Rarities of an Indy Cult Classic Revisited
Much time has passed since Stephen Malkmus’ lo-fi recordings in the home studios of Stockton. Though it might be over 15 years since the iconic Californian indie-punk band, Pavement, released a legitimate album, it doesn’t mean they have lost their relevance. Since the critically acclaimed Terror Twilight (1999), Pavement has released a number of compilations and reissues, reminding listeners of the uninhibited sound that earned such a loyal cult following. More recently, in 2010, Pavement graced fans by reuniting in tandem with a 23-song compilation release. The newest addition to their collection is a 30-song compilation The Secret History, Vol. 1.
The Secret History, Vol. 1 is the first installment to a “shadow album” series composed of tracks that didn’t make the final cut to their LPs. This first volume is a collection of live and unreleased tracks from the Slanted & Enchanted era of 1990-92, an album described by many critics as one of the most influential albums of the 90’s. The Secret History, Vol. 1 displays Pavement’s true talent, as any one of the tracks could have been released on Slanted & Enchanted. Yet after closer examination, it seems that all the tracks on The Secret History, Vol. 1 were included on the 2002 release Slanted and Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe. A little disconcerting, but it doesn’t change the fact that the album is full of good music.
The 30 tracks on The Secret History, Vol. 1 offer an escape to a better time, when teenagers shared mix tapes instead of files, listened to albums instead of tracks. 13 tracks on the album are live recordings of a Brixton set from Pavement’s first European tour opening for Sonic Youth, capturing the raw energy and Malkmus’ onstage charm. The nihilistic romance of “Summer Baby” is felt in the 7” studio version, yet is entirely palpable in the live version. The John Peel session recordings featured on the compilation are distinguished with a refined version of “Here,” a poignant shoegazing rock ballad recreated flawlessly.
The Secret History, Vol. 1, as well as the number of other Pavement compilations, are a product of songwriting genius that couldn’t be framed in their LPs. In their prime, Pavement was pumping out consistently excellent material that needed to be shared, and it has. Though compilations may seem greedy, listeners should relish the opportunity to hear more Pavement.
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