New Music: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

Despite having been crushing on Stephen Malkmus since the early 90's when he was the frontman for my most favorite band Pavement, I never really got into his solo work.  I wrote about this before, but it begs mentioning again.  When the Pavement reunion happened last year, my passion for all things Malkmus was reinvigorated and just in time too.  He's got a new record out with his band the Jicks, and this time it's produced by Beck, who I also love. 

Mirror Traffic is a really good record.  It's got all the signature Malkmus poetic tricks mixed with Beck's twangy almost country production.  It's pretty apparent on a song like "No One Is (As I Are Be)" which has a very dizzy 60's ish melodic twangy thing going on.  Same with "Long Hard Book" where the Sweethearts of the Rodeo influence and Beck's latest mellowness really come through.  "All Over Gently" and "Fall Away" feel like Sea Change meets older Jicks tracks.  In a good way, of course. 

I'm sure that Malkmus hates it, but people are always going to compare his music to that of Pavement's.  While I think that there are songs on here that are very Pavement-esque ("Senator" and "Spazz"), this isn't why I love this record.  It's surprises like "Asking Price" that really get me; when he wails "the distortion is way too clear" I just melt inside.  Then there's "Share The Red" which gets me all emo.  I mean, come on...with lyrics like this:

"Have you no ear?
Have you no eyes?
You've got no idea of how to survive
Have you no tears?
Have you no heart?
You've got no idea what set you apart"

It seems like Malkmus has really grown up.  I feel like there is a certain cognizance of getting married, having a family and getting older in a lot of these songs.  In fact, his kids are even in the video for "No One Is (As I Are Be)."  (Cute!)  There are still bangers like "Tune Grief" and "Forever 28," which is a great example of a song about being young and getting old.  While I'm not driving a mini-van yet, I can still relate to the tone of the record and appreciate that he's allowed this part of his life come through.  I always pictured him being just too damn cool to give a shit, so it's nice to know that he does.  He even touches on the daily grind in "Gorgeous Georgie," which closes out the record leaving you wanting more and glad that there's a repeat button.  I have to admit that I loved almost every song on the record (just being honest), and am happy to welcome Mr. Malkmus and his Jicks back to my life.