This has been on my computer for at least a year, probably longer. I decided to stick it here. Enjoy.

Subscription Renewal

wallet and heart are empty
but filled with tattered identification
scanned memories of a face unfamiliar to myself
that flashbulb wince
burned into posterity as a laminated second of no self control
a haggard look under fluorescent government light

those long lines

eccentric garments and hairstyles of desperate individuals
flipping out those identification cards
that incomprehensible space and time that swirls around you

signing on to civic organizations
oddfellows
lions club
orders, movements, guilds, and auxiliaries
so there will be something to flesh out your obituary

you can spend what you don't have
you can love without being loved
but dress accordingly for either situation

it is the clothes that make the man

it is the signature that solidifies everything

that dazed, smiling, bank counter expression
that right-handed 10-key dance
a vicious, mocking, binary joke

unread newspapers accumulating at your doorstep
as your body breaks down and mingles with the soil

there is a steady electronic hum of machines injecting ink
a lifelong paper trail
and what was really left behind

I love this:

Part Two:

Explanation.

Perfect Depth

from Westing (by Musket and Sextant)

originally appeared on Demolition Plot J-7

Malkmus' lyrics are buried so deep in the mix of this early track it's next to impossible to make out what he's singing. Only at one moment does the music quiet down enough to hear him exclaim, "I wasted it all on you." A decent set of headphones and an attentive ear can make out the rest of his lyrics, but like a lot of the singles collected on Westing, it seems the last thing Malkmus wanted was for anyone to think he was being sincere. On the other hand, Malkmus does sound like he's trying to sing out, but the instrumental portion of the song drowns him out. The out-of-place guitar lick that ends the song sounds like REM, portending a more melodic and confident band that wouldn't be afraid to step outside the comfort zone of its shoegazing brethren and rock the club with a catchy hook or two.

Explanation.

AT&T

from Wowee Zowee.

Decipher this opening lyric: "Maybe someone's gonna save me / my heart is made of gravy / and the laps I swim from lunatics don't count."

Much had been made about Malkmus' lyrics from the moment the band started releasing singles. And with Wowee Zowee, he did little to lessen the confusion of listeners who wanted to figure out the meaning behind his words. One of the keys to enjoying Wowee Zowee is to switch off the analytical parts of your brain and simply let the music slap you around for the duration of the album. It's the reason an album that I initially found abrasive eventually became my favorite Pavement album.

Explanation.

Best Friend's Arm

From Wowee Zowee.

Here's what Stephen Malkmus once wrote about this song: "The pre-conscious screeching of a wannabe Janov, swathed in Spring reverb and vintage compression."

Whatever the fuck that means. Regardless, it's a fun song, and like most of Wowee Zowee, really, really weird. Malkmus rattles off his lyrics fast and indechipherable, even losing his voice after the first verse and succumbing to a coughing fit while his bandmates sing one of the only intelligible lines in the song: "I can see, I can see, I can see..."

Some critics accused Pavement of running away from their natural pop sensibilities when Wowee Zowee came in the wake of Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, but in retrospect, the album stands out as an example of a band wanting to do its own thing regardless of expectations. "Best Friend's Arm," like a lot of the tracks on the album, is a gorgeous amalgam of melody and noise.

The "Janov" referenced by Malkmus probably refers to Arthur Janov, creator of "primal scream" therapy, which either means Malkmus' ramblings on the song aren't meant to be heard as anything more than gibberish, or it just seemed like a good way to explain a song with no real explanation.

Explanation.

Raft

From "Crooked Rain Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins." Also on the UK single for "Range Life."

"Raft" sounds like it comes easy for Pavement, which makes it somewhat unremarkable for true fans. The song feels like a parody of the band's output throughout the '90s, with nothing especially new or remarkable to make it stand out. If it was the first Pavement song you ever heard, you'd probably love it, but there's not much lifting this particualr ditty above "just okay."

At least, I'm listed as a source for the "Troy McClure (Simpsons)" entry on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_McClure

They have me listed as "Anam," which sounds Middle Eastern.

Crazy.

UPDATE: They fixed my name.

Mr. Clean Fan Club Pamphlet, 1955:

Ahoy there, mateys! I've been very busy trying to get the word out about the new Mr. Clean Springtime Fresh Floor Rejuvenator. Since dames do most of the cleaning, I have better luck when their husbands aren't around. You'd be surprised what some of these ladies offer to do for (to) me when they're all alone. However, I'm just happy to see my smirking visage looking back up at me from that shiny floor, the existential implications of which sometimes leave me sobbing uncontrollably and questioning my place in your frightening and chaotic flesh world.
New Pine-Fresh Scent coming in March!

Abundantly Yours,
Mr. Clean

Eating ice cream too fast can give you an ice cream headache, but can also lead to more serious conditions, such as