Product Description

Stephen Malkmus has never made a record that covered nearly as much stylistic ground as this nor, it could be argued, has Stephen made an album until now that packed as much of an emotional (not nearly trashy enough for some) wallop. "Cold Son," "Out of Reaches" and "We Can't Help You" are amongst the more gorgeous, contemplative songs Malkmus has recorded, though we should stress a) there's no shortage of dark humor scattered through RET and b) Malkmus remains a sh*t-hot guitarist (ridiculously so).

Track Listing

1. Dragonfly Pie
2. Hopscotch Willy
3. Cold Son
4. Real Emotional Trash
5. Out Of Reaches
6. Baltimore
7. Gardenia
8. Elmo Delmo
9. We Can't Help You
10. Wicked Wanda

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19676 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-04
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
If you’ve never heard Stephen Malkmus, you might want to begin with one of the more accessible of his four solo albums, be it the self-titled debut or 2005’s watertight Face the Truth. But if you’re familiar with his individual work or that of his former band, Pavement, Real Emotional Trash will settle right in as the next chapter of the eccentric Portlander’s prolificacy. Leading the Jicks this time is ex-Sleater-Kinney drummer (and backing vocalist) Janet Weiss, who--while she never lets loose to pound her skins to oblivion--does manage to reel in the band on extended jams like that of the intricate "Elmo Delmo," a bluesy murder yarn called "Hopscotch Willie," or the sprawling 10-minute title track. Malkmus’s guitar fixation tends to overshadow his roguish, pop-sharp song craft this time around, with fewer catchy choruses and more axe-driven bypasses, save for the peculiar "Cold Son" and the joyful live-show staple "Gardenia." Then again, Trash's capriciousness and experimental willingness are what gave Malkmus an audience in the first place--and what promise to keep it coming back for more. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

People--give it a few listens, first!
Long story short--another excellent effort from Malkmus, in what's becoming a very rewarding solo career, more focused on pure songwriting and musicianship than his first gig (it's hard to believe that the # of Jicks discs is creeping up on the # of Pavement discs. Of course, that discounts all the b-sides, singles, outtakes, Peel sessions, etc. But I digress...)

Anyway, yes, this album is a little bit of a grower. Yes, some of the songs are quite long. But as one of the earlier comments suggested, the Jicks make the run-time worth it, and once you become familiar with some of the songs' twists and turns, tracks like 'Hopscotch Willie,' 'Baltimore,' and the glorious title track become the highlights of the album. Don't confuse the term 'jam' with endless, pointless solos. In each of the more discursive tracks, malkmus uses his instrumental prowess (and the newly amped-up Jicks, thanks to Janet Weiss) as a bridge to take the song from point A to B, rather than as mere navel gazing. So settle in and get familiar with these songs, the trip is worth it.

The shorter songs are just as nice, relying more on killer melodies, touching lyrics, and inventive arrangements to establish a variety of moods, from the somber "Cold Son" and "Out of Reaches" to the peppy and smitten "Gardenia."

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't expound just a little bit on the Jicks' new secret weapon, the aforementioned Ms. Weiss. While I sometimes wish her drums were brought up in the mix, and her skin-pounding isn't quite as musical as in some of her best efforts (I'm particularly fond of her work on 'the Hot Rock'), this isn't that kind of record, and her fluent fills and enthused bashing add a fluidity to the rhythm section that Malkmus hasn't had since before Gary Young left the reservation. Throw in her charming backing vocals, and the MVJ (most valuable Jick) award is hers. Somehow, the sound of malkmus dueting with a softer, more sympathetic voice adds a level of resonance to the lyrics, as on the closer "Wicked Wanda" (where, coincidentally, malkmus swipes the ping-ponging vocal from Liz Phair's "Flower" ["Every time I see your face, I think of things, unpure, unchaste..."]).

Like I said above, long story short--this is a damn fine album, and a very rewarding listen, if you're ready to put just a little time into it.

His Best Album Yet
To explain just how deeply I love this album, let me tell you first off that I'm on my 2nd copy already! That's right, I wore out CD #1. This album rocks; shreds; cooks with gas. Glorious. Hallalujah brothers that there's a songwriter like Malkmus alive today! It's classic rock with indie lyrics. It sweeps, it swoops, it dives, it sings, it sways. Everybody should have a copy. The new Sgt. Pepper.

Not trashy at all
If we classify music as art, we should recognize this definition of art: having the capacity to stimulate the senses in unexpected ways, even after after repeated exposure. No collection of an artist's output can be deemed "perfect" due to the subjective nature of art itself. The real test of a piece of art, then, is not how we label it, but how often we are drawn back to it.

That said, Malkmus and his collaborators have produced a recording that sounds great right out of the gate and bears repeated listening. I kept listening to this disk for a solid 8-10 days--to the exclusion of everything else in my library--and have continued to revisit it on a weekly basis. The guitar parts, though vaguely reminiscent of prior artists and styles, are continually intriguing--quite a good thing given that this is a guitar-driven recording. I can't slight the Jicks, whose empathetic support lend this project a dynamism in which Malkmus quirky lyrics and lithe guitar musings thrive. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the entire endeavor rocks!