Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks At The Echoplex

I would be a liar if I said that Stephen Malkmus' latest album,his fourth titled Real Emotional Trash, was my favorite.

I am a fanatic for Malkmus and all that has to do with him. A friend gave me my first Pavement album, Slanted & Enchanted, for my birthday in college, and I attribute my interest in indie music to that album. Defunct since 1999 when Malkmus went on to his solo projects, but carrying on the tone of what I loved about Pavement. Quirky lyrics sang in a spoken form.

Real Emotional Trash lacks a lot of the hooky happy tracks. Gardenia is the one track that I've globbed onto. The album is dark and heavy with lots of guitar on guitar. Maybe Stephen is going through something. It feels very late 70's, and so was the video backdrop at the show at The Echoplex.



So what I did I get out of the show? Seeing Malkmus, (boy is he greying!, do I feel old?) Learning that when you stand up front at The Echoplex you may not hear the vocals well as the speakers are pointing towards the back. You can have Two Boots pizza while you watch the show (bonus!). I saw Malkmus. Still a fan, just yearning for more upbeat Malkmus. The end.