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Editorial Reviews
Coming off a triumphant year of Pavement reunion shows, Stephen Malkmus returned to the studio with Beck producing to record his fifth solo album, Mirror Traffic. Early press reactions are calling this gorgeous, crystalline production "the album we've been waiting 10 years for him to make," and it certainly contains the most heartfelt and indelible songs he's written in years. Gone are the long guitar workouts and jams that marked the last couple of Jicks albums, replaced by incredibly catchy and endearing pop songs.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In celebration of an outstanding album from Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks I hereby present, in no particular order and without a conventional ending (hey, kind of like a Malkmus song), the MIRROR TRAFFIC awards:
Best Song With A Weird, Smart Guy, Do-Whatever-You-Want Punk Attitude = "Spazz"
Best Song Title = "Stick Figures in Love"
Best Run Of Consecutive Awesome Songs = Tracks 12-15: "Forever 28," "All Over Gently," "Fall Away," and "Gorgeous Georgie."
Prettiest Song = "Fall Away"
Most Hypnotic Repeating Guitar Part = "Stick Figures in Love"
"Hey, That Sounds Like" ____ Award = three-way tie:
"Fall Away" = sounds like The Cave Singers
"Jumblegloss" = sounds like the opener to an early 90's Seattle grunge anthem
"Long Hard Book" = opening guitar sounds like a long lost George Harrison solo track
Best Sing-Along/Crescendo-To-Falsetto Chorus To Relate To = "There's not much left inside my tank today..." from "Brain Gallop"
Best Surprise Guitar Solo Near the End Of A Song That Listeners With An iTunes Attention Span Might Miss = A little over four minutes into "Brain Gallop"
Best Use Of Profane Imagery In A Song = "I know what the senator wants, what the senator wants is a bl _ w j _ b" from "Senator"
Best Instant Atmosphere = "Long Hard Book" (although Malkmus blasts the atmosphere away with his guitar at the end of the song).
Best Song With A Weird, Smart Guy, Do-Whatever-You-Want Punk Attitude = "Spazz"
Best Song Title = "Stick Figures in Love"
Best Run Of Consecutive Awesome Songs = Tracks 12-15: "Forever 28," "All Over Gently," "Fall Away," and "Gorgeous Georgie."
Prettiest Song = "Fall Away"
Most Hypnotic Repeating Guitar Part = "Stick Figures in Love"
"Hey, That Sounds Like" ____ Award = three-way tie:
"Fall Away" = sounds like The Cave Singers
"Jumblegloss" = sounds like the opener to an early 90's Seattle grunge anthem
"Long Hard Book" = opening guitar sounds like a long lost George Harrison solo track
Best Sing-Along/Crescendo-To-Falsetto Chorus To Relate To = "There's not much left inside my tank today..." from "Brain Gallop"
Best Surprise Guitar Solo Near the End Of A Song That Listeners With An iTunes Attention Span Might Miss = A little over four minutes into "Brain Gallop"
Best Use Of Profane Imagery In A Song = "I know what the senator wants, what the senator wants is a bl _ w j _ b" from "Senator"
Best Instant Atmosphere = "Long Hard Book" (although Malkmus blasts the atmosphere away with his guitar at the end of the song).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"I have nothing in my head." It would seem Malkmus is being ironic, for this album proves the lyric completely untrue. Indeed, Mirror Traffic demonstrates the fun Stephen Malkmus still, some 10 years post-Pavement, wants to have. Playful and replete with unexpected turns, the album while only somewhat reminiscent of 90s Pavement, is more than ever a product of Malkmus' whim and spontaneity, as can be heard in each song's slight imperfection, a feature of Malkmus' work that I have always appreciated. Just wonderful. A definite must-buy!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Fantastic album - There are the usual Malkmusian turns of phrase where words from opposite ends of the dictionary meet for the first time ("animus" and "lockjaw" please shake hands), the musicianship is slick (fewer solos this time, but the guitar soup is intense and flavorful, Janet adds some spicy drumming, and this time round Joanna throws out some really memorable basslines). What blew me away this time are the tunes - everything is melodic as the top 40 circe 1966, but always, ALWAYS with a twist. Favorite tracks are "Stick figures" and "Share the red" for the echoey ending, but seriously its worth the price for the cover alone.
Recommended.
Recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
where's the greatness?
I'm not a Pavement fan and this is the first Malkmus/Jicks album that I've heard, so I'm coming to this from a non-fan's perspective, but one with an open musical mind. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Donald E. Gilliland
Classic Malkmus!
Stephen Malkmus can do no wrong. This album is just awesome. I listen to it over and over and it is equally enjoyable every time.
Published 5 months ago by c
It feels like 96 again
Wowee Zowee, the man did it again. I thought he'd lost it, but I think the world tour with Pavement brought him back to us. Either that, or Beck has steadied the ship. Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. I. Smith
bad
Malkmus, after so many years of great albums (solo and with Pavement) has released his first dud from start to finish. There is next to nothing worth listening to on this album. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Nick
eclectic, clever, catchy indie guitar rock
5th release under his own name from former guitarist in Pavement & Silver Jews. This is
eclectic, clever, well-played and catchy-as-hell indie guitar rock that flows... Read more
eclectic, clever, well-played and catchy-as-hell indie guitar rock that flows... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Charlie Quaker
Stellar Malkmus
Is Stephen Malkmus the American Andy Partridge (XTC)? Maybe. Not because they particularly sound alike (they don't), but they both write such completely great songs and are so... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Neil E. Black
Bad
I think Pavement was awesome. SM and the Jicks first album was good. Pig Lib was OK. This album is horrible. Read more
Published 8 months ago by karmasoda
Why has no one reviewed this album yet?
It's been out for over 2 whole weeks, but I guess maybe because no one knew it was released - I just saw it at the record store today, bought my copy on vinyl. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Monster in the Parasol
Bug Me, Don't Slug Me
This album is literally the best album I have ever heard. But that's a biased opinion because I am currently listening to it everyday.
Published 8 months ago by A Mexican Jew
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Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' album Mirror Traffic was produced by Beck.
Stephen Malkmus, Janet Weiss, Mike Clark, and Joanna Bolmehave been a member of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.
Stephen Malkmus, Janet Weiss, Mike Clark, and Joanna Bolmehave been a member of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.
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