Stream of Consciousness

Stream Of Consciousness is the story of Stephen Malkmus and his involvement in the seminal bands Pavement and Silver Jews – but it’s much more than that. It’s about feeling washed by sprawling feedback and sun-bleached harmonies, in squealing guitars and a vulnerable, sung-spoken tide of emotions.

Pavement, formed in 1989, are a cult band for good reason. Their sound tied in with the understated aesthetic of the era, with Malkmus’ dry wit enunciated over jagged song structures. Critics and college radio DJs loved them, establishing a fervent underground following even when mainstream success eluded them.

Parallel to his work with Pavement was Malkmus’s connection to Silver Jews, the poetic and subdued project he shared with David Berman. While Silver Jews never gained Pavement’s commercial visibility, their sparse, soulful music resonated deeply.

The book spans Malkmus’s other bands – The Jicks, The Crust Brothers and more.