Quarantine The Past - Pavement
Quarantine The Past Image
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

  • Summary: With the band reunited and touring in 2010, here comes a 23-tracks greatest-hits compilation chosen by the band members.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. 100
    Quarantine the Past doesn't replace the albums, but it's a highly listenable alternative that is as much a treat for nostalgic older fans as it is a valuable gateway for new listeners.
  2. 80
    The quality across this neat primer demands the high star rating. [Apr 2010, p.112]
  3. It all clicks into gear by the end, and it perhaps bodes well that they appear to have worked out how to finish things on a high.
  4. Quarantine The Past, a "best of" compilation designed for those who didn't experience the band at the right age (a group that is now well out of college), attempts to put the band's best musical face forward.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. Pavement is one of the best bands of the 90s. Pure American rock that defines it's generation, along with Pixies, GBV, Dinosaur Jr and more. Listening to every one of those songs makes me wanna go back to those gold sounds. Expand
  2. 6
    I missed the whole Pavement thing when it was going on so got a hold of this as I thought it might be a nice introduction to a critically acclaimed band. To be honest I'm not impressed. No doubt influential etc etc but if so then those they influenced took what they did and made it better from what I can hear. The vocals are pretty weak. The guitar licks are good but at times are just a bit all over the shop. There are very few tunes on here that I'd put on a turn up loud. Some good stuff but ultimately a bit disappointing. I'll look into some of the bands albums as perhaps this is one of those cases where individual tracks just don't translate across to a "Best Of", or perhaps its just a case of "you had to be there". Expand
  3. TAE
    2
    Yeah I don't get why this band is ALWAYS being clumped with Sonic Youth and the Pixies. At best they're just tag alongs. They don't even belong in the same sentence as those two brilliant, classic Alt. rockers. Yes the vocals are ridiculously weak. No emotion whatsoever. It's like Malkmus is going into a coma and if this is the best they have to offer than you're better off just listening to actual pavement being made. This band is the perfect example as to why avid music lovers hate these stupid, indie, hipster, critic types. I guess at one time it was considered "in" to sound like you're a slacker who doesn't care but without the passion and emotion you've just got dull music without heart. Expand