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.
Gardênia
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kind of circles include everything
Don't be the with the fainest praise
It's just a symptom of the live age
He would be amazed
So you got some curb appeal
But can you cook a 3 course meal
Or are you just a present waiting to be opened up and parceled out again hey
Pressed in a campaign journal
In the rutsack of an Africana candidate for my reform
It's like we're at
There's no escaping without a door prize
There are parading at significant loss
I know the way you watch your weight
Richard Avadon
Richard Avadon would
Richard Avadon would surely approve
So much for your curb appeal
And so much for the 3 course meals
'Cause I'm not a present waiting to be opened up and parceled out again
Well the torture of the
With expressway at 5 pm on Friday gives you some idea of how rejection makes me feel
Well you are a gardenia
Well you are a gardenia
The song "Gardenia" by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is a commentary on the superficiality of modern society and relationships. The opening lines about "giant circles" suggest the vastness of this societal pressure to conform, where being unique or different is frowned upon. The mention of "curb appeal" and "can you cook a 3 course meal" highlights the emphasis on appearances and superficial qualities that are valued in relationships.
The persona of the song describes how he is not interested in someone who is just a "present waiting to be opened up and parceled out again" and compares them to a gardenia, a beautiful but fleeting flower that is often used for its visual appeal in campaign ads or journals. The use of Richard Avadon, a famous photographer known for his fashion photography, reinforces the notion of the importance of appearances in our culture.
Line by Line Meaning
With giant circles of
Referring to everything that surrounds us
The kind of circles include everything
The circles represent everything around us
Don't be the with the fainest praise
Don't be insincere with your compliments
It's just a symptom of the live age
Insincere compliments are a common feature of modern life
He would be amazed
Referring to someone who would be shocked or surprised
So you got some curb appeal
Referring to someone who has superficial attractions
But can you cook a 3 course meal
Asking whether they have real substance beyond their superficial facade
Or are you just a present waiting to be opened up and parceled out again hey
Questioning whether they are simply an object to be used and discarded
Well you are a gardenia
Referring to someone who is beautiful but fragile
Pressed in a campaign journal
Referring to how they are just an object in someone's agenda
In the rutsack of an Africana candidate for my reform
Being associated with a political persona and further objectification
It's like we're at
Referring to the current situation
There's no escaping without a door prize
Highlighting the need for rewards in any situation
There are parading at significant loss
Referring to a situation in which something is displayed despite it being harmful or a loss to oneself
I know the way you watch your weight
Knowing the other person's insecurities and vulnerabilities
Richard Avadon
Referring to the famous photographer and his eye for beauty
Richard Avadon would
Highlighting how Avadon's beautifying gaze would approve of the person
Richard Avadon would surely approve
Stressing how Avadon's aesthetics would unquestionably see the beauty in the other
So much for your curb appeal
Highlighting how the other's superficial beauty does not matter anymore
And so much for the 3 course meals
Highlighting how the other's supposed inner substance does not hold up either
'Cause I'm not a present waiting to be opened up and parceled out again
Stressing how the artist is not someone to be used and discarded
Well the torture of the
Referring to a painful experience or situation
With expressway at 5 pm on Friday gives you some idea of how rejection makes me feel
Comparing the feeling of being rejected to a painful and frustrating experience like being stuck in traffic
Well you are a gardenia
Repeating how the other is beautiful but fragile
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Hill
I was drunk on a train from Fukuoka to Tokyo and will always remember this song playing on my iPod as I was passing along some countryside there. Great song!
Ankan Bose
Must have been a great ride !
Evocati
best cd i've heard in years, from top to bottom
Evan The Birdman
Whoa, that's Brian Bell from Weezer singing from 1:00-1:02!
Club Astro Transcendental Motor
He is lip synching. Malkmus is the one singing.
kunluv
since the 60's it seems american literature as a whole has actually been replaced with stephen maklmus' lyrics. "They could be its [America's] finest living writers".. it says on Pavement's website at Matador records and I believe it.
Miguel Santos
Best 2008 Album in my opinion !!!! Rock on SM :D
Leone Vieira
esta musica é muito divertida...como é que a descobriste ?
heyyooz
I remember seeing this on 120 Minutes- first time I paid attention to Malkmus or Pavement- been a huge Malkmus fan ever since (although I seem to like Pavement less than some other Malkmus fans). Fun to watch it again. At the time I figured one of them in the video was Malkmus . . .
heyyooz
that got me wondering- turns out it was a show called "Subterranean" that replaced 120 minutes.