Usually, I call people pretentious when they say that they were born in the wrong generation, however I make an exception when it comes to that being how I feel about the band Pavement. I should’ve been at a Pavement gig in the 90s, luckily they have just released a new compilation album titled Heckler’s Choice. Not sure if the joke in the title of this compilation is to be giving the Heckler’s at a concert what they want as the songs are a mix between their bigger songs and even throwing it back to their debut 1992 album Slanted and Enchanted or not.
It seems that the guitarist can’t leave the amplifier alone throughout a majority of these songs, as feedback plays a major part in quite a few of these songs including our opener ‘Stereo.’ Originally featuring on their album Brighten the Corners, it is a fantastic choice for an opener as the bass and electric guitar are playing interchangeable riffs that echo each other which are muddy and grungy but the way they work so harmoniously together makes it listenable. Clearly a song titled ‘Stereo’ was made to be blasted on a stereo at max volume as the lyric “Listen to me, I’m on the stereo” immediately grabs your attention and shifts your focus to the track as I found myself drifting off into space like I was being lulled to sleep by Stephen Malkmus’ laid-back vocals.
In my humble opinion the song ‘Harness your Hopes’ is one of the most perfect songs of all time. This song came to a resurgence success in the past few years with this song via TikTok despite it originally being released as an obscure B-side in 1999. Nevertheless, I adore the way they utilise two different guitar tones throughout this song and it creates this melody line which goes up and down rhythmically. The lyrics are arguably such a brilliant play on words and this is at its peak in the second verse. Within the second verse the listeners are asked a rhetorical question in the lyric “well, show me a word that rhymes with Pavement” and then Malkmus continues to list different scenarios, quite elaborately and non-sensical to the casual listeners ear, as the lyricist has used half-rhymes which don’t make sense the first time you listen but as you think about the verse more you realise that he has answered the question for you.
A regular addition to many songs by Pavement is how they layer instruments and different ambience in their songs; it equals out the edgy, laid-back vocals of Malkmus and makes the songs feel less like rushed demos. ‘Cut your Hair’ has a very snide tone in its lyrics where it is attacking the idea of big executives in the music industry caring far too much about the importance of image when it comes to musicians especially at major labels. Hailing from the album Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, like many songs from this compilation the melody in the chorus, especially the lead guitar follows the vocal line of Malkmus and has the same vibes musically as ‘Harness your Hopes’ yet where that song is arguably perfect to me, this one is a bit rough around the edges which I’m putting down to the ever so slightly de-tuned guitar.
Beyond thrilled to welcome back the horrifically grating guitar feedback intros. I think its really ‘unfair’ that they made my ears bear witness to that really. Hometown pride is never something I would ever think to hear in a Pavement song, however Stephen Malkmus has surprised me as the song delves into how Southern California, where the band originates from doesn’t get the same level of respect and attention as North California and honestly it sounds like it’s really affecting him, like the guttural screaming suggests towards its finality.
Gently laying a blanket onto us, the dreamy ballad which is a direct contrast from the previous track, ‘Major Leagues’ lulls us back into a laid-back state as this is one of their softest songs and resides in their final album Terror Twilight. Lyrically, ‘Major Leagues’ is about the speaker making a final effort to save a struggling relationship, the term ‘Major Leagues’ seems to suggest that they want to take the next major steps in the relationship. “Bring on the major leagues” is repeated in the chorus, is then directly opposed to them comparing the idea of children is intoxicating like wine in the sense that they are great for awhile then gives you a headache the next day. You can also hear them resist the idea of marriage, which is completely hypocritical considering the chorus.
‘Spit on a Stranger,’ is a track with an interesting vibe about it. It sifts through the idea of two people one doing the action of spitting and the one being spat on. The action of spitting, even on a stranger, communicates tone of disrespect and anger so it begs the question why does he feel this way about a random stranger? The song follows a laid back, almost romantic melody and gets progressively more intense during the chorus. Towards the end of the song, the lyric “Pull me out” points to the concept that it’s like a cry for help, that they want to be pulled out of his negativity as he is so angry he could actually ‘Spit on the Stranger.’
All the way back in 1992, Pavement, burst onto the scene with their first album Slanted and Enchanted. You can tell that the song ‘Summer Babe – Winter Version’ is their first attempt at recording a song because I have truly never heard such a collision of instruments and effects unless we are talking about the album Be Here Now by Oasis. On the other hand, the collision of instruments works so well that this is direct evidence on what an indie band should sound like, incomplete and messy.
“Everything’s ending here.” The last song ‘Here’ which was featured in the movie Perks of Being a Wallflower, with a cover done by the band Tindersticks is a slow sombre ballad to lead us out of the album with. Distorted guitars hum in the background which is a difference from the ear-splitting feedback of ‘Stereo’ which opened the compilation. I can’t think of a more fitting song from the movie other than this and this was solidified with the lyric “I was dressed for success, but it never comes.’ A lot of the lyrics follow this vibe of being ready for something, and at the end of everything you still never quite get what you were wanting this whole time. You can link this back to the title being Heckler’s Choice, you can go all the way to the concert, heckle the band with songs you want them to play but at the end of the concert, you realise they didn’t listen to you and the one song you were desperate for them to play, was never played.
Pavement: Heckler’s Choice – Out 14 November 2025 (Matador)
“Harness Your Hopes” (Official Music Video)
