Pavement - Brighten the Corners

Never recieved the item

Maybe the seller made a mistake, but I never recieved the CD. At least I didn't pay much so I am not especially upset. June 1, 2008

blister the seas

This was the album that got reviewed - lengthily and insightfully - in the New Yorker. The drawing of the band, sm in particular, is indelible and caught their mood better than the band may have wished. Fin, especially, which is about as sad as nothing in particular could ever be. I like this album a lot. The lyrics are as hooked as a harpoon. Most pop songs tell forgettable little stories. Not these. Here the lyrics are more like music itself, hinting or evoking fragments of stories that don't really resolve into anything definitive. With the better songs one is left with a mood and a few easily-recalled snippets of memory that can be played back again and again whenever the mind calls on them. Unfortunately, pavement was never so popular that these fragments will be anything but your own; you won't be able to use them to communicate as you might use "I am the walrus" or "napolean in rags." Still, you will be richer for adding pavement to your inner life, and you will be delighted (rather than embarrassed) when these bits of music and words emerge unbidden into your thoughts. March 11, 2008

4 Stars Because It's Pavement

They started to slip a bit on this album. Not as good as their older stuff. Still good, but not a classic. February 8, 2008

If it wasn't Pavement, it might get 4

This is a good album. It's a damn good album. Unfortunately, it's also a Pavement Album, and this is (as far as I'm concerned) their weakest record. Overall, it's just missing something that all of their other releases shined with.

Some songs, like Stereo, Shadey Lane, and Embassy Row show a hint of that something, but it just doesn't present itself long enough to put itself in the same category as their other releases.

The joyful experimentation of Wowee Zowee, the utter catchyness of Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, the driving angst of Slanted and Enchanted, or the perfect mix of all those things they had with Terror Twilight.

It's quite impressive, however that a band's worst album could still stand miles above the majority of pop music that existed at the time of its release.

For those of you who have never heard Pavement, you won't hate this. Far from it. You will probably see it as a solid release, but you would be better served to start with Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain or Terror Twilight. Probably their two catchiest records. My personal favorite remains Wowee Zowee, but it tends to be the one for the fans. September 30, 2007

Fine Pavement

I've heard this album referred to as the first one where they don't sound like they're just putting muddy demos on store shelves. In some ways, I agree. In other ways, it still has that muddy sound that many love about Pavement.

It's definitely the most accessible Pavement album, possibly second to Terror Twilight, but if you're interested in them either album is a great place to start.

But is it good? Yes! The riffs are catchy, the guys are adding new sounds to their style, and you just have a good time hearing the songs. Malkmus continues to belt out absurdist lyrics in his quirky yet alluring voice, and the rest of the band backs him with equally quirky charm. Give it a spin. July 27, 2006

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