Stephen Malkmus – Jenny & The Ess-Dog

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Single Review by Mark Bayross

The second single to be taken from Stephen Malkmus’ eponymous debut album is the kind of short, bittersweet, off-kilter guitar ditty that we have come to expect from the former Pavement frontman.

Sounding like REM playing DEPECHE MODE’s ‘Somebody’ on erratically-tuned guitars, plus a chaotic mid-section that sounds like Sgt. Pepper meets Chas n’ Dave, Our Steve casts his wry lyrical wit over a malfunctioning May to December relationship.

The single is backed by three live recordings of Malkmus and his band The Jicks covering suitably obscure cult classics (‘Alien Boy’ by THE WIPERS, ‘Keep The Faith’ by BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and ‘That’s What Mama Said’ by THE COLOURED BALLS).

Good to see not everyone’s covering Madonna.

4 stars