Originally released in April 1995, fresh off the success of "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain", the band recorded a deliberately chaotic and eclectic album that sounded nothing like its predecessor. With influences from the Groundhogs to the Frogs, Captain Beefheart to the more obscure mid-'80s central California hardcore bands, "Wowee Zowee" confused critics and alienated fans. Yet it became a fan favorite over time. The songs have a darkness that now seems appropriate and with Bryce Goggin at the mixing desk, the production was the band's most rocking to date. This super-deluxe re-mastered comp contains an embossed slipcase with two CDs and a 64-page perfect-bound book, fifty tracks total; eighteen unreleased recordings, nine non-album b-sides, four compilation tracks, five BBC Evening Session tracks and much more. Album Description
Sort of an indie rock White Album, Wowee Zowee throws in just about everything but the kitchen sink in a frazzled collective inspired by rock, pop, country, soul, folk, jazz, blues and practically anything else. Unlike the Beatles, though, Pavement can't craft good tunes out of whatever they cobble together, so we're left with a mostly uneven album, and their first record to date that's best listened to in pieces instead of as a whole. Because of its disjointed assembly, however, its lesser ingredients can be forgiven a lot easier than parts of a more cohesive whole (again, like the White Album).
The good news is that there's something here for everyone, but few will find everything here appealing. It does, however, contain the noisy and ragged classic, "Rattled By the Rush," the majestic "Grounded," and the fractured brilliance of "Grave Architecture." For a good tip on how to avoid the lesser material, look at the track's running time: almost all of the short songs are either shrugworthy, goofy, or messy (even by Pavement standards), excepting the Ween-like "Brinx Job" and the short-punk-song-even-by-punk-standards, "Serpentine Pad."
Best cuts: "Rattled By the Rush," "Grounded," "Grave Architeture," "Kennel District," "Half a Canyon," "We Dance," "Motion Suggests Itself," "AT & T," "Brinx Job," "Father to a Sister of Thought," "Serpentine Pad," "Pueblo"
September 11, 2007 |  | Pavement's Warmest Record. |  |
Like in my title, I would have to say that this record is Pavement's warmest endeavour. They have more emotion here than on any other record. I think it is musically better as well.
But most importantly, I can listen to the whole thing. With Crooked Rain and Slanted, I get worn out and feel as if I am listening to the same tunes over and over. Wowee Zowee feels very fresh to me.
July 27, 2007This is the album where it all came togather for Pavement. This captures their full range of music/emotions perfectly. Starting off very slow with "We dance" to a more typical later Pavement song, "Rattled By the Rush". Its got the fast/dirty playful tunes like "Serpentine Pad" and just over all brilliant songs like "Grounded". Thats not even counting the Pavement classics like, "Grave Architecture", which has a whole slew of musical styles in one song.. This album is just plain brilliant and should work with ANY Pavement fan.. Be it the newer or older albums (like Slanted and Enchanted, etc..) A perfect album.. start to finish. Refreshing in todays world of singles and 1 song downloads.. Nice to hear a great peice of work, with no songs to skip.
March 3, 2006One of the top albums of the nineties. Less accessible than its predecessor 'Crooked Rain Crooked Rain' but every bit as essential. Some Pavement fans call it the band's 'White Album' due to the album's length and variety. 'Father To A Sister Of Thought' may be my favorite Pavement song ever. Looking forward to a Matador rerelease treatment like for the first two Pavement LPs as the B-sides from this era are among the band's finest.
November 29, 2005| | | among the greatest albums of all time... | |
Wowee Zowee is often left in the shadow of Pavement's more famous albums---Slanted and Enchanted, and of course the critically acclaimed Crooked Rain. But Wowee Zowee is remarkable in its eccentricities. The songs spiral, fall, crumble, throb, and shiver with emotions---but they certainly never turn emo or depressing. Pavement's unique take on 90s alternative rock is still unmatched. Every single song will blow you away, but the best part of this album is that every time you listen you'll find a new favorite song, guitar riff, lyric or even a single, perfectly-placed note. Songs like "A T & T" and "Extradition" are immediately singled out as the best on the album by most people, but after repeated listenings you'll fall in love with the spinning melancholy of "Kennel District" and the half-crazed, half-coughing lovely mess of a song that is "Best Friend's Arm." Pavement even dips into the punk-rock pot briefly in "Serpentine Pad" but keep it short and breathtaking. In my personal experience, this is the one album that is so multi-dimensional that I never, ever get sick of it---it's definitely a desert-island pick. This album deserves to be up there with "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "OK Computer"---it's simply amazing.
October 15, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(72 reviews)