Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Sparkle Hard

Ok, so I'm not going to sugarcoat anything here, I've never been much of a fan of Pavement.  Hey, I'm sorry, I'm just not.  I mean "Slanted and Enchanted" is GOOD, but like, I've never obsessed about Pavement or lead singer Stephen Malkmus like most.  Around 2000 he started playing with a new band, The Jicks.  And for the most part, I had the same issues with this album as I did with Pavement's work.  I thought their instrumentals were solid and Malkmus is absolutely sharp as a tack.  But I found myself only drawn to parts of their 2003 album "Pig Lib".  I enjoyed the intensity of "Witch Mountain Bridge" and the more upbeat "Vanessa from Queens".  But the more stripped down, singer-songwriter feel to this project just wasn't doing much for me.  At this point, I would have just rather listened to Pavement.  Now, I'll be honest, I was a whole lot more into their 2008 album "Real Emotional Trash".  This album just had so much more personality, and the performances seemed to be so much more raw and wild.  And it's funny, the majority of these tunes were much longer and much more in depth, something I really didn't think I wanted to hear from Malkmus and his new band.  But I didn't mind this at all. But just as soon as Malkmus and the Jicks sort of won me over, they lost me almost immediately with "Mirror Traffic".  This album was right back in the style of Pavement.  There were wordy performances and much more of a focus on Stephen, and it just lost me so quickly.  And I'll be honest, I was one of like 10 people who thought 2013's "Wig Out at Jagbags" album really wasn't terrible.  I loved the more subtle sounds of this album, the swagger of "Houston Hades", the triumphant "Chartjunk".  To me, it just seemed to me like Malkmus just didn't have anything to prove and was at his most relaxed, and I loved that.  So it's been a while since we've heard from Malkmus and his band.  And honestly.  These new singles aren't terrible.  Nothing incredible, but certainly not bad.  Let's chat about it.

Now, “Cast Off” really isn’t the introduction I was expecting at all.  I love just how slow and dramatic this track is.  It’s just so powerful, and Stephen, when he pops in just, sounds so dreary and exhausted.  The guitars are crunchy, the pianos are grand, this is the slow-burning intro I didn’t know I wanted.  It’s also really patient, with Stephen and his band really giving this one some time to settle in.  I’m just not used to hearing any of these things from Malkmus and his band, but it’s great to hear.  On the other hand, this one sounds a lot int he line of what I usually expect from Malkmus.  There are wordy verses and twangy guitars.  But there are also warm synths and a really relaxed vibe that I can totally get to.  I just feel like with this album Malkmus sounds so relaxed, much more so than I have on other albums in his past.  This is actually a really pleasant, breezy Indie tune that puts me in a great mood.  On the other hand, “Solid Silk” is a little more stripped down.  But I love just how longing this one is, and just how emotional it gets.  Malkmus once again in his performance doesn’t sound like his usual self at all and sounds just so broken down and hurt.   I love some of the little details here, like the warm synths and just how longing Stephen’s lyrics are.  This one is quite frankly beautiful, and I’m really not used to being so into his music at all.  The strings are a nice touch, and this track has just the epic feel to it that I can’t help but get wrapped up in.   On the other hand, “Bike Lane” takes things back in a more upbeat direction, one that’s pretty determined still.  It’s got a heavy bass groove and all.  But it’s tracks like this that have never really interested me when it comes to Malkmus.  Here, he just sounds so robotic, while on the rest of this track, he’s sounded like he’s been so loose and relaxed.  I dig his lyrics here and all, but even the instrumental is a little too on tracks for me.  If I had to sum up “Bike Lane” in one word, it would be “formulaic”, especially at this point in his career. 

On the other hand, “Middle America” is once again this sort of broken down, loose feeling track that I actually really dig.  I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite performance of the album, but it’s light on the ears and has one of the most memorable choruses of the album.  It’s sweet, hypnotic, and seriously memorable.  I would much rather hear this from Malkmus than have him try to redo his Pavement years.  But then we have “Rattler”, and whoever gave Stephen Malkmus a synthesizer on this one should go to prison for this one.  This is just so synthetic and it comes off so weird, especially with all of these intense drums.  This track is an absolute disaster of one, filled with some really questionable twists and turns.  And I’ll give this one points for being a little exciting.  But it’s sort of just an experience that I had once, and never want to have again.  On the other hand, “Shiggy” is a serious shot out of left field.  The production on this track is absolutely gigantic.  It’s hulking, suffocating, and for some reason almost funky in a way.  But at the same time, it’s just so determined, and Stephen sounds so comfortable.  IT’s a smooth freakin’ track man.  Not to mention, I love just how epic all the instrumentals are.  Mr. Malkmus, some more of this in the future, please.  I would so much rather hear this than him playing what got him famous in the early 90’s.  But up next, we get the dreaded acoustic number in the form of “Kite”.  I’m really not into these very sleepy verses.  I’ve just heard so much much of it over the years.  Now, I think this one picks up into a pretty interesting track on the other hand.  I love the serious funk and almost disco feel in parts.  It’s a shot out of left field, but at this point in Stephen’s career, it’s the only thing that’s really keeping him interesting for me.  I don’t really see the point of going back and forth however to the more dreamy verses here.  Trust me, they aren’t nearly as interesting.  Plus, Stephen in general here sounds like he left some of his writing chops at home.  This one has a lot of ups and downs.  But I would still much rather listen to this than the majority of his catalog with the Jicks.
“Brethren” on the other hand is once again another stripped down number, but this one I’m so much more intro.  I love just how loose and breezy this one is.  I absolutely love the lyrics here, and Malkmus sounds so comfortable on vocals.  The instrumentals are sweet, and for a more stripped down track, this is the way to go.  Then we have “Refute” featuring Kim freakin’ Gordon.  Once again, it’s another stripped down track, but it’s the way to go.  I mean, I’ve literally never heard Stephen in such a southern atmosphere, but it sounds great.  It’s catchy, very endearing, and all around likable.  And then we have Kim Gordon of all people here as a guest, and I honestly haven’t heard her sound this good in years.  I love how rugged she sounds here, and it adds to the honky-tonk feel of this one.  I have nothing bad to say.  But would you believe it, with “Difficulties / Let Them Eat Vowels” the band tries their hardest to end this album off on a more experimental note.  It’s stripped down once again, and it’s certainly bizarre and weird.  But for the most part, this isn’t nearly as interesting or as charming as some of the other tracks here.  On the contrary, the only thing really standing out here is Stephen’s performance, which certainly is passionate.  Did I mention this track is over 7-minutes long?  I mean, when it picks up into a funkier jam it certainly does get a little more interesting, but as a finale this track is awkward.  And Stephen’s effect-drenched vocals?  No thank you. 

Rating: 7.9/10

Give A Listen To: "Future Suite", "Solid Silk", "Shiggy", "Refute"

Least Favorite Track: "Rattler"

Genre: Indie Rock

Overall Thoughts:  For a guy who's never been too crazy about Pavement, and has been even less crazy about Stephen Malkmus's new project The Jicks, this is a pretty solid album.  For me, I've always felt like Malkmus in the past few years has been trying way too hard to be in another band like Pavement.  Which obviously, isn't going to happen.  Which leads me to this album, which is the furthest thing from Pavement Malkmus has ever done.  His material here is just so smooth and loose, Malkmus hasn't sounded like he's having this much fun in years.  There are a lot of really decent, breezy indie tunes and some really nice stripped-down ballads as well.  If it wasn't for a few awkward tunes, this would be a really great album.  I still think it's the best thing Malkmus has done in a while, and it's absolutely worth a listen.