It would be fittingly ironic — but unfortunate — if Pavement, which was rescued from the possessive clutches of indie-rock hipsters late in its career, were handed over to a new set of hipsters with this set of modern jazz interpretations of the band's work. One is naturally wary of the inherent calculation behind artistic decisions like this — especially when you consider that saxophonist Carter, keyboardist Chestnut, bassist Veal and drummer Jackson had barely even heard of Pavement before they were assembled for this project. On the other hand, the ensemble's uninhibited exploration of unfamiliar material is precisely what music needs more of. The reason Gold Sounds seems to stew in its own sincerity is because the musicians don't try to be anything other than what they are. No matter how much you relate to these Pavement songs in their new, abstract cast, this group reminds us how music — for everybody — boils down to the joy of tripping out on new things. Check out how the anthem "Cut Your Hair" is turned into a sing-along so delightfully melodic and cheerful, it feels downright touching. Stephen Malkmus always did his best to obscure the heart beating deep at the core of his music. Maybe he needed Carter and company to finally dig it out.
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