Brighten the Corners

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese edition of their acclaimed 1997 album, which Mitch Easter produced. Features the single 'Shady Lane' and two unmarked bonus tracks, 'Wanna Mess You Around' & 'No Tan Lines'. 15 tracks total. 1999 release.

Tracks:

Stereo
Shady Lane
Transport Is Arranged
Date With IKEA
Old To Begin
Type Slowly
Embassy Row
Blue Hawaiian
We Are Underused
Passat Dream
Starlings Of The Slipstream
Fin

Amazon.com

Even before it totally kicks in, Brighten the Corners displays a sense of improvement over the listless, shapeless Wowee Zowee. A few simple musical touches like Mellotron strokes and ever-developing vocal harmonies open up Pavement's sound without carrying them off into overly textured snooziness. While this is often cited as Pavement's "domestic" record--several members got married around the time of its creation--its songs more often evince puzzlement than McCartneyish delight with family matters. And as always, Pavement is buzzed about rock; the album's final song is called "Fin" not so much in homage to French film as in rhythm to the marching cadence of Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk."--Rickey Wright

Album Description

1997 release 'Brighten The Corners' is a record that reveals its gifts gradually, giving you enough information the first time to make you want come back for more. Matador Records.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Two Bonus Tracks: Wanna Mess You Around, and No Tan Lines.

Customer Reviews:

Fine Pavement.......2006-07-27

I've heard this album referred to as the first one where they don't sound like they're just putting muddy demos on store shelves. In some ways, I agree. In other ways, it still has that muddy sound that many love about Pavement.

It's definitely the most accessible Pavement album, possibly second to Terror Twilight, but if you're interested in them either album is a great place to start.

But is it good? Yes! The riffs are catchy, the guys are adding new sounds to their style, and you just have a good time hearing the songs. Malkmus continues to belt out absurdist lyrics in his quirky yet alluring voice, and the rest of the band backs him with equally quirky charm. Give it a spin.

Wonderful.......2006-05-25

It's impossible to pick a favorite Pavement album, but this one would definitely be close. I've always loved the songs "Shady Lane" and "Passat Dream". Not one of their most adventuresome albums, but still insanely awesome.

Very good Alternative Rock.......2006-03-13

Listenening to this album reminds one who can know better of when it actually meant something to be labled "alternative" and "indie"..Not that the label itself means anything, but the fact that it used to represent an aspect of music that was meant to dissect the normality of predictable, zombified sludge that sucks the life out of people and passes for the majority of consummed goods in our audio markets.. When bands like Pavement were in their prime back in the 90's, it must have felt really good to be a part of, as opposed to the marketed indie-esqe bands that continue to amplify today.. What seperates Stephen Malkimus from the wannabe generation to follow? The utmost respect for his own creative process in every track, and fortunately he has the talent to back it up..In what may be Pavements most solid album, the singer-songwriter does not waste any time in trying to get to know you and like you..If you want to get to know him and his band though, you will be entitled to some first class warped lyrics and first class defragmented pop songwriting..

I like this cd........2005-07-08

I bought this cd solely based on the fact that this one chick from this tv show I like named herself "Shady Lane" because she liked the song (Shady Lane) so much. I suppose that's a pretty lame reason to buy an album. I read the Amazon review before buying the cd, which honestly did not want to make me buy the album anymore than I already did because they apparently labeled this cd to be Pavement's "domestic album" as opposed to all of their other albums that are somewhere out there running free, I suppose. I was actually very suprised when I liked the cd, obsessively, and began playing it over and over (many of the songs are really catchy). But, to sort of make this review less boring, I suppose I'll break each song down in detail, because I think it makes reviewers look really arrogant when they do that, and well...nm...

1. Stereo- there are some fun rhymes ("malaria hysteria"), not to mention voices in this song, as well as allusions ("high ho silver, ride"). My favourite part is when he asks his "fact checking cuz" about "geddy lee's" voice. it's great. really.

2. Shady Lane- I like the use of repetition in this song ("dutch dutch dutch dutch"), I also like that all the members of pavement are guys, but they know what an emory board is, that's great, I even struggle with that word sometimes.

3. Transport is Arranged- the "voice coach taught me to sing" part is great because it's being sung off key, which is okay with me.

this is boring me... i'll speed it up

type slowly- I like the name of this song; why would you actually want anyone to type slowly?

random (not the name of a song)- I love the pronunciation of "guillotine"

11- Starlings of the slipstream-- at first I thought they were saying "Stalin" i was moderately sad to find out that it was actually "starlings"

For my summation I would just like to say that the lyrics to this cd are ingenious. I really do like all of the allusions to everything from many aspects of life (I particularly enjoyed the literary allusions about grammer, acts (like in a play), etc.). The lyrics writer/s definitely know the intricacies of life as well as the english language. If you want complex, meaningful, symbolic, descriptive lyrics sung in an intensely pleasing way, this is your cd.
fav lyric "the actress is always breaking things"
fav song title "fin"

A must buy.......2005-02-26

I bought Crooked Rain back in the 90's after the Cut Your Hair song was popular and it became one of my favorites with it's offbeat buy catchy tunes. Later on I listened to Wowee Zowee and couldn't get into that CD at all. It seemed to me to be a bunch of filler music. I only listened a few times so maybe it just took more listens. After that, I kinda moved on thinking Crooked Rain was the only Pavement CD I'd like.

Recently a friend mentioned that he listed to his Pavement CD recently and realized that it was just perfect. I borrowed it. This CD is really good. Better than Crooked Rain I'd say. Very similar in structure and sounds to Crooked Rain.

My advice is if you like Crooked Rain, buy this CD and you will probably like it.

Also if you like both of these you might want to check out Cake's Fashion Nugget which is one of my favorites. Very similar is style.

Average customer rating:

Brighten The Corners
Pavement
Manufacturer: Domino
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000024IH6

Album Description

Japanese edition of their acclaimed 1997 album, which Mitch Easter produced. Features the single 'Shady Lane' and two unmarked bonus tracks, 'Wanna Mess You Around' & 'No Tan Lines'. 15 tracks total. 1999 release.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Two Bonus Tracks: Wanna Mess You Around, and No Tan Lines.

Average customer rating:

Brighten the Corners
Pavement
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000026XBY
Release Date: 1999-03-19

Tracks:

Stereo
Shady Lane
J Vs. S
Transport Is Arranged
Date W/ Ikea
Old To Begin
Type Slowly
Embassy Row
Blue Hawaiian
We Are Underused
Passt Dream
Starlings Of The Slipstream
Fin
Wanna Mess You Around
No Tan Lines

Album Description

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Two Bonus Tracks: Wanna Mess You Around, and No Tan Lines.

Music:

Music

music

Music

Big Smiley Sun

Franz Liszt: Piano Concertos etc.

Frantisek Tuma: Trio Sonatas

Good as Gold

Grand Destiny

Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila

Disney Karaoke CD Duets

Goebbels: Black on White

Every Song I Write Is for You

Golden Legends

Gone Again

Best of V.4 [Import]

Elevator Music V.1a [Import]

Chopin: Polonaises (Complete), Vol. 1

Now That's What I Call Christmas!