After all these years of throwing indie rock in our faces like a Wheaties-driven dodgeball champion, Stephen Malkmus has now done the unthinkable. The artist formerly known as Pavement has delivered unto us a record that is worthy of playing air guitar on our dusty pool sticks. Long for those giant stereos we all had in the eighties. Smoke cigarettes and drink cheap beer in a parking lot..........

Sandwiched between Who's Next and Zeppelin's In Through The Out Door, Real Emotional Trash slides easily into the rotation of classical rock-and-roll gems, evoking memories of those musty, oak-paneled, after-school in your parents shag-covered basement listening sessions.

From the opening track "Dragonfly Pie" to the climactic "Baltimore," the Jicks take you by the hand and lead you through a lush, familiar musical landscape - only to let go at some point and shove you off into the outer-spaces of your unfamiliar mind. With fluent pop moments like "Gardenia" and "We Can't Help You" tying it all together......it's a wonder why the nerds at Pitchfork didn't get it. There are great hooks to keep you grounded, Malkmus's always strange lyrical snippets to keep you singing along..........and the drums - oh, those drums.

Roll down those car windows and turn it up loud. This record is not 'retro'......it is relevant, and it rocks. All in all, another masterpiece from a generation of 'Been there, Done that.' If none of this makes sense, just ask your parents, or better yet - why don't you just Google it.   -PHIL WANDSCHER