Stephen Malkmus

Questions regarding whether the Pavement frontman could work outside his former group were answered with this sprawling garage-rock experiment. It shows a songwriter who maintained a sharp sense of humor and a large supply of ideas.

Recorded shortly after the end of his previous project, the album relies on a lo-fi aesthetic that feels spontaneous and intimate. The music balances catchy hooks with the unpredictable guitar patterns that became synonymous with his work.