Yeah, I had the same initial experience, CR, CR sounded too “clean” after Slanted… but I can’t really hear it now. I love it nowadays with the rest of the Pavement catalog, they have a lot of deep album cuts and reward many relistens as the years go by. Always the test of a truly good band.

also, from what i’ve read, Pearl Jam’s name came from them needing to change their name from Mookie Blaylock and deciding to call themselves simply “Pearl”, they then went and watched a Neil Young & Crazy Horse show, and decided to tack “Jam” on the end of their name after being inspired by the epic Crazy horse jams they’d just watched.

As far as NIRVANA goes, the reference was direct in the sense that that is what Kathleen Hanna was referring to when she spraypainted “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit” (Tobi Vail’s deodorant of choice) on a wall. She was making a joke, but Kurt initially did not get it and thought she meant he was an iconoclast. Smells Like Teen Spirit is not a song about Kathleen Hanna’s joke, and therefore the title is not intended as a direct reference to the deodorant; Kurt took that phrase and reappropriated it for the song, which is, in its own oblique way, an indictment of youth culture.

It always blows my mind how many people comment about how worthless Pavement was, or how Stephen never wrote any good material. Granted, it’s generally in the comment section of a Billy Corgan piece, but it’s still ridiculous how uninformed people are, especially about someone, who I believe to be, one of the most consistently great songwriters of all time. I love that this post is up here for the rest of us who really love this stuff and hopefully, someone who isn’t already a fan or was never really that exposed to it, will get wise to it.

You’ll notice that he even makes a Wig Out at Jagbagns reference, so it has to be new material, but I’m assuming that you asked that question before deciding if you should read through the entire thing, or not.

I’m not sure how old you are, but the Pearl Jam and Nirvana thing were pretty clear at the time. There were still Teen Spirit deodorant ads on TV when that came out, so there was never any hidden meaning there, ever–the reference was direct. Eddie Vedder’s grandma’s name is supposed to be Pearl, but the big joke among everyone was that it sounded like they were named after semen. That rumor spread everywhere.

The Purple rain thing, I’ve never heard before though.

I also always assumed that Pearl Jam’s name was a reference to either jizz or that pearly liquid soap that you don’t often see anymore but my grandparents had in their bathroom. No confirmation on that yet…last time I checked (many years ago), they band had given several b.s. reasons for the name. Maybe that has changed.

I also always assumed that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a reference to Teen Spirit deodorant and I eventually found out that I was right.

What does all this mean? I’m a wizard with mystical powers and I feel the need to talk about them on the internet to strangers.

You win the award for first Stereogum commenter to correctly identify my avatar! I too was pulling for Schelotto for sentiment’s sake, but I’m working on a freelance piece about Berhalter that’s got me pretty excited about him and his assistants.

Haha, when I saw this was up I actually read half of it before deciding to be more disciplined and working!

I have to agree Wowee Zowee is my favourite Pavement album because like a lot of people like to say it’s the most-Pavement Pavement album. However, I love the overall feel and sound of Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. I think you are right though, the main thing that makes any Pavement album special is that it is Pavement! Although I haven’t read this in its entirety just yet, I was listening to CR, CR and WZ back to back today, then checked my FB and saw a post about this article – GREAT TIMING!

Yeah, I was actually thinking of Slow Century when I mentioned Lollapalooza, and I linked to some video of the incident up there if you wanna revisit.

There’s also some really good footage of the pelting incident on the Lance Bangs directed Slow Century documentary. And a hidden “Easter Egg” on the DVD contains footage of their Athens, GA show from April 8, 1994, the day they found out Kurt Cobain died. A pretty emotionally charged encore consisting of Unseen Power of the Picket Fence, Camera, and Conduit For Sale.

Indeed, it’s all pretty much the best. And while Wowee Zowee is my favorite as well, Crooked Rain’s a very close second. I’d add that as time goes by I enjoy Brighten the Corners and Terror Twilight just as much as S&E. Pretty much an untouchable five album run, I’d say.

And the b-sides! Also the best. You can graft together great albums just out of stray tracks from the reissues.

i made it past the headline when i put it on.

These are all new interviews. There is some overlap from Jovanovic’s book as it’s reporting on the same time period.

No problem, Chris. Great piece on one of my favorite albums of all time.

You’re right. They left the stage early when they were pelted but didn’t drop off the tour. I’ve changed that above. Thanks for the heads up.