Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: 89/90 - 2009

89
2009/??/??, Unknown
Brain gallop
Fall away

The next three entries are all from 2009 Jicks appearances – the recordings aren't optimal, but in the run up to the release of 'Mirror traffic' these were the clues we had, the various new songs that featured in the Jicks' sporadic shows of the year. They were heavily traded and discussed, I remember. The last time there were so many clues available was in the run up to 'Pig lib'.

In comparison to 2002 this time the clues offered a fairly representative view on what was to come (no reams of material later discarded). During the shows the songs were played with a force that put them more in line with 'Real emotional trash' maybe – for the album that force was tempered and traded in for a nuanced sound (for the better). But the songs themselves didn't alter in a significant way. They'd found their final form already.

You can hear it here in the heavily distorted recording of 'Brain gallop' (from an unidentified show). It trails off at the end, but it's basically the same song and arrangement they'd record in early 2010. 'Fall away' did change – here it is an uptempo poprocker, on the album a luminous whispered mood song. But it's the same song – nothing of the structure, the chords, the melodies, the vocal would change. They just play it really hushed (on the album). It's one of those subtle decisions that really makes 'Mirror traffic'. This live version is a nice enough pop rocker, but it wasn't going to stand out.

90
2009, May, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
Senator
Share the red
Emotional rescue
Shambala

Am I correct that this set is somehow connected to Joanna's wedding festivities? And that it featured Sam Coomes of Quasi instead of Joanna on bass for the encores? It explains the encore of feelgood 70s hits covers.

The recording isn't easy on the ears, so once again, I only kept these highlights. The earliest version of 'Senator' in my collection, this is. It's 'Mirror traffic''s big rock song (definitely a son of 'Real emotional trash' the album) – and you can feel it here. The song is finished – bar some lyrical tweaks, during the mid-section he quotes Minutemen songs ('we were just fucking corndogs' and so on), and a different ending. In fact, it's so close, now that 'Mirror traffic''s been released, there's little reason in hanging on to this similar version with problematic sound. It's just my collecting itch for 'early' versions.

'Share the red' is getting there lyrically:
A fabulous heart
A fabulous start
You're just beginning to grow
Rock stars writing songs about their children, is usually a no-go area, but Stephen beautifully avoids cliché and still mines essential shared human experience. He can pull it off.

It sounds like this set was great fun for the people who saw it.