Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Encyclopedia
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is an album released by Pavement
in 1994. With this album, the band abandoned the lo-fi sound displayed on Slanted and Enchanted
(as well as their drummer, Gary Young). During the tour for Slanted, the band added percussionist Bob Nastanovich
and bassist Mark Ibold
; partway through this album's recording sessions, Gary Young was replaced by Steve West
. The album featured the band at its most easily accessible, and the single "Cut Your Hair
" was the band's closest brush with mainstream success. As of 2007, the album has sold almost 500,000 copies and was a UK Top 20 hit upon release. Although it was not so successful in the US charts, it has since been critically acclaimed across the US music press as a classic alternative rock album.
The album was reissued on October 26, 2004 by Matador Records
under the name Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins
. The re-released version contains two discs: the first is the original album as well as B-sides and compilation tracks from that era. The second disc is a collection of previously unreleased tracks featuring former drummer Gary Young and live BBC Sessions.
The collection features forty-nine tracks, culled from various previous recordings, including the original album, the single "Cut Your Hair
", "Range Life", "Gold Soundz", the "Gold Soundz" Australia-N.Z. French Micronesia Tour '94 EP, the "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" bonus 7", and other recording sessions at Random Falls, NY, Louder Than You Think in Stockton, CA, and Waterworks, NY over the course of 1993.
The photo in the middle of the cover was taken from the March 1974 issue of National Geographic Magazine
.
It was chosen as #8 on Pitchfork Media
's Top 100 Albums of the 1990s In 2003, the album was ranked number 210 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
and number 10 on their best albums of the nineties. In 2010, the song "Gold Soundz
" was listed as number one on Pitchfork Media
's 200 Greatest Songs of the 1990s.
Due to an ink splodge on the back of the original artwork, the song "Silence Kid" has become erroneously known as "Silence Kit". This misnomer persisted when designer Mark Ohe printed it onto the back of the re-issue Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins, despite the interior artwork showing the correct name in print several times, including written in Stephen Malkmus's own handwriting.
, otherwise noted.
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
in 1994. With this album, the band abandoned the lo-fi sound displayed on Slanted and Enchanted
Slanted and Enchanted
Slanted and Enchanted is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released in April 1992 on Matador Records. The album was distributed to critics as early as 1991, months before its official release; the original distribution did not feature the entire band as several members...
(as well as their drummer, Gary Young). During the tour for Slanted, the band added percussionist Bob Nastanovich
Bob Nastanovich
Robert "Bob" Nastanovich is a member of the indie rock band, Pavement, as well as former member of 1990s bands Ectoslavia, and Pale Horse Riders...
and bassist Mark Ibold
Mark Ibold
Mark Ibold is a New York-based bass guitarist, member of the indie band Pavement from 1992 to 1999, and again as of their 2010 reunion. He is also currently in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth....
; partway through this album's recording sessions, Gary Young was replaced by Steve West
Steve West (pavement)
Steve West replaced original drummer Gary Young in the critically acclaimed indie rock band Pavement. He is a graduate of Trinity High School in Richmond, VA. He now sings in the band Marble Valley, which released their fourth album, "Slash & Laugh," on in 2008.-References:...
. The album featured the band at its most easily accessible, and the single "Cut Your Hair
Cut Your Hair
"Cut Your Hair" is a song by American rock band Pavement from their second album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. It was written by Pavement songwriter and lead singer Stephen Malkmus. The song snidely attacks the importance of image in the music industry...
" was the band's closest brush with mainstream success. As of 2007, the album has sold almost 500,000 copies and was a UK Top 20 hit upon release. Although it was not so successful in the US charts, it has since been critically acclaimed across the US music press as a classic alternative rock album.
The album was reissued on October 26, 2004 by Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
under the name Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins is a double album by Pavement released on October 26, 2004. It contains the band's second album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain in its entirety, as well as 37 of the band's other songs from that era, 25 of which were previously unreleased...
. The re-released version contains two discs: the first is the original album as well as B-sides and compilation tracks from that era. The second disc is a collection of previously unreleased tracks featuring former drummer Gary Young and live BBC Sessions.
The collection features forty-nine tracks, culled from various previous recordings, including the original album, the single "Cut Your Hair
Cut Your Hair
"Cut Your Hair" is a song by American rock band Pavement from their second album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. It was written by Pavement songwriter and lead singer Stephen Malkmus. The song snidely attacks the importance of image in the music industry...
", "Range Life", "Gold Soundz", the "Gold Soundz" Australia-N.Z. French Micronesia Tour '94 EP, the "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" bonus 7", and other recording sessions at Random Falls, NY, Louder Than You Think in Stockton, CA, and Waterworks, NY over the course of 1993.
The photo in the middle of the cover was taken from the March 1974 issue of National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded...
.
It was chosen as #8 on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Top 100 Albums of the 1990s In 2003, the album was ranked number 210 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
and number 10 on their best albums of the nineties. In 2010, the song "Gold Soundz
Gold Soundz
"Gold Soundz" is the second single lifted from Pavement's 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song did not perform particularly well as a single, failing to chart on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where their previous single, "Cut Your Hair" peaked at #10...
" was listed as number one on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's 200 Greatest Songs of the 1990s.
Due to an ink splodge on the back of the original artwork, the song "Silence Kid" has become erroneously known as "Silence Kit". This misnomer persisted when designer Mark Ohe printed it onto the back of the re-issue Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins, despite the interior artwork showing the correct name in print several times, including written in Stephen Malkmus's own handwriting.
Track listing
All songs written by Stephen MalkmusStephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
, otherwise noted.
- "Silence Kid" – 3:01
- "Elevate Me Later" – 2:51
- "Stop Breathin'" – 4:28
- "Cut Your HairCut Your Hair"Cut Your Hair" is a song by American rock band Pavement from their second album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. It was written by Pavement songwriter and lead singer Stephen Malkmus. The song snidely attacks the importance of image in the music industry...
" – 3:07 - "Newark Wilder" – 3:53
- "Unfair" – 2:33
- "Gold SoundzGold Soundz"Gold Soundz" is the second single lifted from Pavement's 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song did not perform particularly well as a single, failing to chart on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where their previous single, "Cut Your Hair" peaked at #10...
" – 2:41 - "5-4=Unity" – 2:09
- "Range LifeRange Life (song)"Range Life" is a song by Pavement, the third single from their 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song attracted attention with controversial lyrics that seemed to mock alternative rock superstars the Smashing Pumpkins and the Stone Temple Pilots; Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan expressed...
" – 4:54 - "Heaven Is a Truck" – 2:30
- "Hit the Plane Down" (Scott KannbergScott KannbergScott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg is a musician best known for being a founding member of the indie-rock band Pavement.-Career:...
) – 3:36 - "Fillmore JiveFillmore Jive (song)"Fillmore Jive" is the twelfth and final song on Pavement's 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. It is an unusually long track for Pavement, with a length of nearly seven minutes. The song has a very loose structure, consisting of no proper chorus or verse...
" – 6:38
Personnel
- Stephen MalkmusStephen MalkmusStephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
: Vocals, Guitar - Bob NastanovichBob NastanovichRobert "Bob" Nastanovich is a member of the indie rock band, Pavement, as well as former member of 1990s bands Ectoslavia, and Pale Horse Riders...
: Percussion - Scott KannbergScott KannbergScott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg is a musician best known for being a founding member of the indie-rock band Pavement.-Career:...
: Vocals, Guitar - Steve WestSteve West (pavement)Steve West replaced original drummer Gary Young in the critically acclaimed indie rock band Pavement. He is a graduate of Trinity High School in Richmond, VA. He now sings in the band Marble Valley, which released their fourth album, "Slash & Laugh," on in 2008.-References:...
: Drums, Percussion - Mark IboldMark IboldMark Ibold is a New York-based bass guitarist, member of the indie band Pavement from 1992 to 1999, and again as of their 2010 reunion. He is also currently in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth....
: Bass - Bryce Goggin: Engineer, piano ("Range Life")
- Mark Venezia: Engineer