Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks

Stephen Malkmus has become more humble and unassuming by the year, but he still holds a position as one of the most intriguing and influential indie-rockers of all time. The former Pavement leader has kept more or less to formula on a string of strong (if not game-changing) solo albums with backing band The Jicks, and 2008’s Real Emotional Trash proved especially hearty. Malkmus stretched out both lyrically and musically, with long proggy guitar solos merging with more-than-usually digressive wordplay. His latest, Mirror Traffic, pairs Malkmus with producer Beck for a set of tracks that’s lighter on extended jams while still being relatively chilled-out.

Updated 09/02/2011