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Last year, Stephen Malkmus delivered a new album to his longtime label, Matador.
Rather than be stoked about the first Malkmus album in three years, they were instead nonplussed.
They didnt want to put it out, Malkmus told the WashingtonPost.
It was a head-scratcher.
Maybe some of my more traditional fans that know Pavement would scratch their heads.
Many of its practitioners are key punchers, not guitar players; deejays and computer geeks, not musicians.
Whither the guitar player who also is a key puncher?
The Moog only cropped up onAbbey Roads Maxwells Silver Hammer, but was helmed by Paul, not George.
Mick Jagger, Invocation of my Demon Brother
Not to be outdone, the Rolling Stones soon followed suit.
Whether or not you think thatTheir Satanic Majesties RequestapesSgt.
And anything the Beatles could do, the Rolling Stones could do sleazier.
It didnt happen right away, as instead his attentions turned toward Wings.
In total, he made 20-oddveryodd tracks dizzy, whimsical, surreal, effortless ditties.
He shelved them as Wings went out for a Japan tour.
As Wings disbanded, McCartney brushed a few tracks off and putMcCartneyIIinto the world.
Be it Hot Chip or Aphex Twinstossed-off ditties, they bear more than a passing resemblance to Maccas example.
And with it, hand-wringing about whether these were the new rock stars, rendering guitarists into dinosaurs.
Their 1993 debutStrawberries, Oceans, Ships, Forestwas all but ignored upon release.
Too bad, as the Firemans follow-upRushesis a rather capable and enjoyable ambient electronic record full of spacy delights.
It also has one of Linda McCartneys last vocal contributions.
As Youthremembers it: We recorded the album when Linda was going through the final stages of her cancer.
When I listen to the album now, it sounds like a requiem for her, its very beautiful.
And he wasnt the only one to adopt an anonymous moniker to have a go at electronica.
Clapton took up the avatar of x-sample, they decided to call themselves T.D.F.
(Totally Dysfunctional Family) and releasedRetail Therapyin 1997.
But few people, even his own bandmates, were prepared for Youngs 12th solo album,Trans.
He was also getting down with the robotic stiffness of Kraftwerk andDevo.
Thats whatTransis all about.
Its legacy has been far kinder in the 21st century.
While some rock stars merely dabbled with their gear, Young sounds both adept and comfortable here.
Tony McPhee,The Two Sides of Tony (T.S.)
Cat Stevens, Was Dog a Doughnut?
Before converting to Islam, Cat Stevens cut this b-boy classic.
From there, it became legendary, with fans ranging from the Wu-Tang Clan and Carl Craig to Madlib.
While rocking onstage night after night, Frusciante was also stockpiling 808s and 303s for further exploration.
In 2015 he made his debut as Trickfinger.
But guitarist Wes Borland served as ballast of sorts to front man Fred Dursts dunderheaded proclivities.
It was only in 2016 that Borland finally released his first solo album,Crystal Machete.
With nary a compressed guitar in sight, Borland indulges in vintage synthesizers and throbbing electro grooves.
Its conceived as an imaginary 80s soundtrack and the influence of John Carpenter looms over the project.
