Pavement

Rock is dead – long live rock." The Who introduced this contradictory sentiment 20 years
ago, around the time of punk's birth, and Pavement revive it for punk's rebirth – and not a
moment too soon – on their stunning new album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. While the
Who smashed guitars and eardrums, Pavement smash preconceptions on Crooked Rain –
about how an indie-rock band should sound, about whether "alternative music" i... More >

Whether the tunes come out and smack you in the kisser or rise from the clatter like a forgotten promise, this is a tour de force melodywise, which is not to get dewy-eyed about its market potential. They'll never truly sell out until they take voice lessons--as alternarockers from Stipe to Cobain know full well, soulful strength is the pop audience's bottom line. Me, I find their eternally pubescent croaks and whinnies exceedingly apt, and though in theory I always prefer songs that aren't about music, any bunch of obscurantist jokers who can inject the words "Stone Temple Pilots they're elegant bachelors" into my hum matrix have got a right to sing the rocks. (Grade: A)