Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Mirror Traffic – review

The fifth album from the Jicks – who have now been going as long as Stephen Malkmus's endlessly feted Pavement did – is a treat, albeit not often terribly surprising, and perhaps a little overlong. That said, lead track and recent single Tigers is an exception on those last two counts: as attention-grabbing opening gambits go, "I caught you streaking in your Birkenstocks" scores high, and the song – a gorgeously peppy, countrified indie-rocker that recalls Pavement's glory days – is, if anything, over too soon. Mirror Traffic perhaps dials back the 70s jam-band feel of previous Jicks outings, though there are still some great old-timey guitar wigouts (Brain Gallop, Spazz), plus some lovely quieter moments (Asking Price, Share the Red) and a couple more full-pelt pop triumphs (Stick Figures in Love, Tune Grief). Dropping a couple of songs would have made it a tighter set, but Malkmus still has a terrific knack for the old slanting and enchanting.