Steven Malkmus & The Jicks - Minor Traffic

Steven Malkmus and his assorted Jicks returned recently for album number five, Minor Traffic. Written as he was reuniting Pavement and exciting indie rock nerds the world over last year, they then hit the studio with none other than Mr Beck Hansen whose producer credits are beginning to appear rather distinguished. Beck’s touches make Minor Traffic a more accessible affair as Malkmus’s licks and rasping tongue are contained within a more cerebral cage than the wandering, rock-out sessions that produced Real Emotional Trash. That’s not to say this is not a fine album, indeed it contains a healthy serving of his signature style, but it is a grower as it takes several listens to unfurl all the packaging.