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Real Emotional Trash
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Real Emotional Trash Image
Metascore
76

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

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 33 Ratings

  • Summary: The former Pavement singer returns with his latest album with the Jicks.

Top Track

Gardenia
I kinda like the way you dot your J's with giant circles of naivety the kind of circles include everything don't mean to damn you with the faintest... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  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]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. 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.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    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."
  4. Blender
    80
    It’s a very rare, wondrous thing: prog-rock for firesides and fuzzy-slipper Sundays.
  5. The Wire
    70
    With the Jicks now sharing the spotlight, sees Malkmus's familiar tangled lyricism and meandering tendencies offset by some tremendous group performances. [Mar 2008, p.57]
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  6. PopMatters
    60
    If Real Emotional Trash falls short of "Pig Lib," it’s because we’re spending too much time in the tunnel, and not enough in the funnel to the tune.
  7. Q Magazine
    40
    His fourth album is another trough, low on songs and over-reliant on meandering guitar jams. [Apr 2008, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Shiftybob.
    May 17, 2008
    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. 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. Drew
    Apr 10, 2008
    10
    I hadn't heard a SM album before this and I got it and was completely blown away! I've heard the rest of his collection since and I hadn't heard a SM album before this and I got it and was completely blown away! I've heard the rest of his collection since and was equally blown away (haven't really stopped listening to the stuff yet) but this one just has more depth. Musically it seems a lot more serious and personal. (The solo on Out of Reaches is just chilling) It's definitely heavier, more shredding, just more of SM being a total badass with his songs. The addition of Weiss is evident and a definite plus in my book. I missed out on seeing them live recently and I am regretting it every time I listen to the bastard's music...Damn you SM for being so incredibly good, damn you!… Expand
  4. MichaelC.
    Mar 5, 2008
    10
    One of his best releases yet
  5. 5errr
    Aug 30, 2011
    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 voiceone 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.… Expand
  6. BriboF.
    Mar 5, 2008
    9
    I'm not sure what all this naysaying is about. If you never liked Pavement/Malkmus in the first place, odds are you won't be I'm not sure what all this naysaying is about. If you never liked Pavement/Malkmus in the first place, odds are you won't be converted by this record. (Odds are, also, that you're a fucking loser/retard/douchebag.) This is his heaviest album, his most focused and cohesive album, and easily his best album. Yes, he's siphoned off some of the old snarkiness in favor of a little more good, old-fashioned earnestness, but a songwriter of his caliber shouldn't be blase about his talents, and here he brings them all to bear in service of some of the finest songs of his career (Pavement included). The only letdown is the incongruously jaunty "Gardenia", which just sounds out of place. Unreservedly recommended. If you need to try before you buy, go to the Matador site and download the free MP3 of "Baltimore", one of this set's many highlights.… Expand
  7. KGFReeze
    Mar 17, 2008
    9
    Money, in a bag. That is what this album is. Soooo much better than Face the Truth (not that Face the Truth was bad). Guitar wonderousness Money, in a bag. That is what this album is. Soooo much better than Face the Truth (not that Face the Truth was bad). Guitar wonderousness that I can follow as well as the lyrics, quite impressive. Janet Weiss, I love you, but mix those CD drums higher!! The jams rule but for a couple minutes there I didn't know if there was some samples Sonic Youth. Not that that's a bad thing.… Expand
  8. TSmith
    Apr 14, 2008
    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.

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Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Most Discussed Album of 2008