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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Stephen Malkmus
by Stephen Malkmus


8.4

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 14 votes
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Rate this album

The debut solo release from the former leader of indie-rock legends Pavement.

LABEL:	Matador
RELEASE DATE:	13 February 2001
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock, Alternative

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Sonicnet

Stephen Malkmus sounds like a great unmade Pavement album polished to within an inch of its life.

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

Exactly the unpredictable effort you'd expect, it utilizes a new bunch of Portland buddies to render the old noises into background music as it explores such themes as Yul Brynner's makeover and piracy on the coast of Montenegro.

Entertainment Weekly

This is silly stuff, obviously, but it's a welcome return to the giddy wit that had dimmed as Pavement tried to contort itself into a conventional rock band.

Revolver

Malkmus remains up to his usual trickery, packing the proceedings with musical plot twists like false starts, abrupt fades, and fake codas. [#4, p.106]

Billboard

Beyond the bookish lyrics, Malkmus has composed an album of brilliant songs, with creative intros, off-kilter arrangements, and well-placed effects.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

As accessible and eccentric as any album from Pavement's catalog...

Alternative Press

Everything here is so enjoyable that it really doesn't matter that the man who helped give birth to the whole lo-fi movement has embraced a certain level of maturity. [March 2001, p.76]

Nude As The News

It will remind you that Stephen Malkmus is one hell of a songwriter, whether you like him or not.

Village Voice

A swell record: personal but easy-going, distinctive, with a lot of picaresque personal narratives occasionally conveyed through exaggerated fantasy elements.

All Music Guide

No, it's not quite the same as another Pavement album, but its literate, funny eclecticism is almost as irresistible.

Splendid

Stephen Malkmus' solo debut is as mature, focused, and charming as it is rambunctious.

Pitchfork

There are two immediately apparent differences between Stephen Malkmus and Pavement's catalog: first and least surprisingly, there's less of a group dynamic here than on Pavement albums. It definitely has the sonic hallmarks of a "solo" album-- the songs are less jammy and spontaneous, more rigidly structured. Second, it's a lot more fun-sounding than Pavement was near the end of its shelf life.

Spin Cycle

An accessible, if far from revolutionary, work.

Neumu.net

Throughout, there's little doubting Malkmus's charisma as a performer...

Dot Music

Most people will deem this album a significant piece of work, and maybe if you haven't heard much Pavement then it is.

New York Magazine

His solo debut, Stephen Malkmus, doesn't sound so different from late-period Pavement, but at least he's regained his smart-ass swagger.

The Wire

The album is not so much a departure as a continuation of Pavement, satisfying and occasionally inspired. [#205, p.59]

CDNow

But, despite the added highlights of obscure noise effects and spaced-out keyboards, you can't help but notice that the music seems, at times, to lose a bit of momentum on certain tracks, serving as merely a backdrop for Malkmus' spontaneous bursts of guitar improvisation and catchy hooks.

Wall of Sound

The new disc has a feeling of renewal, a sense of freedom, and perhaps even fun.

Q Magazine

Strangely engaging.

The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

tim e gave it a3:
It's not Pavement. And that's exactly why I'm giving it a better score than anything I'd ever give Pavement. On the other hand he will never he come close to capturing what the Reid Brothers, the Pixies and Sonic Youth had on even their worst day. Pavement was only acclaimed because we needed something to fill the void the Pixies left behind in the early 90s. Durpa! Durpa! Cut Your Hair! I'd rather cut my own throat than listen to Pavement! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

franziska s gave it a 10:
i love that album and i can´t understand why so many people find it and S.M. boring. i think he´s and will never be boring!!

Hege E gave it a 9:
fantastic album!!!!!

Franziska gave it a 10:
I love that album! Hope there´ll come more.

Jordan W. gave it a 9:
This is pop on a whole new level. If it were less,"Formulaic", it could be a soundtrack to a film

Dave C. gave it a 10:
Frees malkmus of the limitations of being in Pavement with definitely a more personal sound (guitar solo's et al)

oscar J gave it an 8:
Great music. It would be nice if there were more tunes with loud guitar, well....nah, it's perfect as it is.

Stephen Malkmus by Stephen Malkmus

Stephen Malkmus
by Stephen Malkmus