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Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement
Perfect Sound Forever is an engaging profile of the band Pavement and their quirkily dark, melodic sound and cryptic, mirth-filled lyrics.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
216 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 17, 2015
Almost the book this great, departed band deserves.The design, with its scribbled-in footnotes and 'zine-inspired layout, captures the graphic attitude of that era and of this band in particular, right down to the Steve Keene painting on the cover. Author Jovanovic does a lot of things right: he spoke to virtually all the players and brought back lots of good war stories, from the desolate suburbs of Stockton to the fertile Charlottesville scene of the late '80s that also included David Berman's Silver Jews to the Hoboken apartment from which these Whitney Museum security guards and future rock stars created the wild white noise that fed into the later Pavement sound (and which they sometimes played into Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon's answering machine when they somehow got hold of the Sonic Youth leaders' private number). His portrait of original drummer and confessed alcoholic mess Gary Young is unforgettable. But Jovanovic is otherwise slight on psychology, meager on analysis of the songs, and his heart is clearly with the early history, leaving the later work short-changed. The book badly runs out of steam. I feel there is still a great Pavement story waiting to be written, one that joins the banal upbringings with the surreal, uncanny rightness of their art—as well as an era that may have felt great but, to the participants' bewilderment, "came too late."
February 4, 2021
If you love Pavement, this is a good book and worth a read. It's not literature, but it's a nice look into a band that spent the nineties being weird and cryptic while making weird and cryptic music.
If you don't like Pavement, you have bigger issues than this book. You should reevaluate your life decisions and ponder how you became such a joyless human being.
If you don't like Pavement, you have bigger issues than this book. You should reevaluate your life decisions and ponder how you became such a joyless human being.
August 16, 2020
This is not a remarkable read, but for a Pavement super fan, it’s canon, a great companion piece to “Slow Century,” and my own personal shady lane.
“A shady lane
Everybody wants one
A shady lane
Everybody needs one
Oh my God, oh your God, oh his God, oh her God
It's everybody's God
The worlds collide
But all that We want is a shady lane.”
“A shady lane
Everybody wants one
A shady lane
Everybody needs one
Oh my God, oh your God, oh his God, oh her God
It's everybody's God
The worlds collide
But all that We want is a shady lane.”
April 27, 2013
A nice little history of Pavement done through interviews of band members.
The over all message of the book is that we are lucky that Pavement existed. What started out as a lark for two dudes in a garage ended up leaving an indelible mark on music. Thank goodness or we would not have this little ukulele cover of Zurich is Stained. Just listen to this version once and it makes you want to go run out and do something beautiful!
Though Pavement has not become quite as big a mark as Jovanovic foretold. Back in 2004 when Perfect Sound Forever was published, he made the prediction that soon nostalgia for the 90's would kick in and that Pavement would be seen as the second most influential band of the 90's, right behind those Nirvana kids. Though he was prescient about the retro 90's revival (I often feel like I am being sold my childhood back to me), sadly Pavement has not received quite the notoriety.
On a tangent, it is weird how the past is remembered. Lots of people have jumped on this Neutral Milk Hotel bandwagon. If all these people had listened to Neutral Milk Hotel, maybe they should have called up the radio station and requested a song or two. Then we would not have been bombarded by the umpteenmillionth play of some Eve 6 song. Yeah, that was what was actually in heavy rotation, but no one is claiming they were the biggest Eve 6 fan back in the day. Can't sweep that one under the rug.
Other reviewers have complained how straight forward Perfect Sound Forever is written. This guy met this guy then and then they recorded that album. What did they want? Editorializing? Song analysis? That's like explaining why the joke is funny. Jovanovic does do an interesting balancing act with S.M. On one hand he reveres him as Stephen "He is a Genius" Malkmus, on the other he portrays him as a prissy little control freak who broke up the band. If you have half an hour to kill, check out this Soft Focus interview with Stephen Malkmus for a good time.. Overall, author Robbie "Jojo" Jovanovic lets the band speak for themselves and tell their story in their own words. Surprisingly, almost all of them were huge Echo and the Bunnymen fans.
The over all message of the book is that we are lucky that Pavement existed. What started out as a lark for two dudes in a garage ended up leaving an indelible mark on music. Thank goodness or we would not have this little ukulele cover of Zurich is Stained. Just listen to this version once and it makes you want to go run out and do something beautiful!
Though Pavement has not become quite as big a mark as Jovanovic foretold. Back in 2004 when Perfect Sound Forever was published, he made the prediction that soon nostalgia for the 90's would kick in and that Pavement would be seen as the second most influential band of the 90's, right behind those Nirvana kids. Though he was prescient about the retro 90's revival (I often feel like I am being sold my childhood back to me), sadly Pavement has not received quite the notoriety.
On a tangent, it is weird how the past is remembered. Lots of people have jumped on this Neutral Milk Hotel bandwagon. If all these people had listened to Neutral Milk Hotel, maybe they should have called up the radio station and requested a song or two. Then we would not have been bombarded by the umpteenmillionth play of some Eve 6 song. Yeah, that was what was actually in heavy rotation, but no one is claiming they were the biggest Eve 6 fan back in the day. Can't sweep that one under the rug.
Other reviewers have complained how straight forward Perfect Sound Forever is written. This guy met this guy then and then they recorded that album. What did they want? Editorializing? Song analysis? That's like explaining why the joke is funny. Jovanovic does do an interesting balancing act with S.M. On one hand he reveres him as Stephen "He is a Genius" Malkmus, on the other he portrays him as a prissy little control freak who broke up the band. If you have half an hour to kill, check out this Soft Focus interview with Stephen Malkmus for a good time.. Overall, author Robbie "Jojo" Jovanovic lets the band speak for themselves and tell their story in their own words. Surprisingly, almost all of them were huge Echo and the Bunnymen fans.
February 19, 2022
Maybe because I read TROUBLE BOYS, I was willing to try another band biography rather than another memoir. Of course, a memoir by Stephen Malkmus---I mean, I have to imagine that would be a truly amazing book, because he has such a facility with language and weird sense of humor---does not yet exist so this would be the next best thing.
Not really. I think the book came out around the same time as the release of the "greatest hits album" QUARANTINE THE PAST, and their 2010 reunion tour. 7 or 8 years before that, the essential DVD, SLOW CENTURY, was released and has a pretty definitive documentary on the band. Most of the material in this book is covered in the documentary so there is little new uncovered.
Mainly, I remember brief description of the beginning of the end of Pavement (really, this could be a chapter in the 1990's edition of OUR BAND COULD BE YOUR LIFE, if one was written, though about 3 times as long and probably less investigative), in 1997-1998 during the tour for BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS, when Malkmus essentially has a nervous breakdown and becomes mercurial with the media and shaves his head (not in the documentary, though it vaguely references his state of mind at the time). That part was amusing and it's too bad I was doing short-form reviews here and didn't excerpt anything. The subject matter is obviously intriguing, but this is no TROUBLE BOYS. Certainly, Pavement deserves a TROUBLE BOYS, but they're not as outrageous as the Replacements, they're more refined and they sort of play badly on purpose sometimes for effect, and they are silly in a measured way. Because there's very little material on Pavement in book form, this is probably the best there is now, but I have to believe something more definitive will appear eventually. Pavement will be returning in 2022, and once again, let us start the speculating about a new album, renewed collaboration, etc. Malkmus has done enough with his solo act--his oeuvre is bigger than Pavement's at this point--and since its quality has not diminished, I have to believe they would be just as strong, if not stronger, than in the 1990s. I recommend listening to all of their records first, then SLOW CENTURY, and then the book, but only if you cannot get enough, which frankly for many of us is the case.
http://flyinghouses.blogspot.com/2019...
Not really. I think the book came out around the same time as the release of the "greatest hits album" QUARANTINE THE PAST, and their 2010 reunion tour. 7 or 8 years before that, the essential DVD, SLOW CENTURY, was released and has a pretty definitive documentary on the band. Most of the material in this book is covered in the documentary so there is little new uncovered.
Mainly, I remember brief description of the beginning of the end of Pavement (really, this could be a chapter in the 1990's edition of OUR BAND COULD BE YOUR LIFE, if one was written, though about 3 times as long and probably less investigative), in 1997-1998 during the tour for BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS, when Malkmus essentially has a nervous breakdown and becomes mercurial with the media and shaves his head (not in the documentary, though it vaguely references his state of mind at the time). That part was amusing and it's too bad I was doing short-form reviews here and didn't excerpt anything. The subject matter is obviously intriguing, but this is no TROUBLE BOYS. Certainly, Pavement deserves a TROUBLE BOYS, but they're not as outrageous as the Replacements, they're more refined and they sort of play badly on purpose sometimes for effect, and they are silly in a measured way. Because there's very little material on Pavement in book form, this is probably the best there is now, but I have to believe something more definitive will appear eventually. Pavement will be returning in 2022, and once again, let us start the speculating about a new album, renewed collaboration, etc. Malkmus has done enough with his solo act--his oeuvre is bigger than Pavement's at this point--and since its quality has not diminished, I have to believe they would be just as strong, if not stronger, than in the 1990s. I recommend listening to all of their records first, then SLOW CENTURY, and then the book, but only if you cannot get enough, which frankly for many of us is the case.
http://flyinghouses.blogspot.com/2019...
December 28, 2022
As far as rock bios go this is a good one. The author dug deep to create a seemingly authentic account of the band’s highs and lows. He doesn’t overly praise them or spend pages waxing about their music, the book focuses on the history of the band and the personal and historical dynamics that shaped their career. For a band that wasn’t huge on telling Theo story or even being honest it acts as a welcome missing manual. Bonus points for the several pages dedicated to the Silver Jews and David Berman who looks large in the band’s story.
January 23, 2008
Gets three stars just for the subject matter, but there was something underwhelming about this book. It didn't really go into too much depth about the songs and lyrics and stuff, it seemed like just "then this person met that person living there, then this album came out, they they toured, then they broke up, the end."
July 5, 2019
2.5 Probably my all time favorite band, but unfortunately their history doesn’t make for a very compelling story.
March 8, 2021
I love Pavement! The scans of fanzines and band memos really brought the band's era to life and made for a fun, engaging read.
September 1, 2023
really enjoyed this; also loved the fact that the entire book was an aesthetic homage to the band. great deep dive. RIP Gary Young
April 13, 2024
Wowee zowee
January 8, 2016
This pretty decent biography on one of my favourite bands reads away like an extended magazine article - high on talking heads, somewhat light on the analysis. And that's alright with me. "Perfect Sound Forever" offers a charted, chronological history of the band mostly based on facts and interviews with people involved, staying on point in a cool layout with lots of newspaper and magazine clippings adding to the contemporary context and general reading experience. Rock biographers usually tend to overreach their own importance by going hog wild on subjective reflections and selective history telling to suit a narrative, but Jovanovic mostly shies away from all that (even if the later years don't get as much attention as the early ones).
One oversight is the large number of typos in the discography section - apparently forgotten by editors.
One oversight is the large number of typos in the discography section - apparently forgotten by editors.
September 3, 2007
This was just OK. Heavy on pictures, light on revelations, but that's hardly the author's fault: With the exception of Bob N., the men of Pavement just really don't have a lot to say. It made me miss Pavement enough to put a couple of CDs in my car changer, but definitely no Hammer of the Gods.
September 27, 2007
Me like. Never knew too much about their private lives or the origins of a really great band. Malkmus explains what some of his songs are about. Also gives a list of each band members' favorite bands/influences.
June 3, 2014
I thought this book was an extremely comprehensive bio on Pavement. This group is what turned me onto indie rock when I was 12 years old back in the 90s. To read the story of their upcoming and ultimate demise was really fascinating. We still have the reunion shows, right?
March 16, 2007
the only reason this gets a three is because of the band. this book sucks a dick. jovanovich cannot write.
May 12, 2007
because, i'm obsessed
July 31, 2007
Pavement is one of my favorite bands, but this book isn't stellar. Still, it's a decent history & Pavement fans should own it.
August 1, 2009
i love pavement. and anything i can read about them i will
August 27, 2008
Crammed with filler, rehashery.
January 21, 2010
sad that this book is my only one to get five stars.
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June 30, 2010Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement by Rob Jovanovic (2004)
December 27, 2013
A breezy, easy biography of a band I love.
March 5, 2016
A little visit to the story of Pavement and how it grew and ultimately faded out.
February 8, 2016
Go back to those Gold Soundz! A well written book on the band that defined the 90's.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews