Pavement - Watery, Domestic EP (1992)

Watery, Domestic was released some months after Slanted & Enchanted, Pavement's classic album debut, and marks some changes in line-up. Yet still close to the S&E-sound, Watery, Domestic's sound is more violent and intense, which may be an effect of Mark Ibold and Bob Nastanovich joining the band. Compare it to the later Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain though, and you won't find too many similarities - perhaps except for the spark, and the melody. These are pop songs compared to the majority of S&E (not to mention the earlier Westing-work), and they sound somewhat like a polished version of it.

Definitely some of Pavemen't very best work, many a fan would have this over any Pavement-record (which says a lot a lot). The biggest classics are the first tracks - "Texas Never Whispers" and "Frontwards." "Texas Never Whispers" shows an aggression perhaps never surpassed on a Pavement-recording (arguably though compared to some of the Westing-material). Opening with a distorted shoegaze-riff that soon ceases, Stephen Malkmus sings with a certain disappointment in his voice, and the following solo is the best solo in the world (this is a fact). "Frontwards" is like a beautiful, slowed-down version of the latter. Part 2 is lighter, starting with "Lions (Linden)" with its mesmerizing guitar build-ups, followed by "Shoot the Singer," both sounding naively happy.

[taken down]

I'll have to post the entire Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe sometime in the future, that includes this EP and some 30 additional masterworks. As far as I'm concerned though, Wowee Zowee is the only record by them that surpasses this.

PS: Flytende! Bølge is wounded, and will need your sympathy. Focus your energy on him, so that he can recover faster. His wrist might be broken.