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Track Listings
| 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 |
Editorial Reviews
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
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).
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By M. Sedgwick
Format:Audio CD
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!
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!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Malkmus doesn't care
Point-for-point, this is definitely my favourite Jicks record. A few of the tracks are unforgivably jammy, but you'd still be hard-pressed to dislike them; the remainder... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Alex Garnett
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clever and Inventive
This is the first Malkmus CD I've ever heard and after one listen I'm plainly impressed. The progressive style of rock that ranges from blistering to melodic, the cool lyrics,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Green Manalishi
2.0 out of 5 stars
actual cd but not actual cd case
Cd that was sent to me was legit, but the cd case is not. The cd case is from Baltimore public library. What the eff? Read more
Published on September 12, 2009 by Zachary Kottke
5.0 out of 5 stars
If ever there was a grower
Before the release of this, Stephen Malkmus' fourth album following the breakup of his name-making band, Pavement, finding a relation between the quality of the man's output to how... Read more
Published on March 9, 2009 by Gregory William Locke
2.0 out of 5 stars
get back to us Steve when you have some songs
Malkmus work has been widely inconsistent over the last few years, from a borderline awesome debut to a lame second album then a slight return to form then this boring jam inspired... Read more
Published on December 16, 2008 by Morris's Codex
5.0 out of 5 stars
Damning the dandy with the faintest praise
4 star average?!?! What is wrong with you people! This is vintage Malkmus, at his crookedly raindrenched best! Read more
Published on December 6, 2008 by William Ramsay
3.0 out of 5 stars
MUCH better than Pavement
What compels Stephen Malkmus to sing? His voice is so terribly flat. If it wasn't for his voice, I would rate this album 5 stars. Read more
Published on November 10, 2008 by Rich Latta
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sometimes a dude just wants to jam...
...and that's what SM and the Jicks're doing on this one. He's been threatening it since, well at least since "Half A Canyon". Read more
Published on November 9, 2008 by McSpunkle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Malkmus continues to redefine rock ...
Yes .. it is actually four +1/2 stars.
This is really a great album, if you liked Malkmus before, you'll like this CD, too. Read more
This is really a great album, if you liked Malkmus before, you'll like this CD, too. Read more
Published on October 10, 2008 by T. Klein
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real Emotional Trash
This has turned out to be one of my favorite albums of the year. It may be Malkmus's best post-Pavement work. Read more
Published on September 30, 2008 by R. Lukas
