Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus
Real Emotional Trash Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

  • Summary: The former Pavement singer returns with his latest album with the Jicks.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 36
  2. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. 91
    The seasoned professional executes discipline on a record that seems entirely natural--layered to the top, but never giving in to excess. [Winter 2008, p.92]
  2. Polished production and an ironing out of the music’s creases creates a less-relaxed feel than we’re used to hearing, but there’s also a sense of warmth which was largely missing from the previous Jicks-aided album, "Pig Lib."
  3. On Real Emotional Trash, Malkmus and the Jicks' most recent offering, they manage to bring both tendencies (to indulge in classic rock and play loose) together into a coherent whole without getting too polished or boring. [Spring 2008, p.83]
  4. Real Emotional Trash feels like a compromise, for Malkmus and for us.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Shiftybob.
    10
    This album blew me away. I'm a long time Pavement fan who lost a little interest after what was to me, just an ok first solo album. After the good word of mouth on I picked up Real Emotional Trash and it hasn't left my PC/car/stereo/ipod since...So many good tracks but yes Hopscotch Willie is a 10 by itself and Janet Weiss is brilliant. Everyone I've played it around has been "What's that you're playing? It's really good!!!" I agree. Expand
  2. AndrewA
    8
    I think musicians and all time malkmus fans will really love this record. And as I am a Malkmus fan I would say it´s heavy, the jams are great, the key and tempo changes are amazing, and finally there are definitely some nice hooks to be discovered. But then, I think if you are not a musician or a malkmus fan, you will just hear a couple of long jams. Expand
  3. TrevorW.
    7
    The jamming is not as satisfying as it should be.
  4. TSmith
    3
    probably fun to play on. definetly not fun to listen to. but if you like jammy phish like monotony this might be your album of the year.

See all 22 User Reviews