Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

Every time I listen to Pavement I think “wow, I should listen to more Pavement.”

I love this album. Pavement is such an important band that not enough people know about.

Day 23 of Albums You Must Hear… 1994 was the peak of alternative rock music in some ways, and the beginning of the end in others. Kurt Cobain would lose his life and bring an end to Nirvana, the greatest band of the 90’s. (Solely my opinion). Other mega acts, though, would break into the mainstream around this time, such as The Foo Fighters, Weezer, Green Day, and Smashing Pumpkins, to name a few. Those are all tough acts to follow, however, a band called Pavement would release their second album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain in 1994. Full disclosure here, I never knew the band Pavement before receiving this album, though it seems through their indie rock band accomplishments over a few years, they accumulated a decent cult following in the U.S. and U.K. Pavement would never sign a major label deal. The only song familiar to me on Crooked Rain is the single Cut your Hair. I remember seeing a clip of the video on Beavis & Butthead way back when, in which they referred to Pavement as ‘Buttwipe Music’. While I know that was said in the context of a joke, I mean it is Beavis & Butthead, another comment made by the cartoon duo was to ‘try harder’. Thats a statement I can’t get behind when it comes to the music from this band, though. While Cut Your Hair has a catchy tune right out the gate, the rest of the album is totally lackluster. The band is totally talented, just not memorable to me. If you ask me, the thing that made Nirvana the best alternative band of the 90’s is the simplicity of the melodies. I still don’t understand all of Cobain’s lyrics but I damn sure know the melodies of the hooks, drum patterns and chords. I get the feeling that Pavement is trying too hard be complex and not to “sell out” that they avoid making catchy tunes. On the song Range Life, they poke fun at Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots, which is fair, but those bands were able to have cross-over success without watering down their brand. They made catchy songs. The only other song to catch my attention was 5-4=Unity, a fully instrumental jam session that showcases the band’s undeniable musical talent. I just wish the songs on this album had more re-playability. The music video for Cut Your Hair has the perfect low budget, nonsensical vibe of the mid 90’s, though, and was fun to watch 27 years later. Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!

Grunge was a reaction against stadium rock, and this is a reaction against grunge: small-scale, personal, lo-fi; with an air of reluctant self-pity replacing anger.

This is an odd one - while it was playing I was thinking this is brilliant. But after it I realised I can't actually pick out any of the tracks. It was sort of one massive amorphous blob of California stoner shoegaze indie that I really enjoyed as a unit, but don't think I'll ever just put a track from it on to listen to. The whole thing start to finish or gtfo. I can hear a bit of Suede, a bit of Beck, Blind Melon, Sonic Youth and The Thrills in there. Lovely stuff.

What’s not to like? I mean this is probably the ultimate “indie” record. Slacker vibes galore, messy guitars that always somehow end up on beat, bursts of noise and energy followed by moments of calmness. I really like this record a lot. One of my favorites. Favorite song: Range Life Least favorite song: There ain’t one

I didn't expect to like this but I ended up quite enjoying it. It's lo-fi, post-punk, idie rock and the vocals are sketchy but... it has... something. It feels like these guys were legitimately into this and enjoying themselves. It reminds me a lot of some of my favorite indie bands and artists (Gasoline Heart comes to mind) and I'm into this. The sparse instrumentation lends an opennes to the mix that makes the whole album feel like it's breathing. It's so different from the Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" mix style that's so popular these days and it's refreshing...

This afternoon I read a line by Penelope Fitzgerald, describing one of her tragicomic protagonists, that feels right for a vital and deliberate attribute of this record: “Her reach exceeded her grasp”. These songs are perfect collapses, their loftiness richer for how their exquisite compositions trip over into a gorgeous, noisy heap, disarming me - life is serious, but it is also absurd, and we should laugh. This was almost the first record I bought on release that I love without reservation, pipped the year before by Rid of Me. My brother Will and I went to see them in Manchester when they toured this album, and they were glorious. Such fun. Simon, I leave the floor to you, mon ami.

Not a perfect album, but close. I'd never noticed before how much Malkmus sounds like Tweedy and Wilco here. Never been a huge fan of Cut Your Hair, but Fillmore Jive is a classic tune to end it. Essential album.

What is indie rock? Someone not signed to a major label? (I'm not signed to a major label, Greg. Am I indie rock?) Today the term indie rock seems to have no meaning. It isn't exclusively used for independent label bands, and it doesn't refer to a specific musical style. I could tell you I like indie rock, but really that doesn't tell you much, and while I like many bands that would be classified as indie rock, I also dislike plenty of indie rock. But Pavement is (was?) indie rock. When bands maintained that anti-major label thing for their whole career. (Tangent to the tangent - I heard a story on the radio yesterday about a new book called "Sellout" by Dan Ozzi - "A raucous history of punk, emo, and hardcore’s growing pains during the commercial boom of the early 90s and mid-aughts, following eleven bands as they “sell out” and find mainstream fame, or break beneath the weight of it all." Sounds super interesting.) So, anyways, Pavement stayed indie. And in the 90s I wasn't cool enough to be indie. (All mainstream grunge, flannel, and undercuts.) I've always meant to go back and listen to more Pavement. They're a band I thought I would enjoy, but never sought out. I know "Cut Your Hair" pretty well, and still think it's great. But the rest of this album was enjoyable too. I hear Built to Spill a lot in Pavement's sound - they came in at the tail end of Pavement's run, and I got into Built to Spill as I was trying to figure out indie rock in the mid-aughts. I think I prefer Built to Spill, but I enjoyed "Crooked Rain Crooked Rain." (Built to Spill is not on the list. They're not British enough. Well, not that Pavement is at all British, but... whatever.)

I can only imagine that this made it into the list of albums you must listen to before you die as an example of terrible 90s music. By the end of the album, I feel utterly trolled with how bad it is. The guitar work around minute 3 of Stop Breathin is very nice, but that's the only redeeming quality about this album. If I could rate it negatively, I would. Unfortunately, the lowest I can give is a 1.

A girl who I had a big crush on gave me a pirated tape of this in 1995. I didn’t know it was pavement but I listed to it a lot. It was a nice blast from the past!

By the end of Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, if you’re not thinking to yourself “I should start a band and try to make a record as great as this”… well, maybe we should just give up hope for the future and call it a day. It’s inclusion on this list is not only warranted, it is essential.

pavement should hold the spot in the cultural consciousness that nirvana does

Implacably disaffected noise-mess by smarty-pants brats who work every angle--infectious melody, discord, suburban rebellion, the range life--but refuse to commit to any. Perhaps the only thing that speaks to the politics of their music louder than that mix is [screamed]: "NO LONG HAIR!"

4.1 + I was an early teen when these guys hit the scene. At the time, I was a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan. I had a buddy who was a Pavement fan. Somehow we always argued about which band was better - the two fanbases felt diametrically opposed, and some vague beef between them further drove a wedge. The fact that Pavement called out SP specifically in "Range Life" feels like a petty dick move. To me the rift feels like the cool kids (Pavement) ragging on the spastic drama kids (SP). The cool kids are all about not trying too hard, while the drama kids suffer, often pretentiously and publicly, for their art. On hindsight, both camps seem insufferable. Setting all of this "who's-in-who's-out" nonsense aside, Crooked Rain Crooked Rain is a cool (again with that word) and composed with interesting guitar textures, poetic lyrics and slack vocals. I understand and appreciate their venerated status in 90s indie rock.

It’s a 4.5 that I’ll round up to a 5. Other than the extreme dissonance of Hit the Plane Down, I really don’t think there’s a bad track on this album; there’s a lot of Nirvana to this at the start, but it slowly blends in a bit of R.E.M. as well, and that general soundscape just worked really well for me. I think this album shines best in its guitar and percussion work, but the vocals hold up pretty well against them, as do the lyrics for a good chunk of the album. Just a really strong listen for me; glad we got this one, and I feel good with a 5.

this album was pretty cool. i knew a couple of songs off of this one beforehand, but have never listened to the album in full. pavement is a band i've heard a lot about but never fully experienced, and i can say that i am looking forward to my next experience with them. normally, i am a bit iffy on slacker vocals, but they work really well here, especially in juxtaposition with the more upbeat, raucous sounds. my favorite track on this one was "cut your hair" which is a perfect example of this. i would say the strength of this album is not necessarily in the musicianship, but the crafting of a sound. and i really enjoyed the sound!

Just a little indie classic for a sunday night. Love this and their first album, laid back and just simple great songwriting. 'Gold Soundz' has such a strong nostalgic feeling to it, love the climax at the end of 'Elevate Me Later', and 'Unfair' melts my face everytime.

Oooh what a joy to listen to this all day! Have loved Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain since I first bought the CD in a basement store on St Marks Place in summer '94 (god, I must have been insufferable). Crystallizes everything I want in guitar music, riffs a go-go, oblique but clever, accessible lyrics, half-arsed chaotic delivery that is really well practiced, a dash of Buddy Holly and Dave Brubeck, screaming "career/Korea" and slagging off the Smashing Pumpkins. This review cannot do the album justice. Gold Soundz. Elevate Me Later. Unfair. Fillmore Jive. The whole thing from beginning to end. My favorite album from my favorite band? Sometimes. Start it over and this time try!

Pavement is the best. Classic album. This one has some great songs on it. Stephen Malkmus' lazy voice is great. Silence Kid is a good opening track, that guitar riff with all the fuzz sounds awesome. Range Life and Gold Soundz are quintessential Pavement songs. The perfect balance of heaviness while still being fun and catchy to listen to. In the midst of hair and grunge bands, this album came and set the tone for modern indie music.

Just love the whole Pavement sound. Also love their Anglophile leanings (otherwise they'd be called Sidewalk)- inventors of what we now consider to be "indie". Absolutely love the inpenetrability of the lyrics. On this album, the lyrics to the final verse of Range Life are my favourites. Particularly starting Beef with Billy Corgan (something Corgan is still bitter about today) and Malkmus announcing he's hot for the Stone Temple Pilots. Genius. Just noticed they're doing a reunion tour of the UK next year.....time to get my tickets!

Show me a word that rhymes with pavement and i wont kill your parents and roast them on a spit. I know its a different album but fuck it

I don't know how I haven't heard this before. Amazing sound and songwriting.

Peak 90's Indie/Alt rock. I've always preferred 'Slanted and Enchanted', as I find some of the tracks on here, like 5-4=Unity or Hit the Plane Down, as rather jarring, but I suppose they ultimately help make this album unique. Regardless, this is still a 5 star.

Thought this was quite good, listenable, indie rock. Sounds like it could have come out this year.

I love Pavement. Listening to them never fails to take me back to a time and place when they were probably my favorite band. I prefer Slanted and Enchanted to this one, but they are both incredible albums. I wish grunge had never happened and Pavement/Sebadoh/Dinosaur Jr. had been the sound of the 90’s. Then maybe the Goo Goo Dolls and Limp Bizkit and Korn and the boy bands and Brittney’s and Christina’s wouldn’t have taken over and there would have been no Woodstock ‘99 or 9/11 or War on Terror and Gore would have won in 2000 and there wouldn’t have been a writer’s strike and The Apprentice would have never made it to air and Trump would have died in semi-obscurity and COVID-19 would have been stopped early by an efficient presidential administration. But it was not to be. Thanks Kurt.

An indie rock classic. A shambling mess of an album. Excellent.

Heavier than I was expecting- for some reason I thought Pavement were like shoe gazing indie blah peddlars. 2 tracks in and they’re ok I guess... I could imagine these tracks on an indie movie soundtrack. Oh! I know this song! Cut your hair. I don’t know where from but I’ve absolutely heard this before. Very Dandy Warhols. Really enjoying this actually- grown into it a lot. “And we’re coming to the chorus now” at the end of the first verse of Gold soundz 😂 I like a quirky weird instrumental track too.

Generic early 90s rock. Has a bit of a Weezer edge to them, but I think early Weezer was better. Nothing too memorable or catchy here. I sort of liked Cut Your Hair.

I had never heard of pavement before! My first thought is very generic 90s alt rock and indie. It was a nice album but nothing stuck out. It reminded me of American Pie and music from that era of american comedy. Favourite song: Newark Wilder and cut your hair Least favourite: the rest of the album is very meh. Album artwork: Cool cover if not a little messy.

Pavement was that band you heard about in the 90's but no one was a diehard fan of. They were on a compilation disc or two I purchased over the years but the material didn't interest me enough to dig deeper. "Cut Your Hair" was the tune. This album solidifies that initial perception - loose sound, weak vocals, vanilla songs, no real hook or groove to gravitate to. I can think of 20+ bands from 1994 that I'd prefer to listen to. "Average" is the first word that comes to mind after persevering through that entire album. It's quite possibly one of the most boring albums I've ever heard. Influential, no. Full of great songs or hits, no. Encapsulation of the times, no. I have NO idea how this makes anyone's Top 1001. I almost went with 1 star!

First track seems like a weird mashup between Jane's Addiction and Buddy Holly. By end of this album, I felt a palpable sense of relief that it had finished.

started and thought - decent, but then it just sounded samey and then it just stopped. Meh.

Ah yes, the godfathers of incredibly boring indie rock. I've tried so many times to get into these guys, and now, upon this most recent listen, I can safely say it's never going to happen.

classic 90s whiny indie music. Basically average to bad, not interesting.

that was ok. none of that is stuck in my memory. it's got a really good sound, the levels and tones of all the instruments and singing all work well, but there's a lack of any actual tunes. its like these and weezer started out at the same place and weezer decided to go with catchy hooklines and pavement went the opposite way to whatever this is. bit of a shame really, cultivate a nice thing and then not back it up with any substance.

Not the kind of music I like. Lacks polish, the guitars are all over the place, the rhythm is boring, the vocals raw, the overall structure feels very simplistic.

I really don’t think this is required listening. At times painful.

I get why this album would be on the list, underground indie rock with (IMO) strong punk leanings but vocally and lyrically …. Not my cup of tea … Probs wound’ve been a lot of fun in concert but outside of the experience of them live …. Not so interested …. Gives me a vibe of what Elbow would’ve been playing in high school when they were trashed in a garage before they cut the lead singer/guitar player who was on an ego trip ….

US Indie Garage rock, was never going to enjoy, put on that angsty whiney vocals "oh no someone told me to cut my hair" then it's a super no, music should be fun, just a nothing album.

Can't find a better word than ugly

The opening sounds like someone trying to play 'Alright Now' from memory but forgetting how it goes and coming up with something else by mistake. I couldn't take more than a minute of it before moving on. Same on subsequent tracks - eventually, I just hated it.

Remember that day your mom told you to stop singing? Yeah, well. Then why did you release an album?!

Did not enjoy this discordant album.

OK. So somehow this is considered essential? This is considered to be outstanding to the point that it is considered an album that everyone should listen to prior to their eternal passing? You know, there are albums already that I have listened to on this project that I've thought... well, you know, it isn't my style at all, but I can see why there is merits in it, that it contains something that could be considered as ground breaking or ahead of its time or even passable. What I hear when I listened to this album was... boredom. I heard a style of alt rock that was prolific in the era, I heard some vocals that really only made themselves known to me because they seemed less than average, and I was far from enamored. In fact, when the album finished, a song from the Jesus and Mary Chain came on that was far superior to anything I heard on this album. No thanks.

I wish I could give this zero Stars. I I feel like they are trying to rip off The flaming lips and Jay from dinosaur Jr. That one song grabbed me. I found the whole thing to be trash and nearly unlistenable. I hope this is the worst that we get.

Very much my sort of thing, I saved some songs :)

Pavement has such a unique sound and vibe in the world of indie rock. Talented songwriting and always interesting instrumentals. I first heard these guys on the Mlb 2k6 soundtrack if you can believe that. Thanks game for shaping my tastes. Anyway this album rocks, never a dull moment

<3 Pavement

I've been waiting for this album :)

Strong and consistent song-writing from obviously the best American guitar band from the 90s. All 5 Pavement albums are 5 star and their singles/EPs contain many 5-star songs as well. Their music reminds me of Kevin Ayers albums in the sense that both Pavement and KA make their songs look so effortless.

Excellent songs performed with just the right attitude.

even after 15 years or so, this still gets better with every listen

A concept album about being a cool indie L.A. band.

Formé en 1988 par Stephen Malkmus, Pavement sort en 1994 son 2e album "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain". "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" est un album fantastique et avec des titres comme "Gold Soundz", "Silence Kit", "Cut Your Hair" et "surtout "Range Life", Pavement a pris à contre-pied la scène grunge du début des années 90 et a fait de cet album un indispensable. Pavement, le groupe le plus cool des années 90 a sorti avec "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" des chansons pop, mélodiques, décontractées et biscornues aux influences californiennes, surf-pop, surf rock. "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" est un album majeur des années 90, un album plus travaillé, mieux produit avec un son un peu moins crade que le précédent, mais bien plus puissant. Un beau 5/5 pour un album indispensable.

Perfect record. Zero notes. KOREA KOREA KOREA

So good. So near to gift shop!!! Need to own on CD

Until recently, I had only heard of Pavement and a few of their albums. I’m glad I finally checked them out today! This album sounds great. The production is something to admire. I also love the drums and percussion on this thing; they sound so clean! There are also tons of good songs here, especially “Cut Your Hair,” “Range Life,” and the closer, “Fillmore Jive.” “Fillmore Jive” is amazing! “5-4=Unity” is a fun little jazzy instrumental as well. The piano is a nice touch on it. I like the guitar and bass work on this album too; the guitar tones are clean and distorted when they need to be. A good example of that is “Hit The Plane Down,” which is really raw with its sound and themes. The vocals are cool and memorable, albeit a little iffy sometimes. The lyrics are emotional and abstract, and they can pack a punch sometimes. The album also flies by; it did not feel like it was over forty minutes. Even if the songs can feel the same sometimes, I’m looking forward to listening to more from Pavement in the future. This was a fun listen! This is an indie classic for a reason, and I’d recommend it.

Piste incroyable sur piste incroyable, un album comme ça c'est rare putain :o On remarque une base slacker à la sonic youth, mais avec un effort inconsidérable sur les mélodies et le lyricisme.

Great album. Lots of dynamic range in terms of tempo and feel. Rang life, Gold Soundz, cut your hair, silence kid, and heaven is a truck are all winners. There are a few draggy spots but they set the table for the next course. I've been a Pavement listener for years and years but never really listened to whole albums undistracted and pointedly. I think I'll work my way through the catalog now. Very enjoyable experience.

It starts to sound remarkably like Wilco towards the end.

When I think quintessential Indie bands, Pavement along with Modest Mouse and Built to Spill are the bands that immediately come to mind. Stephen Malkmus earnestly guides us thru Crooked Rain, his distinct, slightly out of tune vocals work so well here. The music sounds murky and loose, I absolutely love the fun vibes on display here and I understand they're notably labelled a 'slacker' band but there is absolutely nothing slacking in Malkmus' guitar work, things can be floating along and suddenly he just rips into a frantic riff. This is awesome, Pavement is great. 5 stars

what can i say. i love da pavement. it took me a while to get there but i did eventually. i think this is their most listenable and cohesive album. fav tracks: well all of them actually. but specifically newark wilder; unfair; cut your hair; range life; fillmore jive; silence kit/d

Sigh. Peak indie music. Glorious!

I really loved the other Pavement album on this list from two years prior, Slanted and Enchanted. But I wasn't sure I was happy having this in the penultimate position on my 1001 journey. My doubts were unfounded. This album is even better than the previous. The songs are musically and lyrically wonderful - shambolically exquisite songs. I don't know how I lived without Range Life, but now that I know it it is one of my favorite songs! Totally terrific!

Of the garage bands, these were the best. And this was their best album.

It put my crying infant to sleep with no fuss, for that it gets 5 star

Always reliable. Just some of the best to ever do it.

We can talk about great 90s bands all day, and I'm not here to dispute that Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, etc. were all great bands, but THIS band, Pavement, saved rock and roll. More importantly, they made it acceptable for thousands of bands to feel safe in making the music they wanted to make, without feeling like it needed to be professionally produced or polished. Pavement made it okay to just DO IT, which in turn, kept the genre not only alive, but moving forward. Plus the music itself is fucking great.

Not many bands can claim to be both one of the best bands ever and one of the coolest bands ever; Pavement can.

I'm glad my mindset is always that I haven't listened to enough Pavement.

This was fantastic. A really great indie, punk, experimental band to cleanse the palette. Really enjoyed

Great!!!

The best Pavement album? Probably. What a run of absolutely brilliant tracks.

Truly a masterpiece. Blew away the cobwebs of a Thursday morning. Amazing.

Maybe their best album -- certainly "Newark Wilder" is among their top three songs.

Another nineties masterpiece. Lively, messy, sarcastic, heartfelt, filled with lots of endearing details and downright elegiac *all* at the same time. Very American, conveying a feeling of wild open spaces only matched in older classic rock, but also winking at a lot of more recent influences from both sides of the pond. This records also abounds with lots of instantly memorable songs. "Silence Kid" is a lovable opener. "Elevate Me Later" has a killer, multilayered guitar riff. "Stop Breathing" is a lovely ballad under the guise of a topsy-turvy pile of disjointed elements -- rarely have awfully detuned strings on guitars sounded so frigging *right*, as can be heard in the suspenseful instrumental outro of this song. "Cut Your Hair" is the ultimate slacker anthem, hilariously making fun of indieheads while slyly paying tribute to them (and its "ouh-ouh-ouh-ouh" hook is infectious). "Gold Soundz"'s harmonies are the stuff indie-rock dreams are made of, thus creating a great "meta" song. "5/4=Unity" is a nice little tribute to Dave Brubeck, adding even more varied textures to the whole shebang. And "Range Life" is a folk-rock / country-rock masterpiece about life on the road when you're in a band, also poking fun at Stone Temple Pilots and the Smashing Pumpkins--who said only rappers could write diss tracks? Crucially, it takes someone with the genius of Stephen Malkmus to do it. As it takes someone like him to cover so many grounds and lyrical modes in the space of one album--not to mention one song. Finally, there's the epic closer "Fillmore Jive", conveying homesickness, nostalgia and fatigue in a manner that makes the whole thing sound like the ultimate transcendent experience. At heart, and behind the apparent slacker pose, Pavement were cunning and conniving romantics, if that turn of phrase makes sense (feel like Malkmus would approve its poetic / nonsensical / surreal flavor, at least). And the noisy, heartrending, abrasive, delicate, fragile and orgasmic climax of this wonderful cut proves it. Number of albums left to review: 197 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 347 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 202 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 255

Me encantó.

I really liked this album. I know few Pavement songs and have listened to them on shuffle, but this album was a really cool listen, will definitely return to it. Loved that it had the early 90s vibes but also some experimental vibes too.

Fillmore Jive, the album closer, just came on, and I'm grinning like I just found out I had a surprise party coming. This whole album, most of Pavement even, didn't come across my player when I was younger and they were working. Damn shame. I would have been such a fan. I'm listening to it now, though. And I'm now a fan.

Pretty good. I like the singles especially, and it has a good vibe while being more accessible than its predecessor.

Love this album. Something so effortlessly cool about it.

Never listened to a Pavement album before and this one has "Range Life," which of course caused a beef that neither Billy Corgan or Stephen Malkmus would contend was an actual beef. I guess they didn't hear that is how you are supposed to sell records, but of course, that song is about the entire intent of music is not to sell records. I really enjoyed this album and it feels like I had heard these songs before, as they were all familiar to me in some way. That's not a criticism, just an acknowledgement this fits in well with my current (and past musical tastes). It's R.E.M. for slackers and I enjoy it.

This one I really enjoyed, absolutely banging 90s alt that I love

Genius level stuff, lyrically and musically. Genre defining.

Good stuff

Na Funkadelic vinden we aan het andere uiterste einde van het weirdness spectrum de band Pavement. Nouja, ze waren eigenlijk zo extreem normaal dat ze de buitenbeentjes van de 90s rockwereld werden. In een decennium dat alternatieve rock de mainstream ging domineren, lieten bands als Nirvana, Pixies en Nine Inch Nails een vacuüm achter dat opgevuld diende te worden. Pavement deed dat met verve, en werd het vlaggenschip van de alternatieve tegenbeweging op alternatieve rock, if you follow me. Hun DIY ethics, rommelige lo-fi sounds en slackerige houding was wellicht net zo sturend voor de indie-boom van de zeroes als de prestaties van de zojuist genoemde bands. De down to earth frontman Stephen Malkmus connecte eigenlijk beter met de normale jeugd (vooral de witte suburbanites) dan dat de larger than life bands die MTV domineerden dat deden. De ''beste slechtste zanger'' van de 90s liet daarnaast zien dat een ieder met stembanden en een beetje humor de lead van een band kon worden, al doe ik zijn pen game daar te kort mee. Ik was zeer verheugd toen dit album op ons bordje kwam te liggen, als groots fan van Pavement. Om ze live te zien optreden was een mooie ervaring, maar eigenlijk moet je een album als deze luisteren op een kapotte, haperende Walkman. De intenties van Pavement om niet te conformeren aan radiovriendelijke richtlijnen zijn direct hoorbaar in de eerste chaotische worstelingen met hun instrumenten. Je kunt mij niet vertellen dat dit album niet in één stonede sessie is opgenomen in een benauwde garage in een Californische suburb, het druipt er vanaf. Maar 'Silence Kid' laat ook onmiddellijk de magie van deze groep ordinaire jongens zien, wanneer uit de ruïne van dissonantie opeens een aanstekelijke riff oprijst. En dan direct weer de wanklanken van Stephen eroverheen. Het is het thema wat dit album zo belachelijk interessant maakt, de spanningen tussen chaos en orde. 'Elevate Me Later' is 90s nostalgie verpakt in een song van 3 minuten. Het nummer bevat een overheerlijke The Fall-achtige gitaartoon, maar in plaats van de doom & gloom van de UK, wordt de teenage angst & melancholie van suburban USA bezongen. Met 'Cut Your Hair' komt Pavement het dichtst in de buurt van de publieke faam die verscheidene Amerikaanse tijdgenoten oogstten. En dat is geen verrassing. Het is by far het meest catchy nummer uit hun catalogus, maar blijft toch dichtbij de cynische ondertoon die de band zo kenmerkt. 'Unfair' is een persoonlijk favorietje, een vleugje Sonic Youthy noise rock die echt perfect het album doormidden breekt. Daarna gaan we van de ruige Golf van Californië naar de sea of tranquility genaamd 'Gold Soundz'. Zonder twijfel één van de meest elegante melodieën die alt rock te bieden heeft, gecombineerd met het ronduit briljante ritme van de vocalen, die in de verste verte geen moeite doen om op de maat te blijven. Daar heb je hem weer; de tensie tussen orde en chaos. Later op de plaat neemt de magie ietsjes af, en lijkt de voorraad creatieve energie in die garage in Stockton te slinken. De country rock van 'Range Life' zorgt voor een welkome genre switch. De song staat symbool voor de haakse positie van de band in het alternative rock universum: Nul intenties om mee te gaan met het luide grunge ethos, en ondertussen de gek aan steken met collega's die dat wel deden. Ik doe kantje twee overigens wel erg tekort als ik niet benoem dat 'Fillmore Jive' een sublieme afsluiter is, die de band weer langzaam ziet desintegreren in de jeugdige ordeloosheid waarmee het ook opende. Die tegenstrijdigheden maken dit album zo fascinerend, en bovenal een plezier om naar te luisteren. Tal van iconische momenten die exemplarisch zijn aan het feit dat de legacy van de West Coast alternatieve muziek scene in de jaren 90 zoveel verder gaat dan Nirvana en Red Hot Chili Peppers. 9/10 Highlights: Elevate Me Later Unfair Gold Soundz Fillmore Jive

Pavement is dé belichaming van Indie Rock. Afzetten tegen de grote platenlabels en het commercieel aantrekkelijk moeten zijn van de muziek. De slacker-vibe (trage riffs, potjes, pannetjes en een verveeld klinkende zanger) van Stephen Malkmus is meteen helemaal aan in Silence Kid, wat een heerlijke opener is van de plaat. De song komt langzaam op gang maar zet het Pavement geluid perfect neer. Het album bereikt met Crooked Rain bereikt vervolgens meerdere hoogtepunten bij Pavement-pareltjes Cut Your Hair, Gold Soundz en Range Life. Tussendoor zijn songs als Stop Breathin en Newark Wilder minder 'raak' dan deze indie-classics maar passen wel heerlijk in het valse repertoire van Pavement. De gitaartune in de tweede helft van Stop Breathin is echt fenomenaal en zou nog minuten kunnen doorzinderen als Cut You Hair niet plots zou instarten. Met 5-4=Unity en Hit the Plane Down heeft het album twee nummers die uit de valse toon vallen. Dan ineens besef je je dat er ondanks het gerommel toch een lijn in het album zit. Juist daardoor zijn deze nummers zo waardevol. Ze duwen je even van het (toch al niet zo rechte) pad, om daarna weer door te kunne viben. En waarop beter dan Fillmore Jive, een unieke Pavement-track die perfect is als albumafsluiter. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain zit zo onwijs goed in elkaar. Het suggereert een rommelig album met wat in elkaar geflansde tracks, met is het tegengestelde van dat. De opener en afsluiter passen fenomenaal (en daar hecht ik waarde aan) en de volgorde van de nummers is perfect. Geen twijfel over de score. 9/10 Highlights: Silence Kid Stop Breathin Cut You Hair Range Life Fillmore Jive

sooooo good omg i love incel male manipulator music 5/5

I really liked this, gruff, raw, laid-back 90s indie rock

A perfect example of post-grunge indie/alternative rock.

Perfect album in general. I love Stephen Malkmus’ voice, and it fits the instrumental so well. 5/5 Favs?: “Elevate Me Later”, “Cut Your Hair” Least Fav: None

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain stands as Pavement's pinnacle, a brilliant concept album capturing the nuances of approaching 30 with a West Coast flair. This release tightens their rhythm and serves as a slacker's guide to navigating optimism and melancholy. Considered their most accessible and commercial work, the album remains a personal favourite, growing in appreciation over time. Pavement's unique blend of lyrical complexity and irreverent charm makes this album a crucial and dynamic cornerstone of indie rock. From the catchy hooks of Cut Your Hair to the introspective beauty of Gold Soundz, each track contributes to the enduring brilliance of this '90s gem. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is not just a relic of its era but a vibrant piece of indie music history, solidifying Pavement's legacy as a crucial force in the genre. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 9 STAND OUT TRACK - Gold Soundz

Love Pavement. A lot. Like maybe in my top 10 favorite bands. And I was just thinking the other day how this might be their best album. Easy 5 for me. Almost every song is a hit.

Prachtig

Bloody brilliant.

29(!) years ago, I remember skipping school classes so I could buy "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" on cassette and listened to it all afternoon. I was 16 and I’m confident it altered the trajectory of my life. I can still remember the feeling of turning over to side two and being met with "Gold Soundz" and it hitting me like a shotgun shot to the soul. Because you’re empty And I’m empty And you can never quarantine the past This is when Alt Rock became Indie Rock and the too cool for school kids pontificated about Midwestern rock bands from California like it was a secret only to be whispered on street corners. You can never quarantine the past!

To me this is the peak Pavement album. I loved this one in the 90s. It still holds up and has a freshness to it. It’s likely because it tried so hard to not sound like grunge. Anyway, if I’m listening to a Pavement album, this is it for me.

Pavement are good