Pavement Album: “Shady Lane [EP]”

this belongs in any Pavement fan's collection. It was the first Pavement product I ever bought (i only bought it cause it was cheap and I heard good stuff about the band) I listened to it non-stop for several days before realizing that it is one of the best cd's I owned. Slowly Typed is a faster version of Type Slowly (from Brighten the Corners). It is much better than it's slower counter-part, mostly because the verses are a little longer, and SM's vocals are amazing. It rocks. Cherry Area is a song that at first sounded like a throw-away b-side, but once it sinks in its greatness becomes apparent. Wanna Mess You Around is a fast, short, punky song, which is great. Finally, No Tan Lines has the best guitar solo in the world (well, not really, but it's awesome) and is really one of Pavement's best songs.

Cherry Area and No Tan Lines are anthems of the Eccherstentialist movement. The wit and cheer exuded by these two jams eccspecially get the feet to tappin and the hindquarters to wigglin'. The line from Cherry Ares "...and your gross, gross television set" strikes a chord deeply within my gut and when you add the keyboardy outro? Golly. This band exemplified what it meant to be eccsellent. And as Ed McMahon said, "The Pavements are a good band."

Shady Lane is one of the best singles Pavement has put out. The slower remake of Slowly typed is excellent. These guys deserve sainthood for their heavenly music.