NYLON - March 2008 - (Page 162) EDI T ED BY KAT E WI L L I AMS STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS Real Emotional Trash (Matador) “Of all my stoned digressions, some have mutated into the truth” is the line former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus uses to open his fourth solo album with his backing band the Jicks—and as nonsensical as that quote may sound, it’s actually a pretty accurate description of his career trajectory. It’s Malkmus’s hallmark to combine elements of classic and indie rock with psychedelic guitar solos and inventive instrumentation, but Real Emotional Trash’s aforementioned opener “Dragonfly Pie” shows a more focused musician who has noticeably streamlined his songwriting style since 2005’s Face The Truth. The bouncy “Gardenia” and piano-driven ballad “We Can’t Help You” both show Malkmus crafting pop masterpieces that hover around the three-minute mark and prove the slacker icon’s tenor grows more comforting as the years roll on. However, what is most impressive is that when the Jicks do indulge their improvisational side—like on the rollicking, 10-minute-plus title track—they don’t fall into the jam-band rut that derails most extended instrumental interludes. Ultimately, what began as stoned digressions has evolved into one of the most consistent careers in indie rock—and Real Emotional Trash proves that there’s still plenty more Malkmus magic left. JONAH BAYER BOOKMARK: THE SOLITARY VICE: AGAINST READING As a kid, I hid Nancy Drew paperbacks in my school books during class, and walked through grocery store parking lots while reading The Sweet Valley Twins. I always have been, and always will be a reader, so I’m immediately offended by a book with a title that claims reading is a vice. It’s a book against reading—the author can’t be serious, right? Thankfully, she isn’t, and admits right off the bat that she titled it such to catch the attention of people like me. What does lie in the pages of The Solitary Vice (Counterpoint/Berkely) is a humorous, intelligent, and wry look at the place that books and reading have held throughout history, obviously written by someone who deeply loves them. The author, Mikita Brottman, a professor of language and literature at the Maryland Institute College of Art, does argue that reading should be stripped of its connotations as something that’s virtuous or something that makes you better than other people (which means I should stop bragging about finishing Infinite Jest), and that readers and non-readers alike should just be left alone. “Don’t read books just because you feel you ‘ought to,’” she writes, “because they’ll ‘be good for you;’ do it because you just can’t help yourself.” KATE WILLIAMS MIXTAPE:LADY TIGRA As one-half of iconic ’80s teenage rap duo L’Trimm, Lady Tigra, along with her partner in rhyme Bunny D, rocked her way out of Florida with classic Miami bass booty songs such as “Grab It!” and the subwoofer anthem “Cars with the Boom” (“We’re Tigra and Bunny, and we like the boom”). Now known as The Lady Tigra, she’s back with Please Mr. Boombox, which has more of her signature bubblegum vocals and grimy beats, and she’s had spots opening for Kanye West and Gnarls Barkley. It’s no wonder, then, that Sunshine State native The Lady Tigra chose a summertime theme for her mixtape, and she says “I have a cat named Summertime, and dedicate this list to my kitty.” ELLA FITZGERALD AND LOUIS ARMSTRONG “Summertime” (Porgy and Bess) This song makes me wish I was sitting in a swing, on a back porch in a white dress, with a tall glass of lemonade, daydreaming. SLY & THE FAMILY STONE “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (Greatest Hits) There’s something about this song that reminds me of backyard family BBQs in Queens when I was a kid. It makes me feel lazy in a good way. And hungry. KOOL & THE GANG “Summer Madness” (Light of Worlds) Hip-hop heads might recognize this one, since it’s been sampled many times. It’s a sexy nighttime drive along the ocean, with the top down. DEEE-LITE “Picnic in the Summertime” (Dewdrops in the Garden) There’s nothing about Deee-Lite that didn’t scream summer, so it’s fitting that they’d have their own summer party starter. I was actually an extra in this video! BANANARAMA “Cruel Summer” (Bananarama) This was a great one to belt after my summer crushes went home. It seemed much more dramatic than “Summer Nights” from Grease. I’m sure teenage girls everywhere can relate JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE “Summer Love” (Future Sex/Love Sounds) I like imagining he wrote this about me. But then again, who doesn’t? JIM JONES “Summer with Miami” (Harlem: Diary of a Summer) One of my favorite things to do when I’m down South is to drive with the windows down and the music up. This is a good one for slow cruising. DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE “Summertime” (Homebase) This is the first song that popped into my head. It’s easily one of the most recognizable summertime jams of our time. Notice the “Kool” sample? lady tigra illustration: molly butterfoss.
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