Music Reviews
Artist:
Stephen Malkmus & The JicksTitle:
Real Emotional TrashLabel:
Domino
‘Real Emotion Trash’ is the fourth solo album, and sophomore offering of Stephen Malkmus’s backing band ‘The Jicks’. In the press release mention is made of the jam feel at work within the tracks, and this is immediately apparent with the Sabbath stroke college rock of ‘Dragonfly Pie’. As things progress the template begins to deepen and it’s clear a real abandonment is evident in the guitar playing in particular, with long-winding guitar solos taking dominance. The tone of the album as a whole very much harks back to a bygone era with ghosts of Crazy Horse, The Doors, The Beach Boys and others haunting proceedings.
Thus it appears a wilful effort to not play to fashion has been followed, in pursuit of a retro progressive-like sound. Overall this works effectively but at times if you are not in the mood for songs up to ten minutes or large guitar passages, it can come across as quite exhausting or even wearing. One gets the impression that much of the jam-like feel has arisen from a conscious effort to include the bands chops more, and partly because they were probably having a lot of fun in the studio. However as mentioned this can at times lead to a draining effect where songs seem to drag on and on.
Tracks such as ’Out Of Reaches’ or ’Gardenia’ are more contained, poppy affairs and helpfully arise to give more structure and flow to the album. All in all ’Real Emotion Trash’ is one of those albums that is hit or miss depending on what mood you are in. That is, if you are in the mood to put it on and listen to large passages of impressive musicianship and labyrinth songs it is likely to be rewarding. Alternatively if you are pining for something more instant or zeitgeist you are likely to be somewhat more less rewarded.
Label: Domino
Rating: 3/5
Review by : John Tonner
