The new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks album has leaked. For those of you who liked Face the Truth, especially the long jammy songs like "No More Shoes", you're in for a real treat. At 10 tracks and over 55 minutes, its loaded with extended guitar freak-outs, tempo changes, songs with multiple sections, etc. I can easily see it being criticized for being too jammy, but thats what I'm liking about it. I think its fantastic and I don't mind Malkmus going in this direction at all. Face the Truth was one of my favorites of 2005, and this might be better. Go check it out.

where?

This is the first album of the year that I'm really excited about. I love Malkmus. Apparently he spent some of the summer hanging out in Michigan City (where I live) at his girlfriend's dad house on the beach. Imagine how cool that would've been to stumble across Malkmus on the beach!

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Originally posted by sans_success:
This is the first album of the year that I'm really excited about.

Agreed. Although it doesn't officially hit record stores until March 4 according to P4K. I'm sure there will be something between then and now I get excited about. But for now this to me is the first big thing to hit in 2008. I read on a blog that Destroyer leaked as well.

i love this album. it's crammed full of nuggets begging for repitition. i'm leaning to calling it the best malkmus/jicks album, and that's far from faint praise.

I am also looking forward to this album. I read an interesting interview with Stephen Malkmus and the other members in Paste's new issue. I also found out that Quasi/Sleater-Kinney drummer, Janet Weiss, plays drums on this one; that should be great.

I like this a lot. You're right FKA the drumming is real good at times, and the guitar playing is pretty awesome. Also good is how a number of tracks have very nice female backing vocals and piano, so it keeps the album from dragging and sounding too samey.

Only songs I really can't get into are "Out of Reaches" and "Elmo Delmo". Favourite bit has got to be phase 2 of the title track, starting with "I traipsed across the Mexican border in a cheap caravan man..". Early song of the year contender anyone?

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Favourite bit has got to be phase 2 of the title track, starting with "I traipsed across the Mexican border in a cheap caravan man..". Early song of the year contender anyone?

absolutely.

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Originally posted by Hophead:
For those of you who liked Face the Truth, especially the long jammy songs like "No More Shoes", you're in for a real treat. At 10 tracks and over 55 minutes, its loaded with extended guitar freak-outs, tempo changes, songs with multiple sections, etc.

Uggggggghhh. This sounds terrible.

Quit bitching.

In my opinion, it's easily his best cd.

quote:

Originally posted by sans_success:
Imagine how cool that would've been to stumble across Malkmus on the beach!

Umm... depends. Shirt on or off?

Grabblegarrr!!! Long time no see! Where you been? What'cha been up to? Any album recs for me?

Found it! For some reason, I thought Malkmus was in the title.

real emotional trash is indeed song of the year candidate, along with my favorite year by destroyer

4.5 Stars from Rolling Stones Magazine; a very very high score from a magazine that likes to play it safe with indie rock.

Interesting, a review already and it's not out for another few weeks. I don't see how 'Gardenia' drags at all...one of the highlights for me. Also I don't find Malkmus' lyrics to be anywhere near as obtuse as he makes out. Nonetheless, very good to see the high rating.

It is actually out one week from tomorrow.

A 6.8 from the Fork, and the reviewer doesn't like the absolutely amazingly epic title track. I couldn't disagree more, its the best tune on the album. They got this one wrong. 8.5.

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:
I can easily see it being criticized for being too jammy, but thats what I'm liking about it. I think its fantastic and I don't mind Malkmus going in this direction at all.

Actually you were completely right. Tinymixtapes, Popmatters, and Pitchfork all gave it middling scores because it is too jammy for them. Also, like you, that's exactly what I like about this album. Too many of our popular indie artists are afraid of guitar solos.

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Originally posted by grabblegarrr:

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:
I can easily see it being criticized for being too jammy, but thats what I'm liking about it. I think its fantastic and I don't mind Malkmus going in this direction at all.

Actually you were completely right. Tinymixtapes, Popmatters, and Pitchfork all gave it middling scores because it is too jammy for them. Also, like you, that's exactly what I like about this album. Too many of our popular indie artists are afraid of guitar solos.

Totally agree. I don't want to listen to endlesss, mindless noodling from Trey Anastasio and the like either. But I love this kind of thing that Stephen Malkmus is doing along with later Sonic Youth or even My Morning Jacket. I love me some good guitar solos if done right.