Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement

( 1 )

Overview

Perfect Sound Forever is an engaging profile of the band Pavement and their quirkily dark, melodic sound and cryptic, mirth-filled lyrics.

Read More Show Less
... See more details below
Paperback
$14.70
BN.com price
(Save 26%)$19.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (15) from $2.00   
  • New (10) from $10.13   
  • Used (5) from $2.00   
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Perfect Sound Forever is an engaging profile of the band Pavement and their quirkily dark, melodic sound and cryptic, mirth-filled lyrics.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Nirvana may have gotten all the hype, but for ardent indie rock fans Pavement will always be remembered as one of the best bands of the 1990s-until, after five albums and a slew of EPs in a decade, the band's leader, deadpan guitarist/vocalist Stephen Malkmus pulled the plug. From Gary Young's garage studio in Stockton, Calif., Pavement was the most unlikely candidate for rock royalty. But a combination of good timing, great songs and an underlying intelligence rare in rock catapulted the band to success at a time when lo-fi and do-it-yourself had become the defining rock ethos. Eschewing typical rock stardom, spurning commercial success and the media, the band left behind a legacy rich in lore but short on facts. True Pavement fans will already know much of the story. But Jovanovic's (Beck: On a Backwards River) effort is still worthy for detailing some murky key points in the band's history, such as the firing of original drummer and engineer Gary Young, the making of its records and the final, dysfunctional interactions of the band and its dissolution by Malkmus. Although not terribly insightful and thoroughly uncritical, the book is still a fond retrospection. Given the paucity of information about the band, this account automatically rises to the summit. The book's quirky design, scattered with pictures and handwritten notes, can be both annoying and appreciated. With a remarkably comprehensive discography, this volume serves as a useful tool for fans unable to keep pace with the band's myriad releases. (June) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Stockton, CA, is not generally thought of as the epicenter of an American rock music scene. However, Stockton can lay claim to birthing its most famous son, Chris Isaak, the critically acclaimed Grant-Lee Phillips, and Pavement, whom no less an authority than the revered Village Voice rock critic Robert Christgau called "the finest band of the 90s." Pavement flirted with commercial success with their 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, but sticking resolutely to their indie record label ethic, they ultimately ended up in the shadow of Nirvana, a band with whom they are frequently compared, until calling it quits in 1999. British music writer Jovanovic, the first to pen Pavement's story, benefits from the participation of all the band members in the form of new interviews and reproductions of memorabilia from their personal archives, which make up over 100 photos and illustrations. Completist Pavement collectors will appreciate the detailed, multinational discography of group and solo recordings. Pavement is not enough of a household name for this book to be purchased by all libraries, but larger pop music collections and those strong in alternative rock would do well to put the Pavement story on their shelves.-Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781932112078
  • Publisher: Justin, Charles & Co.
  • Publication date: 5/1/2004
  • Pages: 216
  • Sales rank: 464,561
  • Product dimensions: 6.88 (w) x 8.96 (h) x 0.61 (d)

Table of Contents

Frontwards--Author's Introduction 11
1 Dizzy Garbled Tone 23
2 Coolin' By Sound 29
3 Got a License to Live 47
4 Secret Knowledge of Backroads 61
5 Two States 87
6 In The Slipstream We Will Stay 109
7 Westie Can Drum 131
8 Success It Never Comes 147
9 Goodnight to the Rock + Roll Era 175
Epilogue: And then... 199
Discography 208
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 1 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 21, 2004

    Slanted and Enchanted

    The 1990s officially came to an end with the publication of Rob Jovanovic's Pavement biography Perfect Sound Forever . Among the revelations in this obsessively researched, pitch-perfect history of the slackers from Stockton, California: the story of Stephen Malkmus' first rock concert (Elton John), various explanations for why Best Western was the band's lodging of choice, and the meaning behind Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain's 'Newark Wilder,' which has something to do with Mark Ibold seeing a woman pull a string of pearls from a part of her anatomy. With that in mind, we'll spare you the origins of ' Best Friends Arm.'

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)