This album is right on par with Pavement's groundbreaking debut Slanted & Enchanted. I go back and forth on whether I like this second album better than their first. But what I don't go back and forth on is my position on Pavement being one of the most important bands of the 90s. Stephen Malkmus is a master in creating some of the most addictive slacker rock tunes you'll ever come across. The loose style of Pavement's indie rock is unsettling at first, but soon becomes instantly satisfying. Crooked Rain, Crooken Rain has a cleaner, more polished sound than their debut album. Its songs are more compact and easier to digest than Slanted's sometimes dense, messy tracks. As a result, once the fog has cleared a bit, Malkmus' wacky, lovable lyrics are revealed. As for the songs themselves, they are simple yet deadly effective. After Crooked Rain, Crooken Rain, Pavement established themselves as the true "Kings of Indie Rock", with a pair of masterful releases that will easily stand the test of time for years to come.

Key Tracks:
Elevate Me Later
Stop Breathin
Gold Soundz

Final Verdict: 9.8