Song: "Summer Babe [Winter Version]"
Artist: Pavement
Album: Slanted and Enchanted
Year: 1992
Length: 3:17
Label: Matador
Rating: 10 out of 10 (for the album on Pitchfork)
The story of the debut album by Pavement is well-known by now. It was originally released in a raw version on cassette to critics in 1991 and was raved about so endlessly, that by the time it got its proper release 6 months later, only the level of "classic" was being debated. It was and is the most influential indie rock record ever released, even though it didn't exactly propel Pavement into any kind of superstardom, and even as of 2007, the album has only sold 150,000 copies. Which is pretty fucking amazing (and not in a good way). This opening track is only the first of two tracks from the album that appear in my top 11 of all-time, so I'll just touch upon the accolades for the album here. And yes, you're reading it right, in its 2002 re-issue edition, Pitchfork gave it a 10 out of 10. And every single indie rock fan in the world could only nod his head and agree. Even if the lyrics to "Summer Babe" don't make any sense.
- Chosen as #5 on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Albums of the 1990s (Redux) link
- Chosen as #4 on Spin magazine's Top 100 Albums of the Past 20 Years in June 2005 [1]
- Chosen as #1 on Blender magazine's Top 100 Indie Albums of all Time in November 2007
- It was also included in the All-Time 100 albums from Time magazine. [2]
#11 Favorite Song of All Time
Ice baby,
I saw your girlfriend and she was
Eating her fingers like they're just another meal
But she waits there
In the levee washes
Mixin' cocktails with a plastic-tipped cigar
My eyes stick to all the shiny robes
You wear on the protein delta strip
In an abandoned house but I will wait there
Ill be waiting forever...
Ill wait and wait and wait...
Minerals, ice deposits daily, dropped off
The first shiny robe
Ive got a lot of things I want to sell, but
Not here, babe-- torture...
Every time I sit around I find I'm shot
Every time I sit around I find I'm shot
Every time I turn around I find I'm shot
Every time I sit around I find I'm shot
Every time every time...
You're my... summer babe
Summer babe
Check out the enthusiastic crowd in this classic old live performance of the song... it's almost like they're thinking "If we cheer hard enough, some day, Vague Space will put this in its top 11 songs of all time." Even Mr. Malkmus, the originator of the name Vague Space, seems especially excited (or maybe he's just high). Enjoy.
sniff, sniff.... How are you Elliott?? Please come back from Malaysia. I miss your touch and your voice...I love you!!
Posted by: Robyn Craigslist | December 30, 2007 at 09:54 AM