| "Middle America" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks | ||||
| from the album Sparkle Hard | ||||
| Released | February 7, 2018 | |||
| Length | 3:31 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Stephen Malkmus | |||
| Producer(s) | Chris Funk | |||
| Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Middle America" is a song by American rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. It is the fifth track and first single from their seventh studio album, Sparkle Hard , and was released as a digital single on February 7, 2018 by Matador Records and Domino Records. [1]
Described as an "ode to underdogs everywhere", [2] the song features lyrics concerning the passage of time and aging contrasted with smaller concepts of getting "shitfaced" and blushing the color of Robitussin. [3] The song also features the lyric "Men are scum, I won’t deny", which has been interpreted as a reference to the #MeToo movement. [4] [5] Writing for Paste Magazine , Scott Russell compared the song's folksy, sunny sound and existential lyrics to that of "Range Life" by Pavement. [6]
In an interview with Stereogum, Malkmus explained the song's title: "I have no judgments on middle America. That was a working title, I just kinda kept it." Stereogum interpreted the title and the song itself as engaging with the "ennui of the flyover states." [7]
A music video for an acoustic version of the song was released on March 7, 2018. Directed by Brook Linder, it consists solely of Stephen Malkmus sitting in an alcove in front of a windowpane and surrounded by houseplants, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing. The video's simplicity was praised by Pitchfork, who included it in their list of best music videos of March 2018. [8]
Pitchfork praised "Middle America" and awarded it Best New Track upon its release. Sasha Geffen stated: "Malkmus and the Jicks' new song, “Middle America,” fully exploits their frontman's ability to hook his voice around an irresistible melody, then another, then another. Any of the vocal bars from “Middle America” could be another song's sole refrain, but Malkmus links them all together like he’ll never have to worry about running out of catchy moments—like he produces them effortlessly, in abundance." [9]
Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone called the song the "sweetest moment" of Sparkle Hard, writing, "It’s Malkmus at his most straightforwardly graceful, strumming a folkie melody like a guy in his backyard figuring life out at his own easeful pace, balancing everyday worry (“time gets me and I wonder how to simplify”) with goofy sweet nothings (“kiss yourself metaphorically”), capping it off with a aphoristic #metoo toast: “Men are scum, I can’t deny/May you be shitfaced the day you die.” Words to live by for sure." [10]
Writing for The Guardian , Dave Simpson called the song one of Malkmus' "sweetest melodies". [11]
| Publication | Rank | List |
|---|---|---|
| The Line of Best Fit | 44 | The Fifty Best Songs of 2018 [12] |
| Pitchfork | 24 | The 100 Best Songs of 2018 [13] |
| Rolling Stone | 7 | Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2018 [14] |
Pavement was an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. For most of their career, the group consisted of Stephen Malkmus, Scott Kannberg, Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums) and Bob Nastanovich. Initially conceived as a recording project, the band at first avoided press or live performances, while attracting considerable underground attention with their early releases. Gradually evolving into a more polished band, Pavement recorded five full-length albums and nine EPs over the course of their decade-long career, though they disbanded with some acrimony in 1999 as the members moved on to other projects. In 2010, they undertook a well-received reunion tour, and will perform two 30th anniversary shows in 2021.
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an American musician best known as the primary songwriter, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and as a solo artist.
Slanted and Enchanted is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released in April 1992 on Matador Records. The album has received critical acclaim, and is seen as a landmark album for indie rock. In 2003, the album was ranked number 134 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and number 135 in the 2012 update of the list. As of 2007, the album has sold 150,000 copies.
LCD Soundsystem is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002 by James Murphy, co-founder of DFA Records. The band comprises Murphy, Nancy Whang, Pat Mahoney (drums), Rayna Russom (synthesizer), Tyler Pope, Al Doyle, Matt Thornley, and Korey Richey. They are currently signed to both DFA and Columbia Records.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is an American rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus, Mike Clark, Joanna Bolme, and Jake Morris. Malkmus was the main singer and songwriter behind the influential 1990s indie rock band Pavement.
Face the Truth is the third solo album from Stephen Malkmus, released on May 23, 2005 in the UK and May 24, 2005 in the US.
Pig Lib is the second studio album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on March 18, 2003 by Matador Records. It peaked at #97 in the U.S. and #63 in the UK. The first pressing of the record came with a bonus disc containing five never before released songs. As of June 2004, the album has sold 49,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Joanna Bolme is a multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer who works with several indie rock bands and artists, mainly in the Pacific Northwest. She has been the bass guitarist for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks since their formation in 2001. On October 12, 2019, Bolme was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
Stephen Malkmus is the debut album by Stephen Malkmus, released on February 13, 2001 by Matador Records. Malkmus had planned to create the record by himself, or through a smaller, local label, but eventually accepted the offer Matador made, and he released it. Pre-release promotional CDs of the album exist under the working titles Jicks and Swedish Reggae. Malkmus intended to release the album as The Jicks, but Matador insisted that the album be released under his own name. The album peaked at #124 in the US and #49 in the UK.
Real Emotional Trash is the fourth album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. The album was released on March 4, 2008 by Matador Records. The album was leaked on to the internet January 13, 2008. The album peaked #64 on the Billboard 200.
Nurses is an American, Portland-based Avant-pop group with vocals, guitar, and keyboard. Their sound is often categorized as psychedelic pop The duo joined Dead Oceans Records on May 21, 2009 and released two albums via Dead Oceans, with Apple's Acre being issued on August 4, 2009. They have been described as a shaggy younger sibling of Animal Collective singing with the sound of dreamy harmonies, carnival organs, slightly out-of-tune pianos and basic percussion from a lone snare or tambourine and received a 7.2 rating from Pitchfork. While Dracula was released on September 20, 2011.
Mirror Traffic is the fifth studio album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on August 23, 2011 by Matador Records. It is the first collaboration between Stephen Malkmus and producer Beck and also the last album to feature drummer Janet Weiss, who moved on to become a member of Wild Flag. As of November 2013, the album has sold 30,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Bloom is the fourth studio album by American dream pop duo Beach House. It was co-produced by the band and Chris Coady, and was released on May 15, 2012, by Sub Pop and in Europe by Bella Union. The album was written over two years of touring and was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, over seven weeks. Building on their previous album, Teen Dream (2010), the duo continued to add live drums to their song arrangements for Bloom, supplementing their drum machine rhythms.
Wig Out at Jagbags is the sixth studio album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. It was released on January 7, 2014 by Matador Records.
Purple is the fourth studio album by metal band Baroness. It was released December 18, 2015 through the band's newly founded label Abraxan Hymns. It is the first album to be released by the band following their involvement in the 2012 bus accident that left nine people injured; it is also the first album to feature new band members Nick Jost and Sebastian Thomson, playing bass/keyboards and drums respectively and the last album to feature Pete Adams before his departure from the band in 2017.
Beach Music is the sixth studio album by American musician Alex G, released on October 9, 2015, through Domino Recording Company, his first album under the label.
Bury Me at Makeout Creek is the third studio album by Japanese-American indie rock musician Mitski, released through Double Double Whammy on November 11, 2014. The album was written entirely by Mitski, with production handled by Patrick Hyland, who also produced her previous record, Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013). The title of the album is a quote from the Simpsons episode "Faith Off".
Sparkle Hard is the seventh studio album by American rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on May 18, 2018 by Matador Records and Domino Records. It reached #174 on the Billboard 200 charts, and peaked at #64 on the Official UK Charts.
Groove Denied is a studio album by American rock musician Stephen Malkmus. It is the third album credited to Malkmus and the first to not feature his band The Jicks. It was released on March 15, 2019 by Matador Records and Domino Records.
Traditional Techniques is the third solo album by American musician Stephen Malkmus, it is the ninth project in Malkmus's career since Pavement disbanded, and the fourteenth album released in his career. It was released on March 6, 2020 by Matador Records and Domino Recording Company.
