Steve Malkmus — lead singer-songwriter / lead guitarist fronted the group Pavement, a medium big college-rock band. Through heavy touring and a few good album covers they earned a cult following. They split in 1999. You could say this is his first venture as a solo artist, or you could say it’s a continuation of the “espirit du Pavement” with a different rhythmn section and less Bob Nastanovich (I was gonna say baggage, but I couldn’t even wedge my toiletries into him).
'Stephen Malkmus' was recorded in the summer / fall of 2000 in Portland, Oregon, where Malkmus has been living lately. Other playahs: John Moen, who leads a group called the Maroons and contributes amazing percussive accompaniment, and Joanna Bolme, a bassist of uncommon abilities you may have heard on Minders and Calamity Jane Records in the past. Both of them deserve more than just "side people on the solo album" attention. So lets give them a big hand (We could pilfer Wilt Chamberlain’s crypt !!!!!!) Grave robbers never smile.
