Wowee Zowee (Sordid Sentinels Edition)

iTunes Review

Indie-rock label Matador's deluxe reissue treatment of the albums made by their best-ever band continues apace. So here we are treated to a fully fluffed up, remastered and expanded version of Pavement's third album, 1995's Wowee Zowee. Neither the group's best nor their worst, it's one of those growing pains records, a disjointed affair where various sounds and approaches are tested out. There are elements of country-rock and even soul, while some songs are folky, others noisy, etc. The highlights are very high, however. "We Dance" is slight and brilliant in the way it channels Aladdin Sane-era Bowie with self-aware aplomb. "Rattled by the Rush," a mildly discordant rocker, shows the group sort of copping to a Sonic Youth vibe. With all of the unreleased jams, live recordings, rare compilation tracks, and radio studio versions, this already long recording by these smartypants indie-rock kingpins more than doubles in size. If you're not a rabid fan you might not need all these songs, of course — especially the lengthy "Half a Canyon" which has percussionist Bob N. shouting all on top — but it's sure nice to have the option. After all, this is one of the best and most capital-i Important alt-rock acts of the 1990s. And as this release shows, even their flotsam bests so many others' masterworks.