the highlight. Granted, the lyrics are not the highlight either. I guess neither is the music behind it. It's hard to pin down what is enjoyable about this album and although I wouldn't say it is very good, I respect the effort. I can even see how this speaks to people who want punk but don't want to think about the horrors of the world. It's an escape but it's not one I find much comfort in. Maybe for someone else though. Best Song: Summer Babe (Winter Version), Here, Conduit for Sale!
2/5
Screams 90's in a way that I would like to forget.
Nice instrumental backing but the out of tune singing was upsetting.
Didn't hate it. Didn't do anything for me.
Meh. Nothing interesting here
Another one of “those” albums that you’re suppose to appreciate for how influential blah blah blah it is! The truth is it’s pretty shit.
Meine gute wat een ongelovelijke klote muziek. Was eigenlijk wel oke-ish, beetje hanged tussen 2 en 3 reten tot Conduit for Sale. Mijn god, de zanger schreeuwt daar 80000 keer Im trying achter elkaar. Luister maat, I'm trying to luister dit fucking album. Hou je bek joh. Jammer eigenlijk wel, want het nummer erna is weer prima te behappen.. Eerlijk is eerlijk, Here is wel een heel mooi nummer. Potver wat een vreemd album. Zo disc 1 afgeluisterd. Vind het wel mooi zo. Het is instrumenteel best wel leuk, alleen de zanger kan mij echt niet bekoren. Daarnaast is het veel van hetzelfde, net geen punk maar ook niet echt chill. 2 reten
This sounds like drinking a light beer on a spring day surrounded by friends. Trigger Cut , it was driving me crazy trying to think where I've heard similar melodies sung I'm thinking Jim Croce and Elliott Smith? Ah yeah internet says Croce and that Smith dug this band. It sounds like pavement had a lot of influence on later bands or was just of that same era. I see this was their first album, I would give others a chance, but this one seemed like okay background music, nothing more. A lot of the songs felt incomplete and were missing that *thing* that draws you in. Cool album cover.
TBH, I kinda "phoned in" listening to this album.
DNF
Can trace some influences on naughties bands to this album. Cool, but not for me.
I wish I liked this.
Not my thing. Might have been a tolerable song here and there, but mostly just noise.
This falls into the category of “I really didn’t enjoy this album, but it’s not as bad as some of the stuff I’ve been made to listen to so far as part of this project, so it gets 2*.”
This album sounds like if you took all the basic, stereotypical, and boring sounds of 90s alternative rock and put it in a bottle. It just felt like it never fully got going.
nothing stood out to me but it wasn't bad by any means. 5/10
while i've dabbled in pavement before, i really don't know much about them and this was my first front-to-back listen of a pavement album. as someone who doesn't really listen to the likes of nirvana or sonic youth, it was initially hard to sonically parse this album aside from just being... "early 90s noisy rock." it took me sitting down and really LISTENING to this album (as opposed to having it on in the background) to begin to appreciate what they were doing here - i almost can't believe this is a debut album. that being said, i think i know now why i don't casually listen to the likes of nirvana or sonic youth: this stuff kinda gives me a headache. i can only listen to the distorted, lo-fi fuzz for so long before i have to leave (i was counting down the seconds for the "serious legit" listen through for when i could turn this album off). this is a ceremonious and benevolent 2: i wholeheartedly believe this album has the merits of a 5 star rating (i wouldn't disabuse anyone who has that opinion of this album), but for me, this thing has a depth that puts it at the bottom of the static-fuzz-distortion ocean... and you know, i just don't feel like getting wet today. highlights - trigger cut/wounded kite at :17, loretta's scars, two states, fame throwa
02
I don’t really “get” this, but I can see how many others might.
Not for me. Some better Pavement songs autoplayed afterwards.
There is not enough here to hold my interest. 2 stars or D+.
Listening to Slanted and Enchanted felt like stumbling into a smoky basement gig where Lou Reed decided to front The Pixies for a night. There’s a raw, off-kilter charm to it—jangly guitars, cryptic lyrics, and that lo-fi aesthetic that screams early '90s indie. It’s got attitude, sure, but it’s also kind of like a musical shrug: cool, detached, and not particularly interested in winning you over. Some tracks had moments that caught my ear—the singer's drawl occasionally hits that sweet spot between ironic and sincere—but overall, it felt more like a vibe than a collection of songs I’d revisit. It’s the kind of album that probably grows on you if you’re steeped in the scene or nostalgic for that era. For me, though, it was an interesting listen... once. Not a bad album by any stretch, just not one that clicked.
I know only one song by pavement and it is called “Cut your hair” and I really like that one. Sadly that one is not on this album and this album is nothing like that song. This was a letdown to me.
Pavement transports me back to the early to mid 1990s. I do not consent to this. I never got around to listening to this at the time (Wowee Zowee was more my thing) but this feels really familiar. Maybe it's Malkmus' quirky drawl that drags me in
Started out okay, but turned annoying quite quickly
Eh... reminds us of Weezer. Singing/talking out of tune. Conveys a certain emotion but not very enjoyable to listen to.
Did not enjoy and only listened half way through.
Some good old moody, jaded 90s alternative rock. The singer's voice is quite boring, but the music is typical of this era and genre. Slow rhythms, some whining and pleading, and redundant background music. This one can stay in 1992.
Slanted and Enchanted – Pavement (1992) | Lo-Fi Indie Rock / Noise Pop | Avg: 4.97 | Favorite Song: “Here” Alright, let’s be real—Slanted and Enchanted might be a lo-fi indie milestone, but for me, it was more miss than hit. “Here” stands out as the one track that really connects, and it’s no coincidence that it’s also the most emotionally grounded and melodically focused moment on the record. The rest? It feels like a mess—self-consciously sloppy in a way that often crosses the line from charming to careless. There’s a fine art to sounding loose without sounding lazy, and Pavement dances on that edge a bit too recklessly here. I get the appeal: the drawling vocals, the fragmented songwriting, the off-kilter attitude—it’s all part of the anti-polish aesthetic. But when song after song blurs into the same detached haze, it starts to wear thin fast. The wit and irreverence only go so far when the hooks aren’t strong enough to carry the weight. From a reviewer’s lens, I respect what it represents more than how it actually sounds. Slanted and Enchanted may be a cult classic, but for me, it felt more like homework than a hangout. I get the appeal: the drawling vocals, the fragmented songwriting, the off-kilter attitude—it’s all part of the anti-polish aesthetic. But when song after song blurs into the same detached haze, it starts to wear thin fast. The wit and irreverence only go so far when the hooks aren’t strong enough to carry the weight. From a reviewer’s lens, I respect what it represents more than how it actually sounds. Slanted and Enchanted may be a cult classic, but for me, it felt more like homework than a hangout.
Huh. This indie post-punk album is ahead of its time; I'm surprised this album only came out in 1992. Pavement's punk and noise rock genres are definitely of its time, but they've got an early indie sound, too. At the end of the day, I didn't care for the lead singer's vocals, so I couldn't get excited about this album, at all. I thought the album was turning a corner with the song "Two States," but it was not about the two state solution to find peace in the Middle East. Alas.
Grungy, alternative 90s rock before that genre even really took off. It was okay, but not really stellar. Like so many albums on this project, I feel like the sound here is a proto example of the genre, but was perfected and done so much better by others who followed.
I've heard a few pavement songs before, and liked them - which is why I was surprised to find I really didn't care for this one. Just kind of felt boring and messy and disinterested.
I like alt rock, so I was kinda excited to see what this had in store. But… ehhhhhhhhhhhhh. Started off good ish with Summer Babe (Winter Version), then quickly fell off a cliff. Kinda sorta picked it back up with Zurich Is Stained. But then fell off again, and I found myself wondering several times when it would be over, but each time, I still had several songs left. Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era (what a weird song title) was good. Then it was finally over after a mostly forgettable final song. It’s a debut album and you can tell because it’s a little all over the place and doesn’t really sound like anything but some guys playing noisily in their garage. This might have been revolutionary in the 90s if I had literally nothing else to listen to, but I don’t think it’s aged well at all. So many things that probably could’ve replaced this.
Critically acclaimed band i have never been able to understand. I think Wowee Zowee is definitely a stronger album if only because there are some songs I like on it. This is another one of those albums where I can't distinguish a single song from another and it just feels messy and derivative.
Im6mot particularly enthused. Influence or not to some great indie bands, I didn't really enjoy.
I listened to this yesterday. I don't remember it. 2 stars for being forgettable but clearly not bad enough to hate.
I liked this a lot less than I did Crooked Rain Crooked Rain. While I did return to that album a few times, I really can’t see myself doing that with this one.
this is pure early grunge, but it's not interesting or satisfying to listen to it. there were some okay sounds but the songs were indistinguishable so I didn't have favorites
When I heard their other album in this collection (the later "Crooked Rain Crooked Rain"), and didn't particularly enjoy the experience, I wrote that I couldn't "really capture in words how excited I am at this prospect [of hearing their debut album]." I will try, however, to capture my reaction in words; namely, "Pavement blows". Actually, that's not really fair to them, and my expectations for this album were so low that the experience wasn't nearly as disappointing as it was for the other album. That said, I'm not sure I could really identify any song that either stood out or was particularly interesting, beyond perhaps the punk-adjacent "Two steaks" (while "Chesley's little wrists" was the opposite of interesting); I am utterly baffled that Rolling Stone has "Summer babe (winter version)" in its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. And since I gave them three stars for their later album, I feel very comfortable giving this album only two, as that's all it deserves from my perspective (which appears to be in the tiny minority, gauging from the effusive praise of reviewers on the Wikipedia entry).
Nothin here for me
Raw. A little grating.
Early grunge, sounds like the band Cake, just ok
It's not good.
This is another that falls into the category of understanding why it is on this list, as it seemed influential in indie rock's rise in popularity. However, that doesn't require me to enjoy it.
Thought I liked Pavement but I guess not
Not a fan. I think I may be less punk than I thought.
Ho, hum 2/5
Langweiliger Lärm
Too obnoxiously jangly slacker noisy to merit a relisten. But better than one star, if only for the heady nostalgia rush of that drum sound and guitar sound and vocal delivery that was totally ubiquitous by the late nineties. I was mostly too young to know band names, and hardly followed contemporary music anyway, but the whole vibe of this album was inescapable back then. In my day. Still, nostalgia aside, there’s not much here I like.
The refrain for Conduit for Sale! goes, "I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin and I'll try!" Fucking... try harder if you want to retain my interest. Get off. This is so close to a 1, but I reserve those for the most hopeless of cases, and it's not quite that bad
I listened but I don't remember a single thing
Always heard Pavement was a gem of a band but…….This is not my jam. Him screaming I’m Trying over and over again until he’s hoarse was the final nail and it was only a third of the way thru the album. No thanks.
Mostly forgetable.
very INTERESTING 90's indie rock album. some of the songs on this... yeah... some of the worst rock i've ever heard. the vocalistic lowkey kinda needed vocal on some of time. however, they had some solid songs, so it's not like i can fully bash them haha.
It was just worse than alright, like not my style of rock, a bad fusion between alt rock and grunge and post punk, which just didn't gel well. Not my greatest listening experience.
Make it stop. Just make it stop. It’s just not good and I enjoy indie music. It’s the musical equivalent of kids making dinner. It doesn’t taste good and they make a fucking mess.
Gritty and abrasive. Some of the best examples of the indie-90s-noise rock genre I've heard so far, though I still don't think it's for me. 'Here' and 'In The Mouth A Desert' offers the most interesting hooks on here. Best Tracks: - In The Mouth A Desert - Here Worst Tracks: - Fame Throwa Rating: 5.5/10
These guys aren't doing anything that Suicidal Tendencies hadn't already done better 10 years earlier. I don't see the appeal at all
The music is pretty good, but I can't stand the guy's voice.
Generic alt rock. More artsy sounding than the strokes was. Generally more enjoyable also, but less memorable than an album that deserves a 3
I like a few of Pavement's poppier hits like Gold Soundz and Cut Your Hair, so was looking forward to this one. It didn't quite chime with me though, it's a bit shoegaze and a bit indie rock but not getting the best of either The fuzzy, distorted guitars do rock and there are a few nice hooks dotted among the unorthodox song structures. Even after 2 listens I don't have a strong desire to replay any of these tracks though
2.5
indie, grunge, sounds like it was recorded from another room, didn't make an impression
It's great for what it is supposed to be. Not my thing tho
Decent album, nothing special to me.
Kinda punky
Not for me
The more traditional songs were mostly hollow sounding, and the weirder ones were mostly annoying
I can tell that this is indie. A lot of experimental stuff, which I can appreciate. There were hints of some potential there, but ultimately it didn't go anywhere due to the lack of polish.
Never really liked Pavement
4.5/10
this really poses the question “should men be allowed to make music”
Ah yes, more anemic rock. Goodie. I think my 2-star rating has been dialled in correctly now. This album explains to me the hopeless, worthless demeanour you see amongst some Gen X folk. No wonder - they listened to this growing up. It sounds like they modelled their half-singing-half-talking vocals off “Hey” by the Pixies, but just decided that didn’t sound lethargic enough. Conduit for Sale had a bit of punch, and I can honestly say that’s where I stopped listening to the full tracks. I really want the writers of this book to look at me dead in the eye and tell me this needed to be here because they listen to it frequently. 4/10
Some of the most unimpressive noisy indie rock I've heard performed by guys with the same level of enthusiasm as someone being walked in front of a firing squad.
Absolutely astounding that this was considered in any way special, different, relevant, outstanding, etc. etc .etc. especially to the degree that it would be included on this list of 'must listens'. They may have been a pioneer in the genre of 'Music for teenage American losers who aren't game enough to shoot up their school' but I fail to see any real influence or legacy from this nothingburger record. So uninteresting even the singer sounds bored. The saving grace keeping this out of 1 territory is that the instrumentals are at least performed competently, if routinely. That and it's a snappy 30 something minutes.
Инди рок)
Eh, it was ok
Rendu au 2/3 de la liste, je commence à avoir la mèche plus courte envers ce genre d'album, donc je vais arrêter ça à la troisième toune, en assumant que le reste soit de la même qualité. Je proclame dès lors que cet album...🥁🥁🥁... pue du cul.
Its indie, it's bedroom produced... meh
Second classic US 90s alt-rock album in a row. Unfortunately that’s one of my least favourite genres, and this didn’t do it for me at all. I know the mumbly low in the mix vocals is kind of part of the overall vibe (also see Smashing Pumpkins etc) but it really doesn’t work for me. Never mind, onto the next!
I'm not sure if this band is considered influential, and that's why they were included? The sound is very raw, like nobody involved knew how to mix tracks and clean things up. Maybe they're influential? But it wasn't for me. I'll be nice and give it a 2, but I would say 1.5 at best. Woof.
Early 90’s music was a movement. Lyrics heavy with allegory and emotion. Unique and exceptional vocal styles like Shannon Hoon, Eddie Vedder, Curt Cobain, and Layne Staley. Incredible bands were plentiful but Pavement wasn’t one of them. Slanted and Enchanted sounds manufactured. There’s no energy, no soul, no pulse. The vocals are dreadful, the lyrics are nonsense, the band is just ok.
Each track started really positively with driving guitars and a nice clean production. And then the vocals entered - yikes! No offence but if someone recommends an album or a band, I would expect the vocals to be at least competent. Great drum sound, mind you.
I put Pavement in my “must listen to but ain’t had time’ category. First came to my notice by chance when I randomly turned on some Glastonbury coverage and Pavement were playing. The song they were playing was brilliant but I never caught the title. I made it my ambition to find out what that song was but so far failed. So I wondered if today’s listen would finally reveal this song to me. Thing is it’s getting on now from this Glastonbury outing and with it been a live rendition and all, I’m not sure if I would recognise this lost song even if it hit me between my peepy’s. But I did listen today in this forlorn hope the song was on this album. Afraid not was my final conclusion. In fact the whole experience was unfortunately a bit of a trudge. Not desperately bad but to my ears it was too much of a grunge fest. As this was their first album perhaps that is how Pavement started and they matured into the band responsible for the sound I’m seeking from them. This album did not fire me up to carry on and identify the elusive song but at least I can confidently cross one off Pavement’s complete canon. 2.5/5 13/2/25
ahj ezt annyira untam, hogy nincs kedvem kétszer meghallgatni, pedig ennyi esélyt majdnem mindegyik albumnak adok.
Eh, It was ok. It's not bad or anything, just isn't my jam.
Why is this album on this list?
I actually liked 120 Minutes.
Tråkig och saknar finess.
Not for me.
The first half was boring, forgettable, and uninspired. I enjoyed the second half more but overall the album was mediocre. Their description on Spotify calls Pavement the "defining American indie rock band of the 90s" which is a hilariously bold claim after such an ordinary album. Favorites: Conduit for Sale, Zurich Is Stained, Two States
Fairly generic indie rock.
Moody, scream, proto-grunge, proto-shoegaze, slacker indie rock with violently distorted guitars - not for me, but I can totally see how this would be a million teenagers' music that speaks to their rebellious streak. However, being nearly 40 upon my first listen, I can't say it connected.
Forsangeren synger ikke godt haha. Der er lidt RATM vibes over det, men mangler energien synes jeg. Har svært ved at se hvordan det rigtigt slår i gennem som hardcore punk, og lyder ikke overhovedet godt nok til at være pop-punk eller lignende.
Never liked Pavement. The singer's voice is awful. The music is mediocre at best.
Not enjoyable, the singer cannot sing.
Although it´s one of my prefered gengres, the album neither convinces me musically nor especially vocally. 🤷♂️ favourite: "Trigger Cut" 2,5
Pretty good. I honestly don't understand why it was seen as such an important album based on the content itself, although maybe it inspired many others.
Wannabe Kurt Cobains
Meh
Not for me.
I’m not sure what this album was trying to be, it had a few good moments but ultimately felt like a mess.
I feel like I’m listening to them live and they are warming up, in particular the lead singer. I don’t like his voice. They should re-record the album with a different singer.
We barely needed one Pavement album, and the other one is better than this. It drones on and gets a little repetitive toward the end.
Early 1990's grungy rock sound: Check. Cake cover band status: Check. Apologies to Cake: Check.
Not bad for early Indie
What an odd and somewhat creepy album!
I enjoy these kinds of instrumentals, but the lead vocalist is a very bad singer. Not bad as in I don't like his style, but bad as in literally missing notes or falling off of them.
A garage rock indie band who I would not give a second thought to if I heard them playing in a local bar. Vocals especially are lazy and toneless, songs don't seem to have any structure. This would definitely fail the Old Grey Whistle Test. I considered giving this 1 star, but I think I have to reserve that for albums I actively dislike. This irritated me but I was mostly apathetic. The title of the album is pretty good.
Dated and overrated. Stale and pale.
naja, wirkt auf mich etwas lustlos
I don't think that this album was that great, it was at most very mid, nothing really happened, but I guess it was alright for a background listen, and it was also nice that it was a fairly short one, so it went by relatively quickly. I would give it three stars but it didn't catch my excitement from the beginning.
Ok I see where Weezer got their ideas… Honestly the last 20 albums must have averaged 2 stars. I might be kinder in other circumstances but this is an easy 2 for me, again.
Had never heard of Pavement before. Album was interesting- kind of at the confluence of alt rock and post punk. Found myself enjoying it at parts, but mostly unremarkable. Having a hard time even remembering what I liked / didnt like
This was awful. Sonically there was some cool ideas but it was brought down by the incessant droning that they tried to pass off as singing. The few times there was an attempt at singing may have been even worse than the talking. Not even autotune could help this guy
Sound quality not great through Spotify
Tough album. It tries to irritate you, not welcoming and just them doing things because they can (“Conduit for Sale!” with its repeating chorus). It’s not all negative though. “Here” is a nice ballad-like tune and the second half is probably better. They have cool guitars and drums but not hearing the love for this one. 2.5 stars.
Not a fan of the first half at all. Just a nasty racket with sub-Weezer songs mixed with elements of Slint and other noise rock crap. Second half starting from Loretta’s Scars was a lot better and more tuneful actually. Quite a few pleasant songs pleasantly sung and performed. 2.0 for first side and 3.5 for second side so 2.75 overall.
I don’t get it. I’m sorry.
Some of it isn't bad, but some of it is just too annoying, and brings the whole album down. (Looking at you, Conduit for Sale!)
Rock, Punk -> 2
I don't hate it, but I'm not really that into the garage style.
Some parts were really not for me. Others were nice, but not groundbreaking
Ok album but the songs all sound the same
Good songs, very poor vocals and musicianship. Not good.
I can get behind the genre, but not this. A lot sounded like noise. 2*
Very 90s garage band sound. The sound reminds me so much of the songs used in FLCL. Fine but not a revisit
A lot of people are really into Pavement. I'm not one of them. Just sounds like the bastard child of Sonic Youth and the Pixies.
Groupe inconnu. J'aime bien la basse/batterie sur certains morceaux, mais rien de vraiment marquant, et je ne suis pas fan du chant. => 2/5
Another band that I was aware of without really listening to. And now I know why - had high hopes when this appeared, but man is this album dull.
Just okay to me. Probably won’t come back to it
# 259 : Kind of sounds like a bunch of kids jamming in a mates garage and putting noise down on a tape recorder. I liked : Conduit For Sale
not great
Not a fan of screaming metal
Middling indie rock. Nothing more, nothing less.
I can appreciate Pavement for what they were doing at the time. But they never quite clicked for me, while Minutemen, Sonic Youth & Yo La Tengo did. There's some Pavement I like but it's not on this album.
Didn’t need to hear that
Could not get into this, voice annoyed me
Eugh. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for sludgy guitars, muffled lyrics and tinny production.
Not as bad as I was anticipating, but I'd be happy never to listen to it again.
Meh
A big disappointment, after listening to Crooked Rain x2 before. This album is very boring and unspectacular. It was very polite and obliging, something that is a mortal sin of any indie record. Zero risks taken. It is not a bad album, but certainly it doesn't stand out in an aggressive way.
just not great
starts off bad and improves all the way to "acceptable i suppose"
I like pavement and their music but I dont think they any good as musicians they sound lile friends that did their garage band got signed and stayed at the same level. Yet fullfilled their dreams whixh is awesome. Voice is bad a hell but if it were 100% pure 70 punk it would work. A nice selection and different types of songs was good specially the closer.
Not awful, but pretty unremarkable. Nothing to report
Another reviewer referred to this as sludgy, and i think that’s a very good word for this sound. But this was frat rock for Midwest poser boys. Nobody listened to this kinda shit. Nobody should listen to this now.
Nice album, enjoyed listening to it, but have already forgot everything about it 12 hours later. 5/10
A whole album of stoner rock gets a bit wearing. Maybe I need to revisit the '80s and light up a few cones then listen.
I know this band is considered pivotal, but can't say I enjoyed the album.
First few songs were awful. Dude was struggling to make a tune. Got better as it went.
The production on this album was terrible, very unpolished.
Not the worst. I can see this being very influential in more modern bands that I like but this was a bit too old school / indie punkish for my tastes.
What a strange album and band. I hear a little yearning to sound odd and rough, but then it's mellow and soft. No clue what the lyrics are about. I want to like this and I do a little bit, but it's not enough to pull me in. 2 stars.
Hm, of its time I guess. I'm led to believe that it was an influential album but accept that that passed (passes) me by. Started off sounding like a Velvet Underground tribute act but couldn't really hold my interest beyond that. Not for me.
And so passes another completely forgot table album, thanks list, I'm sure I'd have be no worse off hearing that for the rest of my life.
Sounds like a garage band…amateur hour.
Hit and misses. My favorite was In The Mouth A Desert.
I have not heard of this album or band before. This wasn’t my typical style of music despite being rock so I was unfortunately let down. I didn’t vibe with any of the songs though I found Here to be a little funny as I listened to the lyrics. I probably won’t listen again.
Far too noisy for me. I can't get past it.
too rough but not an absolute castastrophe
OK album.
Can't get into this lot
This is a decent record. However, when someone promotes 1,001 albums you must listen to before you die, there is going to be some filler...a lot of filler. I heard a lot of bands like this. I didn't connect with this one.
Summer babe 2 Trigger cut/ Wounded kite at :17 2 No life singed her 2 In the mouth a desert 3 Conduit for sale! 2 Zürich is stained 3 Chesley’s little wrists 1 Loretta’s scars 2 Here 2 Two states 2 Perfume-V 3 Fame throwa 2 Jackals, False grails: The lonesome era 2 Our singer 2
Fairly bland, did not capitivate me to do more active listening. Something i imagine to be on loop in a shopping mall.
Not for me
Too grungy-noisy but a couple less noisy songs weren't bad.
Very 90's, I didn't know an entire band could be tone deaf.
Never heard of them. Lead singer sings off key; very off-putting.
Never heard of these guys nor any of these songs before. It was ok but I probably will never listen to it again.
Eh. Had never heard of this band before so it was good to be exposed to something new. It's fine but the vocals get pretty annoying after a while. There just isn't really a good song on the album. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)
I used to really like UK indie but it seems like all of the US 90s alt rock I hear is very muddy and messy. It’s almost like they are hiding the fact they can’t write a decent song behind layers and layers of distortion and fuzz…
Didn’t love it
I'm honestly underwhelmed. I had heard of it pavement for decades now and never got around a listing to them and now I understand why
Day43 - i’m a big fan of 90’s alternative but this mumbly slacker garage band isn’t for me
I just can’t get it up for these guys. They’ll have to wank themselves. Meh.
I’m sure this is a poorly reviewed album on here. Everything sounds kind of out-of-tune or dissonant, and the singing is kinda dispassionate and lifeless. But I’m sure there are people that will 5 star this. But not me. There are a couple songs that I liked but all in all… 2/5
3/10 - I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying to enjoy this album. How can I, how can I, how can I possibly do it. It is quite screamy and the vocals are hard to hear sometimes, yet I am ok with that.
Conduit for sale is one of the most annoying songs ive heard, the rest was also not good 3/10
Well.. I tried. Ok - I read the description on how it is a critical success, but the 150,000 sales says it all. Ive heard worse. Sounds like some later Lou Reed,,,at least vocally.
Not my genre of music but I listened to it.
Easily forgettable
Like a lot of bands that pavement paved the way for, but not feeling this. Individual ingredients are there but just never mixed into something special.
sounds like it was recorded in a garage, gives it a little shitty charm
Meh
Fairly standard Indie rock from the sounds of it? Maybe I need to listen to this more?
Nah, not for me.
It was okay
Nothing here for me
Yeah it's ok, I don't see what all the fuss is about
Not outright terrible, but also not something I ever want to listen to again.
1992. Not too noteworthy grunge/counterculture rock aside from a standout guitar/vocal harmony in "In the Mouth a Desert"
Early 90s fuzz
I just don’t think I’m a fan of this 90s indie rock stuff. The instrumentals were cool but I’m just not a fan of the singer or the way the vocals are processed. My boy needs auto tune and a new mix engineer.
I listened to this entire album yesterday and I don't remember a single thing about it.
I never really got into this group. There were a couple of decent songs.
Eh. It's okay.
Some decent guitar work saves it from being otherwise unremarkable and unmemorable.
Don't get the love for this. Well, I suppose I do, but I guess it's more love for what it inspired than what it is? Could easily have come out a decade later (and if it had I suspect it would not be anywhere near as popular) It's a bit too raw, the singer's voice is a bit too weak, and there's just not enough interesting going on. 2/5.
The week of okay albums has been rounded off with another one. Its honestly just okay. Is it really one of the best albums of all time? No it is not iconic sounding in any way
Feels like the recording is poor quality - voice not nice to hear, it almost seems like he (they ?) sings false
I feel like this is the Pavement album that gets talked up the most but it's my least favorite. I love how their music barely holds together and when it's at it's best, it's still delivers something as hooky as it is exploratory. This is much more on the exploratory side. But then the best thing Stephen Malkmus ever did was his first solo album. By far the best. That may make me a Pavement heretic, I don't know. But I feel like I could give anybody his first solo album and they'd at least have to say it's a catchy listen. This one, not so much.
For every song I like there were two I didn't. If it matters, this is the first time I think I've ever listened to an entire Pavement record. There's a lot in the sound of this record that I appreciate. It's about as 90s indie and one can indie. It also made me think of The Dead Milkmen for some reason. When's the last time you listened to that band? Anyway, I liked "In the Mouth of the Desert" and "Here," specifically. One star for each of those songs.
Every raves about this band but this is doing nothing for me
Ei lähde
It’s got a vibe. Riding around in a shitbox smoking cigarettes as the grip tape of my skateboard rubs my forearm raw since there’s not enough room to throw it in the back. Love it when music does that. But, for better or worse, in this example, it doesn’t sound all that good. Mix is pretty atrocious, song writing is weak, and it’s lacking something substantial. Likely won’t be listening back.
snoozefest.
The "dual solo" in Jackals is horrible. There are is the bass and rhythm guitar doing the same thing along with a keyboard doing some dodgy Pink Floyd "On the Run" lick. Then we have a clean-ish guitar solo and another solo with a fuzzed out guitar that has nothing to do with the song. That was a tough listen. I think part of the problem with Pavement is that we are listening to them years after they influenced bands refined the sound and this was their debut recording. Then again listen to Nirvana's debut and see there is no comparison.
Toooodella tylsä, vaikka ysäriräimettä oli. Ne olivat ne ilahduttavat kohdat. Muuten toisesta korvasta sisään, toisesta ulos, kuten moni indie tuppaa tekemään.
Ennen kuin indie pyrki peittämään helpottavan noloutensa "ammattimaiseen" tuotantoon. Vahva 2.
Part Pixies, Sonic Youth, and the Fall, and somehow much less than the sum of its parts. Imagine being in the studio thinking “sure those vocals sound awful - let’s keep them”. The three aforementioned bands are among my favorite, so I’m no stranger to riotous noise. But I’ve always felt out of the loop for Pavement.
I got so bored listening to this, nothing really grabs me and as soon as it ended I pretty much forgot everything about it. I am shocked at how revered it is for something so bland. Its a 2 because its not Serge
don't how electric guitar heavy this is, which makes it sound too noisy. not my preferred style but they did have some good riffs
2.5
Wow. Why exactly was this popular? Abrasive yet uninteresting. The lyrics are edgy nonsense too.
I really like indie rock and noisy music, so I don't know why I can't take Pavement. They sound like a headache to me, which is weird because I can listen to stuff like Sonic Youth, Lightning Bolt or even Einstürzende Neubauten no problem.
i don't like pavement. only giving two stars bc the instrumentation is good. vocal style is not my thing at all, and the lyrics are just bullshit. maybe after listening to hundreds of more albums on this list i'll find something to appreciate in the whiny slacker-rock genre
Oh dear. It's emo rock.
I honestly did not like how this sounded
Teases, but ultimately fails to deliver.
Liked the instruments in some but not the voice in any, sounded out of tune. Here was ok.
I found this really boring and bland. Totally forgettable.
Listening to this album made me think I could have been a singer because the guy on this album is dreadful. It made listening to the whole album very difficult. There are some decent songs on here but the singers voice was too grating for me. Highlights: Summer Babe Trigger Cut
It had its moments of potential but they were too few and too buried amongst just noise that annoyed me.
Då har eg hørt da og
5/10
Could not stay focused
Unimpressed and hard to remember anything
I don't get it.
Christgau says this is the best band of the decade. Um no.
The Zurich song was alright
This was fine. Nothing stood out to me.
nä det här var väl inget vidare
the singer from Cake sings some tongue-in-cheek irreverence, ft. jumbled, fuzzy, atonal, and out of tune indie rock. It's just a bit too grating for me. 2/5
Very first song, Summer Babe, was very good and I was excited to get introduced to a new artist for the gym tonight. Not so. After a great start, I thought the album become pretty generic. There was nothing terrible about this album, but after Summer Babe, I didn't find anything that clicked with me. I liked the song Here, but really after that, I can't say anything got me excited to dive into these guys further. I did find the repetition of I'm trying, in Conduit for Sale, pretty annoying. Especially when started yelling it.....There's only one song with a continuous repetition of the same line that is any good, that I can think of off the top off my head and that is But, Honestly. Great song. Maybe my personal favorite from the Foo. BTW, they released another new song today (5/25/23). Looking forward to the new album due out on June 2nd. Anyway, best way to describe this album is decent, but unremarkable. Not sure I would revisit or check out other stuff unless brought to my attention. a 2.5 for me, but will score a 2 because i don't know if he was trying or not. Get it? Conduit for Sale song. Forget about it..... 2 2.5
Zurich is Stained is the best song. What diaper music. A 8 year old could make better sounds.
they stopped trying halfway through. in the mouth a desert was good.
Well, this was a bit of a disappointment after Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. None of the great melodies, and although influential, Pavement's debut clearly sounds like a band trying to find themselves.
How the hell did Pavement go directly from this to Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain? I actually had to go back and listen the other album, just to be sure I wasn’t temporarily deaf when handing it a 4/5 when it showed up on this list earlier. I wasn’t though. Slanted And Enchanted just isn’t good.
I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying to like this album
Not for me too annoying
Sorry I tried just not getting into Pavement
I really wanted to like this. I always _wanted_ to like Pavement. But I just don't hear the tunes. I liked Cut Your Hair (bought the 7"), but everything else I've ever heard from them leaves me kinda 'meh'. I know many fans and critics really dug them, like they were the second coming of whatever, but I never heard it. They sounded like a 1000 shitty bands (and I mean that in a good way. I like a shitty band) that played at the Sandringham Hotel in the late 80s/early 90s. I just didn't get excited by them as much as the hype would lead me to expect. Maybe you needed to see them live? I am grateful for the impetus to listen to this album all the way through (and I listened to it twice), but I cannot for the life of me remember a single thing I heard.
fashion faux pas
eh not really my thing
Not very "musical" in my opinion. Definitely different, which they get a plus for, but not that enjoyable to me personally.
Struggled with this one, very loud to me. Hard to get into.
It kind of reminded me of Weezer, but with a worse lead singer - he sang-talked too many songs. If all the songs were like "Here" I probably would have rated this album higher
Background music for a grainy video of a 13 year old in Etnies doing 8 shuv it variations
I know alit of folks hold Pavement in high regard. There’s some witty lyrics, but I can’t appreciate the music or singing behind it. Pavement continues to elude me.
Literally any other Stephen Malkmus album is better than this one. He’s one of my all time faves, but this is trash
Was expecting to like this, but found it quite irritating...could just be my mood. Though some music has the ability to pull me out of a funk, this drove me deeper.
2.5 stars. Grungy and shoegazey, the singer's monotone made it tougher for me to get into. Standout is "Summer Babe"