Traditional Techniques
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Critic Reviews
90
Traditional Techniques feels starkly openhearted and relaxed, which means that the album can surprise emotionally even if it is firmly rooted within his musical wheelhouse.
6y
90
The wry, heartfelt "Cash Up" and truly touching "Amberjack" are highlights; that he exits on the breezy, sardonic bonus track "Juliefuckingette" is a reminder, though, that yes, it's still Malkmus.
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5y
80
These loose, predominantly acoustic arrangements area fine fit for Malkmus's usual shtick; shaggy, ambulatory songs full of odd twists and rococo angles that seem designed to undermine pretension rather than amplify it.
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5y
80
With this album, Malkmus opposes such elitism by once again showing how the language and history of popular music can serve as an effective channel for even his peculiar sentiments and worldview.
6y
77
The most surprising thing about the album isn’t how far Malkmus has strayed from his comfort zone. It’s how at home he sounds there.
6y
70
Traditional Techniques is neither a revelation nor a disaster, it’s neither a winner nor is it a loser.
6y
70
Mostly acoustic folk set, indebted to faves like Fairport Convention and Bert Jansch, and full of fireside beauty.
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5y
70
Stephen Malkmus' Traditional Techniques melds folk-rock flavoring with junk-food surrealism delivered through his characteristic brand of irony.
6y
69
Fans of folk and Malkmus alike will find something to love here, even if Traditional Techniques doesn’t quite make the grade.
6y
60
A set of gently rambling, predominantly acoustic songs that might lack immediacy but make up for that with clever twists aplenty.
6y
60
Malkmus leaves behind a great legacy for the newest indie generation, but it’s hard to imagine Beabadoobee mooning over this rag-tag bunch of half-formed punchlines.
6y
Hell of a lot better than Groove Denied from last year, as these forays into folk and psychedelia play much more to his strengths and odd lyrics than that clunky instrumentation did. A lot of really enjoyable, but maybe unspectacular, moments that any Malkmus completionist would be glad to hear. ACC Kirtan kicks things off by letting him get all the jam band vibes out of his system up front. Flowin' Robes is the most Pavement-esque song he's written for us in quite a while. Shadowbanned and ... read more
I listened to this album about 8 hours ago and i can't remember anything about this record.
Track Review
ACC Kirtan 4.5/10
Xian Man 4.5/10
The Greatest Own In Legal History 5/10
Cash Up 4/10
Shadowbanned 4.5/10
What Kind of Person 4.5/10
Flowin' Robes 4.5/10
Brainwashed 4.5/10
Signal Western 4/10
Amberjack 4/10
Average: 4.4/10
A fantastic and matured release from the Pavement frontman. Filled with many different instrumental textures, Malkmus retains his unique personality while experimenting with new, folkier sounds. He’s still largely satirical and Malkmusian, but with a new sense of age and maturity accompanied by this genre shift, giving a new sense of intimacy in certain tracks that hasn’t been seen much before. It continues his evolution into an evolved songwriter, trying new ideas and becoming more ... read more
Outside of the opening and closing tracks, ACC Kirtan and Amberjack, Traditional Techniques quickly succumbs to the doldrums providing little of interest.
Standouts: ACC Kirtan, Amberjack
Dropouts: Everything else
Old listens revisited, 11/11/21:
I still believe this is a wonderful folk rock album, and I'll never understand why people could complain about it more that ''it doesn't sound like Pavement''. But okay. The only complaint I have is about the ugly ass cover, and it doesn't even have to do anything with the quality of the album itself.
The guitar work is amazing (ofc something expected from Stephen).
Also love the production and sounds of the album.
I think this is an album that I'll come back ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | ACC Kirtan 6:19 | |
| 2 | Xian Man 4:07 | |
| 3 | The Greatest Own In Legal History 3:48 | |
| 4 | Cash UP 4:07 | |
| 5 | Shadowbanned 3:23 | |
| 6 | What Kind Of Person 3:28 | |
| 7 | Flowin' Robes 2:52 | |
| 8 | Brainwashed 4:59 | |
| 9 | Signal Western 3:46 | |
| 10 | Amberjack 4:16 |
Total Length: 41 minutes
Year End Lists
| #11 | / | Gothamist |
| #16 | / | Uncut |
| #20 | / | Drift |
| #27 | / | MOJO |
| #36 | / | Rolling Stone |
| #83 | / | Les Inrocks |
| / | AllMusic |
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