Track of the Day: Stephen Malkmus “Rushing The Acid Frat” (2019)

Stephen Malkmus, former Pavement frontman, has today released the first single off his forthcoming record, Groove Denied. The title, “Rushing The Acid Frat” is inspired by Malkmus’ memories of a specific student fraternity that favored the “Grateful Dead druggy tie-dye” vibe versus playing beer pong.

Stephen notes he imagines the song as the soundtrack to a “Star Wars bar scene in such a frat … it’s kinda 12-bar but gigged with psych lyrics.” The track is paired with a video created by Robert Strange, the visual artist of pop collective Superorganism, which sees Stephen tripping out as he goes goes for a stroll through LA’s Hollywood Forever Cemetary, Koreatown, the Moon before finally returning to Earth.

Groove Denied will be Malkmus’ first solo album without his cohorts The Jicks since 2001 and fans can expect the familiar lo-fi sound of Pavement to be present on the record. The album was made using Ableton Live, drum machines, a range of plug-in FX and “soft synths.”

Groove Denied is out Friday 15th March via Matador Records / Remote Control Records. For information on the record and Stephen you can head to his website HERE.