PO5: Worst Pavement and Malkmus tracks

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1. Craw Song
2. Gold Soundz
3. Date w/Ikea
4. Black Book
5. Hit The Plane Down

I can already see this becoming a very contentious thread.

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 14 September 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll agree with 'Black Book' and 'Hit the Plane Down', but "Craw Song" is great.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Sunday, 14 September 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

No way fella! Craw Song is the only bad song on Pig Lib. What do you like about it?

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 14 September 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

re: Gold Soundz and Date w/Ikea...fuck you.

I probably haven't even heard the worst ones cuz it's not like I've dug through b-sides and stuff.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Black Book is a valid contender though.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

How on earth is Gold Soundz a bad song?!

1. Fillmore jive
2. The second Malkmus record is growing on me now, I listened to it there recently (for the 1st time in ages) and I think I was overly harsh about it at first, it's pretty enjoyable....I'm just not too gone on his really proggy stuff like "Witch mountain bridge"
3. Dark Wave is annoying too
4. AT&T is bog-standard indie rock
5. Platform blues

― Michael B, Sunday, 14 September 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

The worst song on Slanted & Enchanted: "Fame Throwa"
The worst song on Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: "Heaven Is A Truck"
The worst song on Wowee Zowee: "Half A Canyon"
The worst song on Brighten the Corners: "Type Slowly"
The worst song on Terror Twilight: "Platform Blues"
The worst song on Stephen Malkmus: "Jo Jo's Jacket"
The worst song on Pig Lib: "Craw Song"

― Nick Mirov (nick), Sunday, 14 September 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Worst on Westing: Recorder Grot.

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Sunday, 14 September 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I was glad to hear someone second me about the greatness of "Gold Soundz," but re: Fillmore Jive & AT&T...fuck you.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not gonna say fuck you about Half A Canyon and Type Slowly but there are definitely worse songs on those albums. We Are Underused? Extradition? Grave Architecure?

I forgot that I was a big Pavement fan. Carey's right.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't remember the song titles, but I have to assume one of the worst would be on Pacific Trim. That was fairly worthless.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Fillmore jive

I keeeeeel you!

― stevie (stevie), Sunday, 14 September 2003 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

My picks were more like the tracks on which I felt Malkmus was at his absolute laziest, be it lyrically or musically or what have you. "Half A Canyon" always struck me as a track that started off as a lazy Grifters ripoff and then decided to switch to being a lazy Stereolab ripoff halfway through for no good reason. No riffs, no good lyrics, not much of anything in that one. "Extradition" is pretty lazy, yeah, but at least it sounds like a Pavement song.

I picked "Type Slowly" for my least favorite Brighten track because of the lyrics ("one of us is a cigar stand and one of us is a lovely blue incandescent guillotine"... uh, right, whatever, Steve). Although I freely admit that there are a number ocontenders for the lazy-songwriting crown on Brighten.

As for "Gold Soundz", "Fillmore Jive", "AT&T", and maybe "Date w/IKEA"... well, I have a feeling that I'm not going to be making any new friends in this thread.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Sunday, 14 September 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I never got the hate for Brighten The Corners. Granted, it was the first Pavement I heard, but I loved it instantly. And I love that line that Nick Mirov wrote from Type Slowly.
BTC had Infinite Spark, Shady Lane, Embassy Row, Starlings of the Slipstream and Stereo - all excellent Pavement songs.

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 14 September 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd argue "Half A Canyon" turns into a GREAT Stereolab song (with more rockin' twang guitar then the Labbers ever offered), which is way better than a lazy Pavement song (even if it's BY Pavement, as if that mattered...especially in 1995).

You hate pop, Nick Mirov. Or at least it doesn't fit in your definition of what Pavement SHOULD have been doing.

God I love those four songs. "Gold Soundz" SOLD me on the band.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:02 (twenty-two years ago)

my attempt at this dilly-yo

Slanted And Enchanted: Fame Throwa
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: Hit The Plane Down
Wowee Zowee: Grave Architecture
Brighten The Corners: We Are Underused
Terror Twilight: hell if I can remember, probably "cream of gold" if it's the one I'm thinking of. There's one with this nagging stumbling fucked rhythm part. Hate it!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"one of us is a cigar stand and one of us is a lovely blue incandescent guillotine"...

Once I realized this lyric probably wasn't meant to be as nonsensical as it sounded, I grew to like it a lot.

― smoky topaz (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

mmm vagina dentata

― smoky topaz (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Malkmunologist!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

(JBR OtM.)

― David. (Cozen), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Did Prince ever use a cigar metaphor? If not, good for him.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"cigar stand" > "cigar"

― smoky topaz (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Perhaps, but sometimes a cigar stand is just a cigar stand. I hope.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

ts: noir vs sf

― smoky topaz (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

let's compromise: one of them smokes a lot and the other is beautiful but cutting.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

― smoky topaz (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 September 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude, Miccio, you got me all wrong, I LIKE those last four songs. I was just saying that people who mention those songs in a worst-of-Pavement thread probably aren't going to be my bestest buddies.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

oh! never mind! in that case you just made one! Those songs would probably be on my POX.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

POX of good Pavement, I mean.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought 'ikea' was a spiral stairs tune

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

it is. as is "Hit The Plane Down." I think the thread title implies worst Pavement AND Malkmus tunes. Maybe we should include Preston School Of Industry though. And Gary Young.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

gary young wins all 5

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Stereo
2. Stereo
3. Stereo
4. Stereo
5. Stereo

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 15 September 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Brinx Job
Serpentine Pad
Flux = Rad
AT&T
We Are Underused

There are so many boring songs on Terror Twilight that I would have to sit through it again to figure out the titles and that's just too damn depressing.

― Kent Burt (lingereffect), Monday, 15 September 2003 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Off the top of my head:

Slanted+Enchanted: No really bad songs here.
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: Either Hit the Plane Down or Fillmore Jive
Wowee Zowee: I can't remember the titles but there are several weak numbers on this one, mainly in the second half
Brighten the Corners: None of these are really terrible, but the singing on Passat Dream almost ruins it.
Terror Twilight: Either Cream of Gold or Platform Blues.
Stephen Malkmus: Probably Black Book.
Pig Lib: Sheets

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 15 September 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

On second thought, Cream of Gold is definitely the worst on Terror Twilight - Platform Blues is quite good in comparison.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 15 September 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Sad, sad, sad, sad thread.

(The answer is "Range Life.")

― Sam J. (samjeff), Monday, 15 September 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry:

2. Range Life
3. Range Life
4. Range Life
5. Probably some solo Malkmus thing

― Sam J. (samjeff), Monday, 15 September 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, Range Life is pretty good - tho it's not as good as Don't Go Back to Rockville.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 15 September 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I only really dislike Grave Architeture, as it's boring and sounds like Pulp. I have only listened to Pig Lib once.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 15 September 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Aw, I love Range Life AND Grave Architecture AND Filmore Jive. Also - TERROR TWILIGHT IS NOT BORING!!!!!!!!!!

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 15 September 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

All of the BBC/Peel session stuff that is on the Slanted and Enchanted reissue from this year. Pretty much unlistenable.

Then pick any 5 from Terror Twilight. I am with the camp that can't sit through this, much less remember any songs or titles.

Oh, I was the biggest Pavement fan on the planet once.

Am I the only one who thinks Pig Lib is a massive step forward from the self-titled solo record?

― southern lights (southern lights), Monday, 15 September 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

everything after Wowee Zowee (though, admittedly, the seeds for later extreme terribleness lie within Wowee Zowee).

― jack cole (jackcole), Monday, 15 September 2003 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I like Range Life and Grave Architecture and Cream of Gold and Serpentine Pad.. hmm, OK, Type Slowly is not a favorite.

― daria g (daria g), Monday, 15 September 2003 21:42 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Jo Jo's Jacket
2. Hit The Plane Down
3. Carrot Rope
4. Craw Song
5. You're Killing Me

― a, Monday, 15 September 2003 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I wanna punch whoever started this thread!

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Well thanks! I wanna punch you too!

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 06:08 (twenty-two years ago)

fite fite fite fite

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 06:09 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Gold soundz is ab fab. Hit the plane Down, does, in fact, kinda suck.Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is the best album. Grave architecture,bitches.

― samantha downey, Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

uuummm, word?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 99 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

"Major Leagues" is the worst Pavement album track jmho

― that whore of your grandfather's (rip van wanko), Friday, 13 May 2011 16:45 (fifteen years ago)

you're killing me!

― ginny thomas and tonic (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 May 2011 16:46 (fifteen years ago)

"camera" is the best/worst pavement cover

― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 13 May 2011 16:52 (fifteen years ago)

you're killing me

the song? becaus that's not a bad vote either!

― that whore of your grandfather's (rip van wanko), Friday, 13 May 2011 16:56 (fifteen years ago)

haha it was a joke

― ginny thomas and tonic (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 May 2011 17:12 (fifteen years ago)

I'm kind of curious what the point of Pavement is

― da croupier, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:19 (fifteen years ago)

Of course, I'll be happy to share with you my least 5 favorite Pavements songs. No Westing, B-sides or anything from the deluxe reissues.

Type Slowly
Hit The Plane Down
Speak, See, Remember
Platform Blues
We Are Underused

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:57 (fifteen years ago)

what fall album or track sounds most like conduit for sale (this is an rfi not a snarky rejoinder)?

no xmas for john quays

― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 13 May 2011 18:15 (fifteen years ago)

i think it sounds more like "new face in hell"

― Michael B, Friday, 13 May 2011 18:18 (fifteen years ago)

Hit The Plane Down
Date With Ikea
Passat Dream
Kennel District
Major Leagues

― Trill Jockey (lpz), Friday, 13 May 2011 18:34 (fifteen years ago)

you're right, mike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eckzjxXvcQ4
i guess i was thinking more "fame throwa"

― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 13 May 2011 18:34 (fifteen years ago)

lpz just wrote my 5 except i might replace major leagues with western homes. maybe. Ugh they both suck.

― Serial Chiller (sunny successor), Friday, 13 May 2011 19:28 (fifteen years ago)

"hopscotch willie" x 5

― Nardil the Human MAOI (get bent), Friday, 13 May 2011 19:43 (fifteen years ago)

I just don't like Shady Lane.

― billstevejim, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:52 (fifteen years ago)

Neptune Avenue

― Beggar On A Beach Of Shite. (PaulTMA), Saturday, 14 May 2011 02:47 (fifteen years ago)

whichever one that has the line "never looked hard at a foetus in a jar"

― cuddles (the kid), Saturday, 14 May 2011 06:21 (fifteen years ago)

seven years pass...

Saginaw is great! Malkmus impersonating/parodying Will Oldham.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, February 27, 2007 9:52 AM (eleven years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The "liberaaaaals" vocal in Type Slowly is clearly a Will Oldham pastiche as well.

― wmlynch, Tuesday, 17 July 2018 01:59 (seven years ago)

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 17 July 2018 02:57 (seven years ago)

"Fame Throwa"? Seriously? While "Chesley's Little Wrists" is a thing that exists? High school me is terribly upset by some 2003 posters.

― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Tuesday, 17 July 2018 06:50 (seven years ago)

2003 posters generally think everything is shit and has gone to shit

― PaulTMA, Tuesday, 17 July 2018 10:09 (seven years ago)

Here are my least-fave Malkmus-penned Pavement songs:

Range Life
My First Mine
Shady Lane
Embassy Row
Ann Don’t Cry

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 17 July 2018 13:35 (seven years ago)

(Im not too familiar w/solo Malk; and including Spiral songs in a “worst-of” list doesn’t seem fair 😜)

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 17 July 2018 13:37 (seven years ago)

worst SM Pavement song is Saganaw

― alpine static, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 04:06 (seven years ago)

Pacific Trim is all pretty good IMHO. There's a whole bunch of other B-sides from the second half of Pavement's discography I can't even bring myself to check now. Most tracks that aren't named 'Harness Your Hopes', probably. Any thoroughly researched PO5 of mine would surely be dominated by that stuff.

― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 04:39 (seven years ago)

Yeah I dig Pacific Trim... was just thinking the other day how cool it was when it came out, as kind of a chaser to Wowee Zowee. The songs on the EP are all unique and distinctive — fully realized, yet not really like any other songs in the band’s repertoire.

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 05:42 (seven years ago)

(I remember a guy in a class of mine declaring that Pacific Trim was “a mini Beatles album”... like he had discovered a skeleton key. I was like, OK...)

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 05:45 (seven years ago)

Embassy Row and Range Life are among my top favourite Pavement songs, morrisp

― Gâteau Superstar (dog latin), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 09:41 (seven years ago)

I like those 2, but I hate Shady Lane and loads of people love that one.

― Colonel Poo, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 09:52 (seven years ago)

Shady Lane was my intro to them I think? I have a hard time listneing to it objectively

― Gâteau Superstar (dog latin), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 11:04 (seven years ago)

This thread has inspired me to do a deep dive into the Pavement catalog. I was never all that into them.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 11:12 (seven years ago)

Embassy Row and Range Life are among my top favourite Pavement songs, morrisp

You must like that album, then! I’ve always liked it... I would probably skip those songs if I played it today, though.

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 13:38 (seven years ago)

they're on different albums though?

― Gâteau Superstar (dog latin), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 13:57 (seven years ago)

Embassy Row is definitely a highlight on BTC. One of the only fast ones

― Gâteau Superstar (dog latin), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 13:58 (seven years ago)

agreed ^^

and Range Life is a highlight on one of the best rock albums ever

― alpine static, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 15:40 (seven years ago)

and i agree with everyone that Pacific Trim is good (including I Love Perth) EXCEPT Saganaw, which is a DIRGE

― alpine static, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 15:42 (seven years ago)

xxp
Haha, sorry — somehow I thought you said “Shady Lane”!

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 15:47 (seven years ago)

“Saginaw” is a dirge, but dirges aren’t necessarily bad (and uptempo tracks aren’t necessarily good)...

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 16:26 (seven years ago)

Otm Some crazy fuck above mentioned Fillmore Jive. That's a dirge but it's beautiful.

Ok. Here's my challop I've never enjoyed Cut Your Hair. I always skip it on one my favourite albums.

― kraudive, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 20:49 (seven years ago)

you and every indie dude in the 90s lol. I go back and forth on it and right now I like it

― k3vin k., Wednesday, 18 July 2018 21:06 (seven years ago)

Whenever I ask Alexa to "play Pavement," it invariably starts off with their cover of the Descendents' "It's a Hectic World" -- which may be the least Pavement-sounding Pavement recording (and probably the last one I'd ever want to hear).

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 21:12 (seven years ago)

Xp sure yeah. But it was such a disappointment after Watery Domestic.

I did however fully embrace and still adore Stereo, which I guess was their nearest equivalent. And a great tune.

― kraudive, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 21:27 (seven years ago)

I guess this isn't that thread though.

Just Scott's songs right?

― kraudive, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 21:28 (seven years ago)

revived because i was listening to btc for the first time in ages and i heard that line and it struck me immediately as a will oldham take. that said slowly typed is one of the worst ever pavement songs.

― wmlynch, Wednesday, 18 July 2018 21:42 (seven years ago)

Shady Lane is p good but would be p great if second half was chopped off

― Minister of the Pillow (fionnland), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 22:18 (seven years ago)

The spacey outro? That part's good!

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 July 2018 22:39 (seven years ago)

Listening to "TT" now (Godrich track order) -- I'm gonna take "Ann Don't Cry" off my list, and sub in "Major Leagues." I know this is really important stuff!

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 19 July 2018 17:25 (seven years ago)

For a long time I would have told you that "TT" is a weaker album than "BTC," but I now hold the opposite p.o.v. (also really important for you to know)

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 19 July 2018 17:27 (seven years ago)

yeah I think that's become the more accepted view & I agree

― k3vin k., Thursday, 19 July 2018 17:38 (seven years ago)

Gotta make another revision to my list above -- I realized that "Mercy: The Laundromat" is the track I dislike most at the end of Westing (...not "My First Mine").

the foregoing has been another quality thread revive by morrisp

― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 1 August 2018 23:27 (seven years ago)

two years pass...

Least favorite, eh? *cracks knuckles gamely*

― We’re Up All Night To Get Lochte (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 12 February 2021 22:28 (five years ago)

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