Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic Review
Posted by Nick Krenn on 08.23.2011
Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus returns with his latest solo effort. Does it live up to his former glory or tarnish his legacy?
01 Tigers
02 No One (Is As I Are Be)
03 Senator
04 Brain Gallop
05 Jumblegloss
06 Asking Price
07 Stick Figures in Love
08 Spazz
09 Long Hard Book
10 Share the Red
11 Tune Grief
12 Forever 28
13 All Over Gently
14 Fall Away
15 Gorgeous George
Nothing can ever take away Stephen Malkmus’ indie credibility. The guy was at the forefront of putting indie ‘college’ rock on the map with his band Pavement. Their albums are considered to be definitive classics of the genre. Last year the group reformed for a brief tour, but it wasn’t a permanent reunion. There would be no new Pavement albums. However, disappointed fans are likely to be pleased that Stephen Malkmus has returned with a brand new album aided by his backing band, The Jicks. The Jicks aren’t the only firepower behind Malkmus on Mirror Traffic either.
Beck, another alt-rock and indie superstar, produced the new Malkmus album. It’s the first time that a producer has worked with Malkmus since his days in Pavement. Since releasing his last album Modern Guilt in 2008, Beck has reinvigorated his musical career as a producer. First, he teamed with Charlotte Gainsbourg on the critically acclaimed IRM. Then, he worked with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore on his album Demolished Thoughts that released in May of this year. Both Beck and Stephen Malkmus are no strangers to quirky songs that are lyrically unusual; though, Mirror Traffic surprisingly contains more meaningful songwriting. Another change from trademark Malkmus is that the songs often run in under three minutes. Beck and Malkmus both made the collective decision to scrap overly long guitar jams in favor of melody.
The result of these changes is an album that’s more accessible than Malkmus’ past. The differences don’t subdue the music or keep it from being undoubtedly Malkmus. It’s the natural progression of an older rocker still making music that has a youthful aura. It never reaches for the discernible 90’s alt-rock highs that rock bands Yuck and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart displayed in their albums this year. Malkmus isn’t retaining a sound that he perfected, he’s aging it. The music is understated, yet undeniably good rock that only legends from Malkmus’ generation could accomplish.
"Tigers"
Mirror Traffic is a mostly guitar-based album as expected, but Beck’s production work does add colorful flashes in the background. “No One Is (As I Are Be)” gets some Odelay treatment with bells, harmonica, and horn flourishes that make the folk heavy song come together as something deeper and more resonant. The just-over-a-minute track “Jumblegloss” is an instrumental sound effects orgy that’s spacey and no doubt Beck concocted, but I don’t really understand the point of it on the album other than maybe it’s an intermission.
Other than the non-subtle “Jumblegloss”, Beck’s influence isn’t as prominent as his past produced albums. He seems to have let Malkmus do what he does best and maybe add suggestions sparingly. The faded 90’s guitar work of “Brain Gallop” triumphs over much of mainstream rock in the 2K’s. “Tune Grief” barrels forward with heavy distortion behind Malkmus’ spastic and somewhat goofy vocals, but he sounds like he’s genuinely having fun rather than the many pretentious rockers half his age that front this music. Malkmus hasn’t lost his touch as one of the best vocalists in rock. He bends sharply written lyrics making them fit perfectly with the chords of his guitar. Many of the lines to his songs are sly and ripe with wit. I know what the senator wants / What the senator wants / Is a blowjob, on “Senator” and I caught you streaking in your Birkenstocks, scary thought, in the 2K’s on “Tigers”.
"Senator"
Even though Malkmus and Beck decided to keep the songs relatively short on the new album, the album’s length of fifteen songs is somewhat daunting. The album comes in over 50 minutes and unfortunately becomes overkill. It’s a shame too considering that some of the best tracks are near the album’s end; however, many listeners likely won’t make it because of short attention spans. There’s always shuffle plays, I guess. Still, Mirror Traffic is another solid release for Malkmus, and it pleases me that he can still rock out after so many years.
The 411: The Beck produced Mirror Traffic is another good Stephen Malkmus record. Malkmus’ energy feels particularly charged, and his music’s sound continues getting better in age rather than trying to stay forever young. Beck wisely doesn’t overwhelm the performances with studio trickery and lets Malkmus and his band do what they know best. The album’s length may be too much for many younger listeners, but old fans will be happy about all the Malkmus they can get.
