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96
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78
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71
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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Stephen Malkmus

Universal acclaim
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 14 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Matador
Release Date: 13 February 2001
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock, Alternative
Summary
The debut solo release from the former leader of indie-rock legends Pavement.
Also By This Artist: Face The Truth Pig Lib Real Emotional Trash
What The Critics Said
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...
Sonicnet
Stephen Malkmus sounds like a great unmade Pavement album polished to within an inch of its life.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
As accessible and eccentric as any album from Pavement's catalog...
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Village Voice
A swell record: personal but easy-going, distinctive, with a lot of picaresque personal narratives occasionally conveyed through exaggerated fantasy elements.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
No, it's not quite the same as another Pavement album, but its literate, funny eclecticism is almost as irresistible.
Read Full Review >Splendid
Stephen Malkmus' solo debut is as mature, focused, and charming as it is rambunctious.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Neumu.net
Throughout, there's little doubting Malkmus's charisma as a performer...
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Wall of Sound
The new disc has a feeling of renewal, a sense of freedom, and perhaps even fun.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
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.
