#31 - Slanted and Enchanted

#31
Artist: Pavement
Album: Slanted and Enchanted
Year of Release: 1992
Label: Matador

A friend in college had a persistent theory that certain works of art could only be appreciated in a certain time and place.  He specifically applied this tenet most often to Pulp Fiction (honestly, I agree with him here), but over the years I've pulled this out as a possible trump card whenever an older piece of work feels just slightly off.  Nowhere has this stuck in mind more than with indie darling Pavement's debut album. 

I first got into the band shortly after college, so I was both young enough to appreciate the visceral thrill of "Summer Babe" while also sullen enough to drone along with "Here."  But even though I loved (and still love) the album, something always felt slightly off.  Maybe Malkmus' irony-tinged vocals felt out of place in the Bush era, maybe I've never been in the right mindset, or maybe hearing 15 years of derivative knock-offs poisoned the well for me.  Whatever the cause, I will never love Pavement as much as I probably should, but I still like them plenty fine to place them here.