Quarantine The Past
by Pavement
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Mar 9, 2010
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24

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  1. RichBlack
    Jul 28, 2012
    10
    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.
  2. DCMusicFan
    Oct 3, 2018
    10
    This is Pavement, so of course it deserves high marks. But really, what are you doing? Go ahead and actually listen to Pavement's albums. Gold sounds, people.
  3. Ricko
    Sep 3, 2019
    7
    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 as blown away as I had hoped I would be. 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. It might be the mix of material from differentI 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 as blown away as I had hoped I would be. 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. It might be the mix of material from different albums but it's not the most coherent collection and the vocals, while cool are not standout. The guitar licks are very memorable and pretty good but at times the songs are just a bit all over the shop. There are very few tunes on here that I'd put on and turn up loud. I guess I was expecting more college rock anthems rather than weird stoney indie stuff. Some good stuff but ultimately my expectations weren't met. 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". I do dig Stephen Malkmus' solo stuff though. That is more refined and rocking.… Expand
  4. TAE
    May 6, 2012
    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 listeningYeah 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

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. AllMusic
    90
    Think of Quarantine the Past as a cousin to Hot Rocks or the Red and Blue Albums: it doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, but as a primer, it’s hard to beat.
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  2. BBC Music
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Drowned In Sound
    90
    In other words, it’s exactly what a Pavement retrospective should be - a heavily slanted, palpably enchanted slab of richly flawed anarcho-pop.
    Read full review
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