Real Emotional Trash :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Real Emotional Trash

2008-09-30
This has turned out to be one of my favorite albums of the year. It may be Malkmus's best post-Pavement work. The tracks are catchy, the lyrics are stupid, and the guitar freakouts are entertaining.

Uno de los mejores discos del 2008

2008-08-28
Solo se queda en 4 estrellas porque los otros 4 discos del embarque son de 5 estrellas y no quiero subirlo a ese nivel, con el tiempo tal vez. Te gusta el rock? Te gusta el blues? Te gusta el jazz? Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks logran uno de los mejores discos del año en el que comienzan con un excelente tema abridor en el que exploran todas las emociones posibles en una sola canción y una gama equivalente de ritmos, tienen también canciones enternecedoras, canciones rápidas y movidas pero sobretodo una sinfonía que le da el título a la placa (Matador, 2008) que dura mas de 9 minutos pero vale la pena cada segundo.

His Best Album Yet

2008-07-08
To explain just how deeply I love this album, let me tell you first off that I'm on my 2nd copy already! That's right, I wore out CD #1. This album rocks; shreds; cooks with gas. Glorious. Hallalujah brothers that there's a songwriter like Malkmus alive today! It's classic rock with indie lyrics. It sweeps, it swoops, it dives, it sings, it sways. Everybody should have a copy. The new Sgt. Pepper.

Not trashy at all

2008-06-23
If we classify music as art, we should recognize this definition of art: having the capacity to stimulate the senses in unexpected ways, even after after repeated exposure. No collection of an artist's output can be deemed "perfect" due to the subjective nature of art itself. The real test of a piece of art, then, is not how we label it, but how often we are drawn back to it.

That said, Malkmus and his collaborators have produced a recording that sounds great right out of the gate and bears repeated listening. I kept listening to this disk for a solid 8-10 days--to the exclusion of everything else in my library--and have continued to revisit it on a weekly basis. The guitar parts, though vaguely reminiscent of prior artists and styles, are continually intriguing--quite a good thing given that this is a guitar-driven recording. I can't slight the Jicks, whose empathetic support lend this project a dynamism in which Malkmus quirky lyrics and lithe guitar musings thrive. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the entire endeavor rocks!

Who is Stephen Malkmus?

2008-06-03
It can't get much better than this record. As if he needed to add to a resume already including Pavement.

After the Hype Evaporates

2008-05-28
Stephen Malkmus has never made a record that covered nearly as much stylistic ground as this nor, it could be argued, has Stephen made an album until now that packed as much of an emotional (not nearly trashy enough for some) wallop. "Cold Son," "Out of Reaches" and "We Can't Help You" are amongst the more gorgeous, contemplative songs Malkmus has recorded, though we should stress a) there's no shortage of dark humor scattered through RET and b) Malkmus remains a sh*t-hot guitarist (ridiculously so).

Off Beat, Different and Very Good

2008-05-24
Former singer of Pavement Stephen Malkmus still remains one of the most influential, cool indie alternative rock artists in the underground rock world. He had me a fan after the first listen of Pavement's full-length debut of Slanted and Enchanted way back in the '90's. Stephen Malkmus has not only released Pavement albums, but also multiple solo albums like this one and side projects. He is known for his off beat style and different way of doing things and this release is exactly what you would expect. It has songs with guitar jams that seem to make them different than if another artist were to try it.

He has a way with timing, knowing what fits where and when in each song. On this album he is joined by the former drummer of one of my faves Sleater-Kinney Janet Weiss. She is an excellent addition to the band with her dynamic drumming and lovely backing vocal harmonies. "Out of Reaches" definitely has the signature Pavement style sound while the song "Gardenia" is a more straightforward indie pop song. The title track is a long one and does take Malkmus's style into a new direction with it's rock/psychedelic venture. All in all Real Emotional Trash is an album I would recommend you to get.

Malkmus at his best

2008-05-15
Fantastic Album from start to finish. Malkmus has shown a new and undeniable maturity level. He is above par for achieving the level of the songwriting elite. All in all Malkmus keeps getting better and better at his craft and Real Emotional Trash is the proof.

Very good, very different

2008-05-02
Really like this CD a lot. Very different. Meanders around in styles, some great guitar licks and entertaining songs. Give it a listen, might take a few times through to really appreciate it but it is a very solid disc.

SM & the Jicks never disappoint

2008-04-07
As an aging Silver Jews/Pavement fan, I was reluctant to get on board with SM & the Jicks, but was pleasantly surprised. The songs are all catchy, sarcastic, and musically brilliant. I'll pull out the Pavement records when I'm feeling nostalgic but all of the SM & the Jicks CD's are currently on heavy rotation in my house.