Smith claimed that Pavement were a "rip-off" and that they did not "have an original idea in their heads" other members of the Fall have been more positive. Kannberg stated in a 1992 interview that he preferred Minneapolis rock band the Replacements. ĭuring this time the band was often compared to English rock band the Fall. Upon first hearing the duo's songs, Young was quoted as saying, "this Malkmus idiot is a complete songwriting genius". They were recorded at Louder Than You Think, the home studio of Stockton local and former hippie Gary Young who also played drums on the recordings. Their debut EPs were the lo-fi releases Slay Tracks: 1933–1969, Demolition Plot J-7, and Perfect Sound Forever. Pavement formed in Stockton, California in 1989 as a studio project of guitarists and vocalists Stephen Malkmus & Scott Kannberg, known originally only as "S.M." and "Spiral Stairs". History 1989–1992: Formation and Slanted and Enchanted 1.3 1995–1997: Wowee Zowee and Brighten the Corners.1.1 1989–1992: Formation and Slanted and Enchanted.In their career, they also achieved a significant cult following. Some prominent music critics, such as Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine, called them the best band of the 1990s. Rather than signing with a major label as many of their 1980s forebears had done, they remained signed to independent labels throughout their career and have often been described as one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American underground in the '90s. Though only briefly brushing the mainstream with the single " Cut Your Hair" in 1994, Pavement was a successful indie rock band. In 2010, they undertook a well-received reunion tour, with another reunion tour across Europe, the United States, and Japan scheduled for 20. Gradually evolving into a more polished band, Pavement recorded five full-length albums and ten EPs over the course of their decade-long career, though they disbanded with some acrimony in 1999 as the members moved on to other projects. Initially conceived as a recording project, the band at first avoided press or live performances, while attracting considerable underground attention with their early releases. For most of their career, the group consisted of Stephen Malkmus (vocals and guitar), Scott Kannberg (guitar and vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums) and Bob Nastanovich (percussion and vocals). Pavement is an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California, in 1989.