Things weren't going so well. Rumor had it that Pavement was falling apart during its farewell tour in 1999. The band members, who had cultivated a rabid indie following during their 10 years together, were barely speaking to each other as they trudged through remaining dates of their last waltz. Somehow, Pavement managed to get things together for its Lawrence show, blasting out a vital set of roaring rock at Liberty Hall, proving that there were still signs of life. Unfortunately, it would be one of the band's final performances.
Rather than sitting around sulking, Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus hopped back on his musical horse, jamming with Kim's Bedroom (a one-off project with Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon), penning a slew of songs and forming a new band, The Jicks. With only a few rehearsals under their belt, The Jicks (Malkmus, his girlfriend Heather Larimer on backing vocals and percussion, bassist Joanna Bolme and drummer John Moen) entered a Portland studio and crafted Malkmus' eponymous solo debut.
Stephen Malkmus
One listen to Malkmus' record will eliminate any doubts about how much he contributed to his former band's sound. Songs like "Black Book," "Phantasies" and "Jennifer and the Ess-Dog" rollick along, retaining all the crucial elements of Pavement's lo-fi rock: Malkmus' long-and-winding guitar work, his sardonic, nasaltone voice and bizarre lyrical forays. Things are going well.
Malkmus phones one morning from his Portland, Ore., apartment, enjoying a short break before embarking on a U.S. tour with The Jicks. The band just returned from seven warm-up dates in Europe, and Malkmus already sounds like he's had enough. Asked what he thinks of Portland, he replies: "It's alright. It's one of those places where you go somewhere else and it seems pretty good. But when you're here, it doesn't seem so good; it seems like where you live."
It's a pretty typical Malkmism, which may be why he has a reputation for being a prickly pear in the press. He's in good spirits today though, laughing and relaying tales of biking around Lawrence last time he was in town. His speaking voice is soft and Sahara-dry, a deadpan drawl ever implying that Malkmus either cares passionately or doesn't give a hoot. As with his musical undertakings, it's probably a little of both.
Q: How did you put together songs for the new record?
A: "I got a digital 8-track thing (and I) bounce down a little rhythm track, couple of counter melodies, few vocals, drum machine, drum beat. Then I send it to the band and say, 'This is kind of how it is, only make it better. Please help me make it better.'"
Q: How much time did you spend in the studio?
A: "A month. It was done mostly live. There were some piano overdubs and a couple extra guitars now and then. It was quick by my standards. The last Pavement album took longer, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
Q: Were you happy with the shows in Europe?
A: "It was OK. It was some really long drives. I don't even remember the show to tell you the truth. It was like nine-hour drives and then get out of the car and play. Then sleep for six hours and drive nine hours the next day. So I'm just glad it's over. Hopefully, that's the hard part that's what I keep saying after every hard part. I think it is, though. America's not like that; America's pretty fun to tour."
Q: How so?
A: "Long drives but easier drives. You just know where to go. You don't get caught in these backstage smoky rooms with 30 people trying to talk to you. Somehow you can escape easier. No jet lag, which is really harsh, actually, when you have to play shows and you can't sleep. It's fun the first time, it's fun the second time, it's fun the 12th time to go to Europe. But like the 13th or 14th time..."
Q: How's it working with a new band after so many years with Pavement?
A: "It's hard to tell, we've only played seven shows. It's all just a whirlwind, really. I don't really know what we sound like. I haven't had time to even listen to a tape of it. I'm hoping it's good. They're good players and I'm good at guitar, so it should be good. It's a lot different. New people. We don't have a back catalog of songs. Pavement had its mystique it could rely on, you know, fans. So it's going to be different. It's going to be harder."
Q: Are you doing Pavement songs anymore?
A: "Nah. It just seems sort of desperate. Right now, at this point, it seems desperate to do it. 'Hey, here you go! Don't forget I made these songs. Come to my show and you'll get to hear an old one.' So we haven't done it yet. I thought I was gonna want to or something, but so far it hasn't seemed apropos. It just doesn't seem right. If it did I would do it. I like the songs and I like to sing some of them."
Q: What do you do when you're not working on music?
A: "That's a good question. I hike, hang out, go see movies, eat, read, do yoga, go to the gym sometimes, tennis, go on vacation. I went to Hawaii for two months, that was great, (and) Southeast Asia. We like to go warm places; it's cold here. Maybe we'll go down to the Bahamas, Caribbean-type area. I've never been down there, maybe we'll try that. The Grenadines? That sounds good to me."
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