Pavement's 'Wowee Zowee': A Rewritten Legacy

Pavement's "Wowee Zowee" is revisited with a deluxe 2xCD reissue, complete with B-sides, outtakes, radio performances, and compilation tracks. Stephen Malkmus notes in the liner notes that many friends consider this album their favorite Pavement release. Upon its initial release in April 1995, "Wowee Zowee" garnered mixed reviews, with some fans expressing disappointment after the more cohesive "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain."

The album's perceived lack of conventional songwriting and its "slacker ethos" led to confusion. However, with time and further listening, "Wowee Zowee" has gained appreciation for its experimental approach. The first disc, from "We Dance" to "Serpentine Pad," is now considered one of their strongest sides. Malkmus's songwriting shifted, utilizing intricate guitar work as melodic focal points on tracks like "Black Out" and "Grounded."

Many of the album's standout tracks are slower and more meandering, deliberately sidestepping traditional song structures like choruses and bridges. Malkmus's lyrical choices often prioritize sound over explicit meaning, resulting in memorable, if sometimes quirky, phrases. This reissue allows listeners to re-evaluate "Wowee Zowee" as a departure that found a new songwriting language.