Stephen Malkmus

Ten years after Pavement’s seminal Wowee Zowee, Stephen Malkmus has released his most worthy solo effort yet. Effective both in its experimentation and reliance upon his proven songwriting strengths, Face the Truth is precisely the steadfast yet daring album nitpickers have been waiting for since you-know-who’s breakup in early 2000. Sans the Jicks this time around, the always witty Malkmus not only reinvents himself on Pavement-esque tracks like “Freeze the Saints” and “Post-Paint Boy,” but also successfully explores new territory with the curious, electronica-fused “Kindling for the Master” and the explosive opening track, “Pencil Rot.” This definitely is the ideal companion CD for a leisurely, half-baked summer barbecue.