magnet magazine: officially lost "it"

[johansen smith]

There’s something about Stephen Malkmus’ second solo album that makes a comparison to Trey Anastasio not so laughable. (This is neither an insult nor a leftfield comment; Malkmus told MAGNET back in ‘96 that he thought Pavement would age into a Phish/Allman Brothers-type workhorse with a cult following.) This partially explains why the free-to-be-me Malkmus can begin Pig Lib with four songs that are mind-bogglingly tame, if not outright bad. And the fifth song isn’t too hot, either. Tracks two and four (“Ramp Of Death” and “Vanessa From Queens,” respectively) feature particularly lame soft-rock organ sounds; listen once, then program them out—they will not grow on you. Or just start at track six, where the getting gets good: “Animal Midnight” is the first song that doesn’t feel like a goof, with its concise melody, prom-ballad guitar solo and lyrics even your next ex-lover will understand (“You to me is like carbon dioxide/You know I won’t be your frozen rose”). The table is run from here. Malkmus has been known to extol the virtues of poncey Ren-Faire folk/rock like the Incredible String Band; the modulating, serpentine “Witch Mountain Bridge” is this veiled threat unironically realized. “Craw Song” is a love-quadrangle tune that sounds like “Waterloo Sunset,” and—as many lesser songwriters have made comfortable careers of replicating the Kinks—Malkmus’ turn is smartly played. Particularly worth noting is the nine-minute “1% Of One,” which effortlessly secures Malkmus’ lifetime membership at the guitar-god club for men. (Take that, Built To Spill.) Nice of you to finally show up, Stephen. We couldn’t start the meeting without you.

that's right folks, Magnet is knocking (Do Not Feed) the Oyster. do you need to hear any more?

[tinobeat]

you know I love you joh, but come on, please don't fall into the camp of "if they don't agree with me, then they've lost my respect."

Malkmus is a contentious topic. People have a huge range of opinions, what with his songs having been around for so long and with them being so different (early '90s tracks being a completely different beast than what he's doing now), and people are bound to be emotionally bound up in one period or another and not accept new ideas.

MAGNET is still a great magazine, and though I don't always agree with them, I'm happy they exist and cover music that's at least relevant to my interests...

[johansen smith]

let me put it this way, I love Magnet magazine, but it's reviews are about 90% rave, 10% hating something to stir up trouble. (stereolab, Malkmus, the Microphones are all recent examples) and it's 2002 "best of" was an insult to anyone with taste. but I could never hate any magazine so content to rag on Ryan Adams at any available oppurtunity.

[Craig]

Malkmus does seem to bring out a wide range of emotions and opinions from reviewers. Yet, for the most part, Pig Lib is getting the 4 Star, rave review treatment in the mainstream music press (EW, Rolling Stone, Spin, Blender). Even Pitchfork had nice things to say.

Magnet is a decent magazine. However, for a long period of time, it came dangerously close to becoming a Guided By Voices fanzine. Also, it seems like they only produce a new issue once every 3 or 4 months.

[bitterfruit]

As time has passed, the new Malkmus album is slowly falling out of favor with me. I liked it better when I first heard it and then realized that regardless of what I expect from Pavement era albums, it just didn't satisfy what I am currently looking for.
I like the last Jicks album 10 times more than Pib Lib.

[Futureman]

I like Malkmus. But perhaps my expectations were rendered inflexible by albums like Wowee Zowee. For me, Terror Twilight and the Jicks stuff is not bad; its just not inspiring or interesting.

The Jicks = vanilla. Good, but pretty conventional when you get down to it.

[onedeadjet]

'Brighten' was always the album that I used for kicking around. None of the songs seemed especially vital, and they were all so damn shiny. Maybe it's because the one time I actually caught Pave on tour was Terror Twilight style, but I still listen to that album quite often. It's up there with Zowee and Enchanted.

[p_money]

Um, new to list... hello all.

I agree that Magnet seems to have gone a bit downhill. I mean, I like Petty well enough, but cover story? And I whole-heartedly agree; their "Best of 2002" was terrible. Almost seemed like some industry ass-kissing to me.

I've yet to receive my new issue, so I haven't read the Jicks review. But, no matter what they say, I'll buy the record, and I'm sure I'll love it.

I certianly hope they tighten up over there at Magnet. And i hope that the next sample CD has at least one track worth playing more than once.

As a a side note, I think "Brighten" is most likely my favorite Pavement disc as well.

[jef]

Yeah, those discs they give out w/ Magnet are pretty horrible.