Someone who keeps the faith sent me an advance promo of Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement, and I remembered that my listening pleasures in the car are limited.
So I took it into that sacred place, and listened as I drove to QUT, and listened as I drove to Deadnotes practice, and listened as I drove to Thin Kids practice, and listened, and with real pleasure. And, damn me, if I didn't remember all over again why I fell for that diffident, slyly humorous, melodic and sometimes inventive 90s American band all over again - something to do with bruised soul, awkward pop - and, taken in isolation, I even found myself humming along to their later songs.
Some of these songs ruled my life back then, even going as far to define a certain strain of NYC after-hours life for me, with their knowing glances and gentle key changes and intimate socialising.
I haven't entirely changed my mind about their reunion, but I certainly don't resent them it any more.
Anyway, here's my Song of the Day.
Pavement provided the soundtrack to a fabulous, carefree time in my life. Gold Soundz, Range Life, Summer Babe. Happy days, happy memories.
ReplyDeleteThis song was the reason I was convinced Pavement was going to be one of the biggest bands in the world. It never happened but still an epic and heart wrenching song.
ReplyDelete"I was dressed for success, but success it never comes..."
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite songs ever.
They were never the same after Gary Younge left. Or was fired, depending on who you believed. And yeah, he was a headcase, saw them in Brighton on the Slanted & Enchanted tour and he was doing handstands behind the kit. This after throwing a fishing net over the first few rows. F**ckin amazing show, the times I saw them later on weren't a patch on it.
ReplyDeleteI only ever saw them live when Gary was in the band, but they kept getting better until Terror Twilight - not a bad album and contains a couple of their best tunes. Don't really understand why you would resent their reunion in the first place? The intensity of what I felt for a band at the time won't be diminished by them coming back and cashing in. I'm happy they're getting a pay day. I'll be disappointed if they suck live or Malkmus just goes through the motions rather than enjoys it, but I've been obsessed with music too long now to place my happiness in the hands of rock stars.
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ReplyDeleteMark Headley
Vivid memories of seeing gary young doing handstands on his drum kit during this at the newcastle riverside to undermine malkmus "emoting" :0)
22 February at 01:19 ·