Pig Lib: Stephen and the Jicks Malkmus: Amazon.ca: Music

1. Water And A Seat

2. Ramp Of Death

3. (Do Not Feed The) Oyster

4. Vanessa From Queens

5. Sheets

6. Animal Midnight

7. Dark Wave

8. Witch Mountain Bridge

9. Craw Song

10. 1 Percent Of One

11. Us

Product Description

From Amazon.com

As an indie paragon since the early '90s, it's inevitable that Stephen Malkmus would want to make music that falls closer to traditional rock. His second solo album is the logical extension of those moments when Pavement cautiously approached the classic-rock canon, albeit from an oblique angle. Initially, it's hard-going for listeners. Where Malkmus's self-titled debut accentuated his flirtatious, pop-friendly inclinations, Pig Lib is gnarlier and more expansive. At times, it's uncharacteristically earnest, as if Malkmus was trying to defuse those usual jibes of archness with a sustained bout of jamming. Persevere, though, and Pig Lib's excellence is revealed. The two most obvious influences on spindly, febrile epics like "1% of One" and "Witch Mountain Bridge" are Television and Fairport Convention; Malkmus is particularly proficient at highlighting the affinities between New York art punk and British folk-rock through his notably improved guitar playing. Less rock-oriented souls, meanwhile, will be heartened by evidence of his continuing Ray Davies fetish on "Vanessa from Queens" and, especially, the "Waterloo Sunset"-styled "Craw Song." This is an album that, if lived with and nurtured, amply repays the kindness. --John Mulvey

Product Description

STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Pig Lib (2003 US limited edition 2-disc set comprised of 11-track CD album [the 2nd longplayer from Malkmus with The Jicks] plus bonus 5-track CD of unreleased material including live recordings from Sweden and Australia presented in digipak sleeve)

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Customer Reviews

60 Reviews

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (60 customer reviews)

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Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars fandom reaffirmed, July 11 2004

By

Davy (Athens, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pig Lib (Audio CD)

if i'd had the option, this would have gotten 4 1/2 stars, not five, because the first half of the record is noticeably less inspired than the second, which i would give 13 stars if i could...while the first 5 songs would only receive around 3 1/2. that would average out to about 8 stars, which is damned respectable given that the scale only reaches to 5. seriously, though, this is malkmus' most exciting and giddy musical product in many years, and his growth as a guitar soloist is truly astounding. from "animal midnight" on, i'm enthralled. just try to tear me away. it's really difficult to pick a favorite. i don't get lost in the meanderings of the ten minute opus "one percent of one"--indeed, following the epic threads of the separate and distinct solos is delightful--and i dearly appreciate the brief gut-punch of "dark wave." of the first half, "vanessa from queens" is pleasant, and "do not feed the oyster" is a wonderful romp, but the first and second tracks would have been better b-sides. "sheets", while sporting a memorable chorus that does remind me of better days in pavement, is disposable. perhaps the most pleasant surprise of all is the bonus disc: "dynamic calories" was the first song i really loved after listening to both the LP and the EP, and "ol' jerry" is currently my favorite of all sixteen songs. the dilemma here is consistency. i like the second half of this offering much more than anything on the previous record, but that record is much more solid, unwavering. the solution is simple: replace the first five songs on the album with the full EP, and you've got a perfect record.

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3.0 out of 5 stars In Retrospect, May 14 2004

By

Johnny Utah (from the band "Blues Hammer") - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pig Lib (Audio CD)

No, this album is nowhere near as good as his first solo album. The first one was fun, free and loose. This album is dangerously close to sounding too-thought-out and claustrophobic. It's not as fun, not as spontaneous. In fact, I like the more throwaway type songs on the bonus EP more than the ones on this LP.

Hopefully SM will lighten up for his third.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I've just remembered who this album reminds me of!, April 7 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Pig Lib (Audio CD)

The Blake Babies!

Particularly, compare "Us" on this album with "Downtime" on Rosy Jack World...

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