Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks are a rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus… Read Full Bio ↴Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks are a rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus (vocals, guitar), Joanna Bolme (bass, vocals), Mike Clark (keyboards) and Jake Morris (drums). The band has released seven albums: "Stephen Malkmus" (2001), "Pig Lib" (2003), "Face the Truth" (2005), "Real Emotional Trash" (2008), "Mirror Traffic" (2011), "Wig Out at Jagbags" (2014) and "Sparkle Hard" (2018). Malkmus was the lead singer and primary songwriter for Pavement.

The Jicks formed in 2000 in Portland, Oregon, United States, almost immediately after Pavement's 1999 "hiatus" began. The group's first record - which had a working title of Swedish Reggae - was simply called Stephen Malkmus. It was released by Matador Records on February 13th, 2001. At least a few of the songs were proposed Pavement songs before the group disbanded.

The group made their official live debut at New York's Bowery Ballroom only a few weeks before their first record was released. Around this time, Pavement's auxiliary percussionist Bob Nastanovich began acting as The Jicks' manager.

Pig Lib was the name of the band's second record, which was released in 2003. The songs had a much looser yet darker feel, and the band sounds more comfortable playing with one another. Malkmus has since expressed regret in some of the decisions he made with putting certain songs on this record. The album received decent reviews, gaining 3/5 stars from Allmusic and an 8.0/10 from Pitchfork Media.

For the first several years of The Jicks' existence, no Pavement songs were ever played live. Then on May 23, 2003, spontaneously and without notice, the band opened the evening's show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with "Summer Babe" from Pavement's Slanted and Enchanted album. What followed was a complete set of Pavement tracks in the chronological order that the band originally released them, playing roughly two-three songs per album. This concert has been dubbed by fans as The Milwaukee Show.

Notably, The Jicks opened up for Radiohead on the band's North American tour in support of their album, Hail to the Thief.

Face the Truth, credited only to Malkmus, came in 2005 to ecstatic reviews, many of them claiming a return to Wowee Zowee-type form. Most of the album was recorded by Stephen alone in his basement, although each member of the Jicks play on at least one song on the record. The band toured only a small amount behind this record, partially due to the fact that Malkmus had a new child.

On October 2nd, 2006, it was reported by Pitchfork that Janet Weiss, drummer of Quasi and the defunct Sleater-Kinney, had officially joined the band, replacing founding drummer John Moen, who left to be the drummer for The Decemberists.

On March 4th, 2008, their latest album "Real Emotional Trash" was released.

In 2011, shortly after recording their fifth album, it was announced that Janet Weiss had left the band. She was replaced by Jake Morris, formerly of Joggers.

On August 23, 2011, the album "Mirror Traffic" was officially released to generally positive reviews.

Dynamic Calories
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pack up the brats, it's nineteen eighty three
You're in a band, Dynamic Calories
From York to New York, you were a mild sensation
Coverin' costs, sleepin' on floors and havin' flings (baby yeah)
Little later you know, it was so atavistic
Make le rendezvous, make le rendezvous, make le rendezvous (Ooh ooh-ooh)

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed
Times are gonna change, they will come around for you-oo-oo (I said, baby yeah)

Vocal panache, specializing in drama
Jangly guitars, angular chops, and those wet, wet drums
But unlike that metal that lives on and on
You are forgotten like a drab dress
Rendezvous, rendezvous, make le rendezvous-who-ooo-oo

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed
Times are gonna change, you will be amazed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' song "Dynamic Calories" tell the story of a band's rise and fall in the early 1980s. The band in question is called Dynamic Calories and they traveled from York to New York, garnering a moderate level of fame along the way. They played their music, covered their costs, and had a little bit of fun on the road. However, as time passes, the band begins to lose their momentum and their once-passionate fanbase begins to forget about them. The lyrics suggest that the band's sound may have been too atavistic, or outdated, compared to the more enduring sounds of the era.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "times are gonna change, you will be amazed" to suggest that the band's fortunes will turn again in the future. However, the lyrics also imply that their music will ultimately be forgotten and dismissed as "drab." Despite this, the band seems to hold onto hope that they can make a comeback.

Overall, "Dynamic Calories" is a nostalgic, reflective song about the fleeting nature of fame and the power of music to move people. It touches on the excitement of being part of a band and the disappointment of watching that magic lose its hold over time.

Line by Line Meaning

Pack up the brats, it's nineteen eighty three
It's time to hit the road with your band and leave your hometown behind, as it's now the early '80s

You're in a band, Dynamic Calories
Your band is called Dynamic Calories

From York to New York, you were a mild sensation
You achieved a moderate level of success while touring from upstate New York to New York City

Coverin' costs, sleepin' on floors and havin' flings (baby yeah)
You were broke and had to rely on sleeping on strangers' floors and short-lived romantic encounters to get by during the tour

Little later you know, it was so atavistic
In retrospect, your band's style was characterized by a primitive, old-school sound

Make le rendezvous, make le rendezvous, make le rendezvous (Ooh ooh-ooh)
Repeating this phrase underscores the importance of being prompt and meeting up with people on time

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed
The future will bring unexpected and positive developments

Times are gonna change, they will come around for you-oo-oo (I said, baby yeah)
The changes that lie ahead will eventually work in your favor, and you should stay optimistic about that

Vocal panache, specializing in drama
Your band's singing style is characterized by a flair for the dramatic

Jangly guitars, angular chops, and those wet, wet drums
Your band has a distinctive sound featuring sharp guitar riffs, experimental rhythms, and a full-bodied drum performance

But unlike that metal that lives on and on
Your band's music will not have the same longevity as heavy metal classics

You are forgotten like a drab dress
Eventually, your band will be overlooked and fade into obscurity

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed
Regardless of your band's future trajectory, there are still surprises in store for you as an artist

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed
The future holds much promise and excitement for your music career

Times are gonna change, you will be amazed
As previously stated, the future is bright and full of possibilities for your band and yourself as an artist

Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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