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.
J Smoov
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still I can't avoid your blame
You creep into my organisation
A whistle to the wolves at bay
At this point darlin′
I must say
That the seeds unsown gonna grow anyway
Rent a room, get it over with
To the inside of your face
You're afraid of me
Shufflin' for Xanadu
The jewel′s a magnet
The solitary dragnet
Lookin′ for all I know
Well I see
You're afraid of me
Doin′ the juxtapose
Speak arrangements baby but you haven't got a clue
For all that I do I know
End of the seasaw
The lyrics of "J Smoov" by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks delve into themes of desire, blame, manipulation, fear, and the complexities of human relationships. The song begins with the line "I can't afford to want you, still I can't avoid your blame," suggesting a situation where the singer is unable to resist their desire for someone despite the potential consequences. This internal struggle is emphasized by the line "You creep into my organisation, a whistle to the wolves at bay," implying that this person disrupts the singer's sense of control and order.
The chorus introduces a sense of inevitability as the singer acknowledges that despite their reservations, the "seeds unsown gonna grow anyway." This could be interpreted as the recognition that feelings and desires cannot be silenced or suppressed indefinitely. The next lines "Rent a room, get it over with, in a race, to the inside of your face" portray a sense of urgency and a desire for intimacy, suggesting that the singer wants to confront and explore their feelings head-on.
The next verse introduces a notion of fear, with the repeated phrase "You're afraid of me." This can be seen as a realization that the person being addressed may also have their own fears and reservations about the relationship. The mention of "shufflin' for Xanadu" suggests a search for some ideal state or perfect relationship, while the line "The jewel's a magnet, the solitary dragnet" paints a picture of a tempting and alluring situation that is difficult to resist.
In the bridge, the singer acknowledges the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the relationship: "Lookin' for all I know, well I see, you're afraid of me." This line suggests that the singer is trying to understand the other person's perspective and motivations, yet finds it difficult due to their own emotions and desires. The final line of the bridge, "Doin' the juxtapose," implies a sense of conflict and contradiction in their actions and feelings.
The song concludes with the line "Speak arrangements baby but you haven't got a clue, for all that I do I know, end of the seesaw." This can be interpreted as a reflection on the ineffective attempts to establish communication or negotiate the complexities of the relationship. The seesaw metaphor emphasizes the back-and-forth nature of their interactions, suggesting that despite their efforts, finding a stable and balanced connection seems elusive.
Overall, "J Smoov" portrays the emotional turmoil and complexities experienced when desire and fear intersect in a relationship. The lyrics explore themes of self-doubt, uncertainty, and the universal struggle to navigate the conflicting desires of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't afford to want you
I don't have the means to desire you
Still I can't avoid your blame
Even though I try, I can't escape being blamed by you
You creep into my organisation
You surreptitiously infiltrate my life
A whistle to the wolves at bay
You attract the attention of those who would harm me
At this point darlin', I must say
At this juncture, my dear, I have to express
That the seeds unsown gonna grow anyway
That which has not been planted will still flourish
Rent a room, get it over with
Find temporary shelter, resolve this situation quickly
In a race to the inside of your face
In a rush to understand your true intentions
You're afraid of me
You harbor fear towards me
Shufflin' for Xanadu
Searching aimlessly for a perfect place
The jewel's a magnet
This valuable object attracts attention
The solitary dragnet
The only method of capture
Lookin' for all I know
Searching for everything I'm aware of
Well I see, you're afraid of me
Well, I observe that you fear me
Doin' the juxtapose
Engaging in contrasting actions or ideas
Speak arrangements baby but you haven't got a clue
You may talk about making plans, but you lack understanding
For all that I do I know
Despite all my efforts, I am aware
End of the seasaw
The conclusion of an unbalanced situation
Writer(s): Stephen Joseph Malkmus
Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulanderson6309
2023 and still lovin it , great work Steve and crew
@mattludlam2194
Damn, one of the tightest bands you can get
@jorgemarcelorodriguezalari223
hermoso tema esa guitarra love
@maureenheck4453
all day long dude...crushed me w/this tune 💓
@joaodantas9259
at this point, darling, i must say, that the seeds unsown gonna grow anyway
fcking beautiful song...
@8bunker
waouw verry gooooood
@timlyden8011
Can we merge these guys with Pavement? So good.
@arsehead_
Pavement and the jicks?
@iddotamir4261
Malkmus^2
@pleasenononsense
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