Top 25 Pavement Songs

A few months ago I read an entertaining blog entry on the writer's top 20 Pavement songs. In light of the recently announced Pavement reunion, I suppose I will compose a similar list. For the betterment of humanity, of course. Oh and I made up the reunion bit.

25. "Shady Lane (Krossover)" - Shady Lane Single
Straight forward single. Why can't we all just get along? Lacks the unnecessary ending found on Brighten the Corners, I wish there was a "Trigger Cut" edit as well.

24. "Zürich is Stained" - Slanted and Enchanted
It's short.

23. "Pueblo" - Wowee Zowee
Great dynamics. He sounds pained. It's straight forward and delightful.

22. "Embassy Row" - Brighten The Corners
This gem almost makes up for all the spontaneity and energy that Brighten the Corners lacks. Bonus points for working "dashikis" into a song, and of course "where is the savoir-faire?" ranks with the best of Steve Malkmus' lyrical output.

21. "Harness Your Hopes" - Spit on a Stranger
I don't know why Pavement chose not to include this catchy-as-hell b-side on Terror Twilight, an album which, for the most part, lacked any sort of Pavement feel. "Harness Your Hopes" sticks in my head for days at a time. The free flowing lyrics make for a great car drive sing along. "Show me a word that rhymes with Pavement/ and I won't kill your parents/and roast them on a spit."*

*Enslavement, by the way, but I'm sure Malkmus has heard by now.

20. "Silence Kit" - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
"Silence Kit" opens the most cohesive Pavement album with a half-baked and stuttering riff. It's genius. The song finds its balance and builds to a memorable pop number, setting the pace for the rest of the album. SM calls this an "anti-gossip song" and it makes enough sense to me. Who the hell said there was no meaning behind any Pavement song?

19. "False Skorpion" - Rattled by la Rush
This song is stupid. If there was ever a song meant to be a b-side, it's this one. "False Skorpion" has the spirit of "No Tan Lines" from the Shady Lane single but it's on an entirely different level. The awesome level. "False Skorpion" is a rollicking song built on an angular riff. The song sounds like its going to implode at any minute, and it does at the end, which sounds so unnatural that only Pavement could pull it off in style. "Whenever you misdirect me mama/you're misdirecting a person/you wouldn't want to misdirect." A+.

18. "Gold Soundz" - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
A perfect pop song, another summer favorite. The lyrics gives off the same feeling (albeit a bit happier) as "Summer Babe [Winter Version]." I love the guitar bit in the middle and the video is their best. For your viewing pleasure:



17. "Two States" - Slanted and Enchanted
Yeah Slanted and Enchanted and much of Pavement's early output owes itself to the Fall, and its easy to see why frontman Mark E. Smith isn't the biggest Pavement fan. Pavement never denied its influence and even covered the Fall standard, "The Classical" on the later Major Leagues EP. "Two States" is a fine example of the Fall's influence, and the rudimentary but fitting guitar solo is a characteristic Pavement sound that shines through even in a song so rooted in another band's sound.

16. "Kennel District" - Wowee Zowee
Guitarist Scott Kannberg may have only gotten in a few songs here and there, but "Kennel District" ranks with the best of any Pavement song. It's a straight pop song with a steady riff and a good chorus. The earlier version, along with other Wowee Zowee standouts "Grounded" and "Pueblo," is also worth checking out.

15. "Here" - Slanted And Enchanted
A loser's anthem. "I was dressed for success..." No wonder why this is a fan favorite.

14. "Debris Slide" - Perfect Sound Forever EP (also appears on Westing compilation)
I'll take this Nastanovich staple over Slanted's "Conduit For Sale" any day. Sheer sloppy joy. Wikipedia tells me that Bob Nastanovich was born in Rochester, so hometown pride and big ups to that guy. Good job being born.

13. "Box Elder" - Slay Tracks 1933-1969 (Westing)
Another early classic, "Box Elder" was released before Pavement became a full band. Their sound, however, is almost completely present. "Box Elder" is a great motivator, proving one doesn't need a full band to get something great started.

12. "Fillmore Jive" - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
A perfect ending to the album, "Fillmore Jive" wails, crashes, pulls, and fades away blissfully. Though the song may not stand as well without the context of the album, "Fillmore Jive" captures Pavement's attitude and feel. "Goodnight to the Rock and Roll era/ cause they don't need you anymore..."

11. "Father to a Sister of Thought" - Wowee Zowee
Pavement's country side. It's among their prettiest and most sad songs. The slide guitar compliments the melancholy vocals. It's a successful and different approach for Pavement and works well in the pastiche of different styles that makes Wowee Zowee a success.

10. "Range Life" - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Another country feel, this is a great sing along and laid back song. As notorious as the Smashing Pumpkins bit is, its the crown of the song and absolutely essential. Like Saves The Day, "Range Life" is through being cool. I really apologize for that reference.

9. "Carrot Rope" - Terror Twilight
Terror Twilight wasn't absolute crap as many Pavement fans may proclaim. "Carrot Rope" may just be the favored son that made the album over the highly similar but equally good "Harness Your Hopes." The song is light and playful with bassist Mark Ibold, Kannberg, and Malkmus sharing vocal duty. It's a good career closer and the ambiguously perverted lines add to the fun.

8. "Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at :17" - Slanted and Enchanted
Once again, the poppy falsetto "Sha-la-la's" make a great tune. I could honestly do without the closing seconds of the song, which is really another song (lackluster b-side "Nothing Ever Happens").

7. "Strings of Nashville" - Gold Soundz
My favorite b-side. A lullaby about the perils of the music industry. The guitar is mellow and the wind...oh man. This is a must-hear.

6. "In The Mouth of a Desert" - Slanted and Enchanted
This song hits the feeling right on the head. The title implies much of the lyrical meaning, which gets me down every time. It's bummed out and brilliant with the building solo with the "ooh's" and the crashes of the percussion as the song fades away.

5. "Frontwards" - Watery, Domestic EP
I took the elevator to the fifth floor of the University of Rochester's Rush Rhees library. In the far left corner, hidden among the dingy stacks, there is a study desk surrounded by walls covered in graffiti. I took a seat, and unable to focus on work, read all the dirty scrawled lines surrounding me. I looked directly forward to the back piece of the desk and read "I've got style, miles and miles, so much style that it's wasted - SM." That line is what Pavement is about. Sometimes the University of Rochester isn't as lame as I've led myself to believe.

4. "We Dance" - Wowee Zowee
I love this song. It's pretty earnest and hopeful. Another great opener.

3. "Shoot The Singer (1 Sick Verse)" - Watery, Domestic EP
I have no idea what the opening line means. It kills me too. This song is hard to explain, it's got a great feeling, the vocal delivery is potent, and the guitar works so well. The song's fade is another high point. Outstanding.

2. "Summer Babe [Winter Version]" - Slanted and Enchanted
Sad and lingering, this is Pavement's finest opening track. From Rolling Stone: "According to Malkmus, he was trying to sound like Lou Reed, singing about 'sad boy stuff.'" It's exactly that.

1. "Grounded" - Wowee Zowee
The guitar speaks for the song as well as the vocals. It's got that 90's alt. rock feel that just works. It's epic. Perhaps I relate to it leaving behind somewhat forced plans to enter the medical world, but the song's feel is a lot more than that. It's the best song to crank in the car, late night, driving back from somewhere. It's got the angst any powerful song should have. A golden star on the sticker chart for this one.


So that's it. It took a lot longer than I had planned, but I am pleased with the results.