Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

On 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain', Pavement shifted from the lo-fi abrasion of their debut to a clearer, more accessible rock sound that retained their fractured spirit while incorporating classic rock, country, and psychedelic influences. Stephen Malkmus's witty, abstract lyrics about fame and disillusionment are delivered with a deadpan charm over dynamic arrangements that veer from jangly pop hooks to loose, experimental guitar work. The album yielded the alternative radio hit "Cut Your Hair" and became a touchstone for 1990s indie rock, cementing the band's influential legacy as purveyors of 'slacker rock' with a sophisticated, emotionally resonant core.