Pavement were pretty much my life-defining band in the 90s. But after four incredible LPs (five if you count the
imaginary one I created myself), 1999's
Terror Twilight was a tough listen. The music wasn't necessarily bad (though it was a step down from what came before), but it was permeated with the mood of a band that was moving on, as much a Stephen Malkmus semi-solo debut as a band effort. (It's always felt to me like the
Replacements' decent but bittersweet swan song
All Shook Down from a decade prior.) So even its high points feel a little emotionally weighted.
"Spit On A Stranger" is one of those high points, probably the record's best (or at least most infectious) track, yet still hard to divorce from the band's break-up vibe. Which means it always makes me just a little sad even as I revel in Malkmus's trademark maybe brilliant/maybe just goofy lyrics, a parting gift from the breakaway solo artist to those of us who'd been hanging on every note of Pavement music over the past decade.
Live 1999:
Malkmus solo acoustic:
Nickel Creek cover:
Kathryn Williams cover:
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