Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Sparkle Hard

Sparkle Hard, the new album by ex-Pavement front-person, Stephen Malkmus, and his revolving group of Jicks is light ’n’ breezy, head-down heavy, audacious, melancholic and reflective, goodtime and bodacious and it pulls off the smartest trick: it’s both unmistakeably The Jicks and - due to the streamlining of their trademark tics and turns, plus the introduction of some unexpected flourishes (Auto-Tune, a fiddle, guest vocalist Kim Gordon, one seven-minute song with an acoustic folk intro) - The Jicks refashioned.

TRACKLIST:

1. Cast Off

2. Future Suite

3. Solid Silk

4. Bike Lane

5. Middle America

6. Rattler

7. Shiggy

8. Kite

9. Brethren

10. Refute

11. Difficulties / Let Them Eat Vowels

LP pressed on 180g vinyl; includes download code

LP pressed on heavyweight vinyl; includes download card