Unfortunate but True.
As I’ve mentioned before (a lot, for years and years), I love Malkmus. I think he’s one of the most brilliant songwriters of our time. Perhaps to his own discredit, however, as his wit and substance are often over-ruled by his dedication to classic rock and self-indulgent styles. I can’t help but feel like Pavement worked because there was a taming process there built-in by his friends and bandmates. His solo record isn’t bad (on the contrary, I think it’s pretty good), but “Hopscotch Willie” epitomizes all that can be described as “wrong” with Malkmus these days: outright self-indulgent guitar solos and keyboard backdrops that amount to little more than Doors ripoffs (going nowhere, slowly, purposelessly), bizarre lyrics that are almost laughable (once again working against his most natural talent: wordplay), and seeming crescendos that plateau with … well, nothing.
P.S. I’ve seen this meme before, but never done it – I’m inspired to give it a go. Soon.
His first solo album is phenomenal and timeless. I’m beginning to fear that the rest of his solo career is going to mirror Frank Black’s—a lot of output that I don’t think I’ll ever understand. I keep thinking that I’ll get older and a brain chemical shift will allow me to get it, but I keep getting older and I still don’t get it.
But really, Stephen Malkmus by Stephen Malkmus is a holy thing.