Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
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  1. Filter
    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]
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  2. All Music Guide
    90
    It's an album meant to be discovered and lived with, revealing its jokes and its beauty over time.
  3. Rolling Stone
    90
    All he [Malkmus] wants to do is surrender to the lightheaded rush of the music, and the results are downright glorious.
  4. Lost At Sea
    85
    How does it compare to his previous three records--or eight, if you count his former band? Suffice it to say that's a rhetorical question. If Joe DiMaggio made albums... well you get the point.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Even as he skewers fakery with surprising directness, the husband and father remains largely at a feline remove himself. [14 Mar 2008, p.75]
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  6. The A.V. Club
    83
    Real Emotional Trash features lots of long songs with prog parts ripe for '70s Camaro rides, but Malkmus' apparent glee in playing them helps keep excess at bay.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

User 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.… Full Review »
  2. HB
    10
    R.E.T gets better with every successive playing. Smart lyrics match oddly tuned fuzzy guitar. The Jicks are simultaneously loose and tight.
  3. 5errr
    10
    one of the few albums that has not left my rotation in the past few years. malkmus is still an excellent, distinctive songwriter with a voice to match.… Full Review »
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