Pavement – The Secret History, Vol. 1 (1990-1992) – Album Review

Pavement – The Secret History, Vol. 1 (1990 – 1992) – Review by Joshua Reedy.

(2015)

My copy: 2015 press by Matador.

Pavement’s resounding success through the 90s as popularizers of sonically dry, lyrically humorous post-punk in the U.S. awarded them a fairly comfortable career when the time came to sign on with Matador. Pavement’s early songwriting philosophy may seem crude or even lazy, but the band were ripe with creativity, birthing a plethora of short, slacker-rock jams with enough Mark E. Smith-style sass to catch John Peel’s attention rather quickly. As the name implies, The Secret History, Vol. 1 (1990 – 1992) collects rarities and versions of tracks from around the Slanted And Enchanted era, while the band were at their rawest.

“Sue Me Jack” and “So Stark (You’re A Skyscraper)” are taken from the Trigger Cut single release and are probably the most worthwhile content on this compilation. “Sue Me Jack” blends in digital hissing and sour synths to heighten the Swell Maps-gone-sloppy guitar playing. The blown out bass on “So Stark (You’re A Skyscraper)” gives a gripping personality to the mid-tempo power waltz as Malkmus injects healthy sass through his performative vocals.

The next six tracks are leftover from the Slanted And Enchanted sessions, including a 7” version of fan favorite “Summer Babe” and the oozing Pere Ubu sludge tribute “Baptists Blacktick.” Fortunately for Pavement, Malkmus’s snake-charmer wit and charisma are capable of saving most bland structures from feeling too undercooked, with shrieking that sounds convincingly like he has dropped a mallet on his foot. “Here” gets an alternate mix where Stephen Malkmus notes the use of reverb on the drums; It’s obvious that the band has a soft spot for ballads, with Malkmus particularly reveling in opportunities to show his love for Echo & The Bunnymen.

The next batch of songs are taken from the band’s first Peel Session, with notable takes on “Circa 1762” and “Secret Knowledge Of Backroads” which seem to be progenitors for later indie rock staples like Modest Mouse or Built To Spill. Their songwriting is often simplistic and repeats similar ideas (loud, growling distorted intros that lead into cleaner verses) but their talent for off-kilter melodies explains their rapid growth. Peel Session two contains lowpoint “Drunks With Guns” which gets too carried away with obnoxious goblin noises, but the rambling and affable “Ed Ames” helps to smooth things out.

The final stretch of the record contains recordings from a live set, with more aggressive takes on fun S&E era classics like “Conduit For Sale” or “Perfume V.” Now, I have to wonder just how many kids picked this compilation up by accident, mistaking it for S&E after only recently discovering the band. The Secret History, Vol. 1 (1990 – 1992) is by no means a bad addition to a sleaze-rock fan’s collection, but it certainly feels like the trimmed fat from the early days. There are high moments that stand out for alleviating Pavement’s signature dryness, but this is a double-album that’s best left for the major fans and obsessives.

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