The first 7inch EP, Slay Tracks (1933-1969), was recorded at Gary Young's Stockton studio at a cost of around $800 and released in the summer of 1989 on Treble Kicker Records, a label Malkmus founded specifically for the band. The music was stylistically reminiscent of the then-popular The Fall and Sonic Youth, and although only a few hundred copies of the EP were pressed and no information about the band was released (Malkmus and Kannberg are mentioned on the back cover as S.M. and Spiral Stairs), it quickly became popular in underground circles of the indie music scene, eventually reaching John Peel. The BBC radio DJ was known beyond the borders of England for promoting unknown bands from the independent scene, and Pavement also played live on Peel's radio show a few years later. The young band accepted an offer from indie label Drag City, and in 1990 released their second EP Demolition Plot J-7, which was the first to reveal a specific style for the band. Gary Young became a band member, and early 1991 saw the release of the third EP, ironically titled Perfect Sound Forever. Bassist Mark Ibold and percussionist Bob Nastanovich completed the band, and the resulting repertoire of songs was played at their first concerts. On August 24, 1991, Pavement gave their first concert in front of the Philadelphia Record Exchange.
1991 saw the release of the first album Slanted and Enchanted, on which Pavement had found their own typically casual style. The recording was positively reviewed by the relevant press, which helped the band to a modest breakthrough. The stylistic palette ranged from catchy, driving songs ("Summer babe (Winter version)") to melancholic pieces (Here) to musical experiments (No Life Singed Her). Although the names of all band members are mentioned on the back cover, none of the tracks were recorded by the band together, but were largely put together by Malkmus and Kannberg in individual tracks. The single release Trigger Cut Plus 2 (1992) began a long series of EPs and singles. Domino Records re-released the first EPs in March 1993 on the compilation Westing (by musket and sextant).
The first big tour through the USA followed, on which Pavement became known not only for their indie sound but also for Young's clownish interludes. For example, Young greeted the guests at the entrance of the concert hall with a handshake or tried to loosen up the performances with acrobatic interludes. At some concerts Young collapsed due to excessive alcohol consumption, which is why percussionist Bob Nastanovich had to sit on the drums more and more often. Different ideas about appearance and musical ideas eventually led to the split with Young, in favor of Steve West, an old friend of Nastanovich. Previously, still with Young, the EP Watery, Domestic had been released, which is generally regarded as the link between the early years and the upcoming phase. Gary Young started a project under his own name and released the LP Hospital in 1994.
1994–1996
In February 1994, the second album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain was released. The recording technique was much improved over its predecessors, and stylistically Pavement approached classic rock. Malkmus' voice and his idiosyncratic solo playing on the electric guitar countered the often melodic, harmonically clearly structured pieces with rough, sometimes discordant sounds. The record reached number 121 in the US charts, and the single Cut Your Hair, which featured a German woman drinking beer on the cover, helped Pavement enter the top ten in the US and the top 50 in the UK singles charts. The second single, Range Life, earned Pavement criticism for ironic comments about the bands Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots. The third single was the catchy Gold Soundz, whose hard-to-decipher lyrics are typical of Malkmus.
In April 1995, the third Pavement album Wowee Zowee, named after a Frank Zappa piece, was released, which was again somewhat more experimental in parts. The mainly guitar-instrumented opening track We Dance set the predominantly melancholic mood of the LP. Once again there are ironic lyrics, as in Rattled by the Rush, a track satirizing the narrow-mindedness of the petit bourgeoisie of the US southern states. In many other, apparently freely associated lyrics, socially critical statements are found, delivered in catchy melodies (Fight This Generation). The songs Easily Fooled and Kris Kraft, among others, appeared on single B-sides.
In 1995, Pavement played Lollapalooza, the American touring festival, with Sonic Youth, Cypress Hill, Beck, Hole, Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill, Moby and Patti Smith in front of thousands of fans of Irish pop singer Sinéad O'Connor. Their fans pelted Malkmus with mud until Pavement cut their performance short. In 1996 and 1997, the band played at the politically motivated Tibetan Freedom Concert.
1997–1999
With Brighten the Corners, produced by Mitch Easter, Pavement's most commercially successful album was released in February 1997, not only in the USA but also in Europe and Asia. In addition, all the singles achieved at least a modest success in the relevant indie circles. Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs contributes several tracks, on which he also sings. Stereo opens the album with punchy rock, a stylistic orientation that underlies many of the record's tracks.
In 1998, the band meets at Malkmus' new home in Portland, Oregon to record songs for the Pavement album Terror Twilight. The album is produced by Nigel Godrich and is finally released in June 1999. Under the influence of Godrich, some sound engineering experiments find their way onto the album. Malkmus emphasized in interviews that the album's tracks were created while listening to his record collection. With this in mind, musical borrowings from Bob Dylan, Captain Beefheart, and Black Sabbath can be discerned in the songs. Terror Twilight's single releases each come with a wide variety of B-sides. On Carrot Rope, bassist Mark Ibold makes his debut as a vocalist. By this time, Malkmus had already written songs that he would later record and perform with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.
On 20 November 1999 Pavement played their last concert in front of 4200 fans at the sold out Brixton Academy in East London. The last three songs played live were Stop Breathing, Conduit for Sale! and finally Here. After the concert Pavement announced their breakup. The reasons were, if you believe the as always ironic statements, mainly personal: Start families, sail around the world, get into the computer industry, dance, and get some attention. A reunion of the band was not excluded. Except for Bob Nastanovichh and Mark Ibold, all band members subsequently released new albums under different names.
