October 21, 1996
From the one-two punch of "Summer Babe" and "Trigger Cut" that opens Slanted and Enchanted, it's clear that Pavement is one of the few Velvet Underground disciples that got it right. Pavement understand that John Cale's art-noise dissonance was only half of the Velvet's appeal - the other half was Lou Reed's fine pop sensibility. Emulating rather than imitating this hybrid, Pavement's 1991 debut album is a lo-fi, hazy guitar workout with surprisingly accessible melodies. Sounding like it's coming in over short-wave radio, bursts of static shifting to bubblegum "Sha-la-las" melting into dense chordal riffing, Slanted and Enchanted is a pastiche of vitriol, scorn and irreverence.
Surreal lyrics such as "Lies and betrayals / Fruit-covered nails / Electricity and lust" are oddly singable when tied to the strongly structured melody and fluid beat of "Trigger Cut". Stephen Malkmus' disjonted, half-hearted singing and Scott Kannberg's muscular, driving riffs give "Loretta's Scars" a fierce internal tension, and "Fame Throwa" is an electronic snarl of sardonic noise over Gary Young's ramshackle drumming. "Here" proves that Pavement also knows emotional impact can be as strong as sonic assault; a heartfelt and poignant balland with gently ringing guitar, "Here" is one of the strongest cuts on this original, highly inventive album.
- Jared O'Connor
Hazy guitar workout