Mirror Traffic is Stephen Malkmus' 5th album since leaving indie-rock heroes Pavement, and it's by far his best effort without that band. The long, meandering jams of his more recent albums have been replaced by a return to more concise songs with the jangly, wonky melodicism that made Pavement the ultimate slacker band for college kids. His gift with a clever lyric remains intact and there is enough here to keep fans mulling over the meanings for a while to come. The band is tight, the songs rock in a typically offbeat Malkmus kind of way and Beck's production adds nicely to the mix. Whilst a Stephen Malkmus album will never be the same as a Pavement album for some people, Mirror Traffic is a well written, well performed set of excellent songs, and it stands up well in the Malkmus cannon.
Top Tracks: Tigers, Senator, Asking Price, Stick Figures In Love
Rating: 8/10
Release Date: 23 August 2011
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