Mirror Traffic
Stephen Malkmus' Beck-produced Mirror Traffic possesses a relaxed, spontaneous feel befitting the Pavement frontman's earlier days.
Stephen Malkmus’ self-titled 2001 solo debut was a welcome reminder that the former Pavement frontman could be fleet, hooky, and fun. But in the three LPs that followed, Malkmus disappeared further and further into his amateur prog-rock guitar-god side. The albums were still fundamentally enjoyable, with a handful of…
From Mirror Traffic 's very first loping riff, that which opens the album on easy-going country jaunt "Tigers" and is accompanied by pedal steel, it's clear this is going to be an enjoyable album. "This record is relatively approachable," Stephen Malkmus admits in the press materials for his fifth album and first since Pavement's triumphant reunion tour last year. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Beck, Mirror Traffic is varied to boot, dabbling in slacker folk ("No One Is (As I Are Be)"), adrenalized, blow-job-themed rock 'n' roll ("Senator") and ...
If ‘Mirror Traffic’ proves anything, it is that Stephen Malkmus is still in love with music.
Tempting though it may be, Mirror Traffic is not quite Stephen Malkmus' response to the 2010 reunion of Pavement.
We’re over 20 years into Stephen Malkmus’ musical career and he’s still consistently delivering relevant and entertaining sonic statements.
Fifteen years ago, the prospect of a Beck-produced Stephen Malkmus album would have been met with pant-wetting excitement.
<p>This fine collaboration with Beck makes good use of Stephen Malkmus's oblique wit, says <strong>Hermione Hoby</strong></p>
The album, despite production work from the normally conspicuous Beck, scarcely strays from what’s become the Stephen Malkmus template.
<p>The former Pavement man has lost none of his knack for enchanting, says <strong>Tom Hughes</strong></p>