Pavement‘s final album is probably their easiest to like. The jagged edges of their earlier sound are sanded down here by producer Nigel Godrich‘s heavy hand. It feels like a culmination of the band’s more mellowed out style which was seen as early as Wowee Zowee and sharpened on Brighten the Corners. Not that the songwriting isn’t top notch most of the time.
Stephen Malkmus wrote all of the songs here, reportedly because no one else in the band had any to offer at the time. Therefore Terror plays like a showcase for Malkmus’ eccentricities, for better and worse. At best it’s infectious, mind-blowing and witty, everything you could want from a Stephen Malkmus record. In places however (the schmaltzy “Major Leagues”, for example) it lacks the spontaneity, the energy, and the group effort feel which had always made Pavement such a special studio band.
The feel-good factor is pretty damn high here right down to the irresistibly catchy “Carrot Rope” (video) and the raucous singalong on “Bilie”. If you’re looking for very song-oriented pop with plenty of character, then you can’t go wrong here. (w.g.)
Buy Pavement – Terror Twilight (1999)