5/5
Quarantine the Past
Pavement might be one of the touchstone bands of early ’90s’ indie-rock, but those who missed them first time around might struggle to bring a song to mind. Quarantine the Past, therefore, is perfect for those thinking of catching the reformed band but hesitant to do so on the basis of a half-remembered riff from ‘Cut Your Hair’.
If that’s you, then be assured as these 23 tracks do an impressive job of catering to fans and newcomers alike. All the best known songs are here – ‘Stereo’, ‘Gold Soundz’, ‘Shady Lane’ and the aforementioned, still-awesome ‘Cut Your Hair’ – along with a good mix of album cuts, early EP highlights and one genuine rarity (the REM-celebrating No Alternative compilation contribution ‘Unseen Power of the Picket Fence’). However, the band clearly agree with the general critical consensus that their first records were their best: less than a third of the songs are later than 1994, while final album Terror Twilight is represented solely by ‘Spit on a Stranger’.
Sure, fans are going to quibble over omissions (guitarist Spiral Stairs has a couple of songs included among the predominantly Stephen Malkmus-written material – ‘Two States’ and ‘Date w/ IKEA’ – but whither ‘Painted Soldiers’, pray?) but as an overview on the woozy, laidback charm of one of the most original bands of the ’90s this should convince you to dig out Slanted & Enchanted again.
Andrew P Street
In stores now.
