Stephen Malkmus has been on a hell of run, dropping three distinct albums in as many years. First came 2018's straightforwardly indie-rockin' Jicks offering Sparkle Hard, then 2019's loosely electronic solo joint Groove Denied, then this year's rootsy Traditional Techniques. That's a lot of music, but given the troves of bonus material that acco...

With the release of "Xian Man" last month, Stephen Malkmus announced his third album in three years. Whereas 2018's Jicks effort Sparkle Hard presented something close to the classic indie rock sound Malkmus made his name on and 2019's Groove Denied was an electronically inclined solo endeavor, this year's Traditional Techniques finds the once a...

Once and future Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus announced a new album last month. Traditional Techniques, the follow-up to last year's electronic solo album Groove Denied and 2018's Jicks LP Sparkle Hard, is a collection of folk-rock songs recorded with Matt Sweeney and the Decemberists' Chris Funk.

There exists a subset of indie rock artists I associate with record store clerks and collectors. Usually it's a bit skuzzier and meaner than whatever's popping in the indie mainstream, maintaining that old aversion to selling out or even crossing over. This music tends to be worshipful toward rock's ragtag early days and an expansive…