Everything that makes SM great--and divisive--is in evidence here, The beautiful melody that he is barely able to sing, the clever guitar part that you almost can't make out for all the slop, the lyric that teases you with coherence and emotion and jars you with non-sequitor and nonsense, and the overall detached, aloof carelessness that sounds so great on SM but that you should never, ever try to cultivate yourself 'cause it won't sound great when you do it.
Everything that makes SM great--and divisive--is in evidence here, The beautiful melody that he is barely able to sing, the clever guitar part that you almost can't make out for all the slop, the lyric that teases you with coherence and emotion and jars you with non-sequitor and nonsense, and the overall detached, aloof carelessness that sounds so great on SM but that you should never, ever try to cultivate yourself 'cause it won't sound great when you do it. Compelling, perplexing.
Everything that makes SM great--and divisive--is in evidence here, The beautiful melody that he is barely able to sing, the clever guitar part that you almost can't make out for all the slop, the lyric that teases you with coherence and emotion and jars you with non-sequitor and nonsense, and the overall detached, aloof carelessness that sounds so great on SM but that you should never, ever try to cultivate yourself 'cause it won't sound great when you do it. Compelling, perplexing.
This can be played pretty easily in standard tuning. Vocal melody in D Mixolydian (Key of C) but he works in the b3 sooooo nicely in the intro line. Malkmus' greatest of many strengths is composition, and his extended phrasing. Genius song.
He has a self defeating habit of attenuating a perfect performance. I think that is what this album was sort of addressing, that psychological tendency to automatically shot yourself in the foot.. I think he's brilliant, of course, and the indie spirit I so love in him is, in part, that self doubting mechanism that keeps one honest.
This demonstrates the truism that it's not a song unless you can play it (I will add...powerfully) on acoustic. I wish more bands subjected their wanking crap to that acid test, and that more labels utilized it before signing nowhere acts. I used to think that SM was incapable of doing convincing solo versions of his own, brilliant songs until I saw this session.
Agreed...now. He can even gracefully pull off screwing up a acoustic solo, by laughing it off. I learned the notion that it's way better to have some frayed window dressing to a hard, brilliant core than to gild a void.
@howelldrake couldnt have said it better my friend, SM has been the best sonnwiter for the past 10+ years and his accoustic versions/sesions prove it...long live the live real guitar n singing!!!! -especially when they can sing and play!!!!
Wow, check out that mysterious code behind his head - TIX3.
SABushcraft 1 year ago 3
he's awesome
cineterrie 1 year ago
Everything that makes SM great--and divisive--is in evidence here, The beautiful melody that he is barely able to sing, the clever guitar part that you almost can't make out for all the slop, the lyric that teases you with coherence and emotion and jars you with non-sequitor and nonsense, and the overall detached, aloof carelessness that sounds so great on SM but that you should never, ever try to cultivate yourself 'cause it won't sound great when you do it.
JohnnyBurdick 1 year ago 4
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Everything that makes SM great--and divisive--is in evidence here, The beautiful melody that he is barely able to sing, the clever guitar part that you almost can't make out for all the slop, the lyric that teases you with coherence and emotion and jars you with non-sequitor and nonsense, and the overall detached, aloof carelessness that sounds so great on SM but that you should never, ever try to cultivate yourself 'cause it won't sound great when you do it. Compelling, perplexing.
JohnnyBurdick 1 year ago
Everything that makes SM great--and divisive--is in evidence here, The beautiful melody that he is barely able to sing, the clever guitar part that you almost can't make out for all the slop, the lyric that teases you with coherence and emotion and jars you with non-sequitor and nonsense, and the overall detached, aloof carelessness that sounds so great on SM but that you should never, ever try to cultivate yourself 'cause it won't sound great when you do it. Compelling, perplexing.
JohnnyBurdick 1 year ago
This can be played pretty easily in standard tuning. Vocal melody in D Mixolydian (Key of C) but he works in the b3 sooooo nicely in the intro line. Malkmus' greatest of many strengths is composition, and his extended phrasing. Genius song.
pauldamienrossi 1 year ago
This guy writes so many memorable hooks. Pavement is ok, but SM's solo stuff is so inspired. Love it.
ccaines 1 year ago
He has a self defeating habit of attenuating a perfect performance. I think that is what this album was sort of addressing, that psychological tendency to automatically shot yourself in the foot.. I think he's brilliant, of course, and the indie spirit I so love in him is, in part, that self doubting mechanism that keeps one honest.
edgarsterling 1 year ago
Comment removed
edgarsterling 1 year ago
legend
hollywoodpurplehaze 2 years ago
what's the tuning he's using?
AShaddeau 2 years ago
the dudes that run a SY tab site also have a pavement and a JIcks just google SY Tabs hope this helps
hensly77 2 years ago
n e 1 no where to get the tab for this tune
tonyhendrix 2 years ago
You can really hear elements of Syd Barrett here, something I've always noticed in SM's style.
august869 2 years ago
1:39!
ZRN959 2 years ago
i really like this solo acoustic performance.....am a Pavement fan, but it's really cool to see Stephen getting more acoustic and earthy. NICE!
roccotanto 2 years ago 3
I have watched this video over and over- he's so talented!
SuperRabbit15 2 years ago 3
Its about Awareness.
I wonder who his teacher was?
markle77074 2 years ago
One of my favorite songs off this badass album
4lx123 3 years ago 5
he is "fucking better" live
I like his face [ when he's singing ]
Deiseblack 3 years ago 5
he should release an acoustic album
BaronBoris891 3 years ago 6
I didn't think he'd cut it solo 'n' acoustic but apparently I was w.r.o.n.g.!
diskochimp 3 years ago 6
Can't say I idolize him but I do respect his guitar playing and musicianship :)
God Bless You All!
AirHendrix91 3 years ago 6
is this just standard tuning or what?
runswithhorses38 3 years ago
His new album with the Jicks rules too.
It's also cool to see an acoustic set like this though. Very cool and relaxed.
AirHendrix91 3 years ago
3 days and i will see him live in milan
yeaaaaaaaaaah
mikland83 3 years ago
Great version with an interesting ending
chrisocony 4 years ago 3
"don't cater to the throng in your head"; a great line which later ended up in Elmo Delmo
chrisocony 3 years ago
King Malkmus indeed. Can't wait to see him again in a few months. The new record is great.
sleepcity 4 years ago 3
This demonstrates the truism that it's not a song unless you can play it (I will add...powerfully) on acoustic. I wish more bands subjected their wanking crap to that acid test, and that more labels utilized it before signing nowhere acts. I used to think that SM was incapable of doing convincing solo versions of his own, brilliant songs until I saw this session.
howelldrake 4 years ago 6
Malkmus is a god and can do all.
paulmalkmus 4 years ago 5
Agreed...now. He can even gracefully pull off screwing up a acoustic solo, by laughing it off. I learned the notion that it's way better to have some frayed window dressing to a hard, brilliant core than to gild a void.
howelldrake 4 years ago 3
@howelldrake couldnt have said it better my friend, SM has been the best sonnwiter for the past 10+ years and his accoustic versions/sesions prove it...long live the live real guitar n singing!!!! -especially when they can sing and play!!!!
Vostokesq 1 year ago
@Vostokesq Real guitar?
random9thgradestuff 2 months ago
@howelldrake fuck yeah dude!
WillisProvidence 1 year ago
fucking brilliant!
pedheadz 4 years ago 7
cheers! this video - it kills
phillfry 4 years ago 8