An Honest Delight

Stephen Malkmus, lead singer of the irreverent lo-fi indie-rock band, Pavement, began his solo career with an enjoyable self-titled debut. He then proceeded to follow up that album with a lackluster effort entitled Pig Lib. Thankfully, his third offering, the wonderful Face the Truth, manages to re-kindle the magic of those endearing Pavement records. Here, Malkmus truly demonstrates his gift for crafting memorable ditties, and his fondness for exploring new musical terrain.The fuzz-drenched guitars and slippery synths of “Pencil Riot” give the album a trippy, highly danceable jump start. Its musical cousin, “I’ve Hardly Been” collapses and reforms right before your ears creating a funky, yet fractured delight. “Freeze the Saints” is a sparkling ballad with gorgeous slide-guitar melodies and humble vocals that only reiterates Malkmus’ unbridled talent as a songwriter. The poignant, image-laden “Mama” may be one of the singer’s finest moments ever committed to record. His voice blends exquisitely into the music as he romanticizes about vivid childhood daydreams. On “Baby C’Mon,” Malkmus is at his most energetic as he creates a jagged, uplifting anthem that owes more to the Velvet Underground than to Pavement. The organs swirl, the guitars grind, and the drums push things along with a smile-inducing stupor.

Face the Truth showcases what Stephen Malkmus is truly capable of in his post-Pavement years. He is still eager to experiment and deliver screwball lyrics, i.e., “There’s a villain in my head and he’s giving me shocks/Save me from me.” At the same time, however, he understands how to write a simple and heart-felt song. There is no doubt that this album will fit snug alongside your favorite Pavement albums.