With all that fret I may have caused, you can put some of that away as Groove Denied is a weird but catchy record in only a way that Malkmus could produce. The front half is very synth beat driven except for the fourth track “Come Get Me” which is a nice just over 2 minute mid-tempo lo-fi rocker. For my ear this part of the record comes off slightly awkward as it really does find Malkmus stretching and searching for a sound.
The second half of Groove Denied finds its heart as Malkmus discovers a better balance of his instruments and you can hear both flashes of Pavement and probably it is even more comparable to Beck. The jangly “Rushing The Acid Frat” and the hum along “Ocean Of Revenge” are stand outs here. Overall, if you are a Stephen Malkmus fan you will enjoy Groove Denied. After last year’s stronger Sparkle Hard release with the Jicks, Groove Denied initially sounds like it has a slight hangover effect because it feels like some of these songs could have been for that 2018 record. The good news is that after a few spins those feelings dissipate and you can enjoy Groove Denied for its high points!
Thomas Wilde
For more of Thomas Wilde’s music reviews, check out The Fire Note
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- New music round-up
- Terminal Amusements (Drakulas) – music review
- Prisoner B-Sides by Ryan Adams – music review
The Fire Note started to create a simple place that could showcase records that we liked. Nothing more, nothing less. The focus has always been about the album and the experience that a great record creates. The Fire Note Webzine builds on this idea by offering an array of content that is all about the enjoyment of music, its pulse and energizing attitude.