Being single sucks. Just ask Stephen Malkmus.
Like Lou Reed without the Velvet Underground and Eric Clapton without Cream, the one-time Pavement ringleader finds himself trying to evade ghosts of a seminal past life.
Why? Because fame is a double-edged sword, either inspiring shameless hero worship or consigning all subsequent releases to the scrap heap.
So it's a good thing that Malkmus is some sort of guitar-wielding samurai, and his tunes on "Real Emotional Trash," backed by his band, the Jicks, transcend lazy Pavement comparisons.
Indeed, the lengthy six-string workouts on display are a far cry from the lean perfection of Pavement's "Cut Your Hair."
Certainly, "trash" aptly labels the filthy guitar tone distinguishing this collection from previous outings. Songs also showcase the kind of cryptic lyricism and offbeat melody that make Malkmus the smart-ass, anti-Dylan of his generation.
Hearing few throwaways, most will find Malkmus' "Trash" listening treasure.
