PAVEMENT 'QUARANTINE THE PAST: THE BEST OF PAVEMENT' LP

Named for a lyric in "Gold Soundz," '90s indie rock icons Pavement released best-of comp Quarantine the Past just in time for their 2010 reunion tour. While these kind of career surveys are tsk-tsk'd by rock snobs who would prefer we listen only to studio albums and never use the shuffle button, these 23 tracks work both as a good intro to what Pavement are all about, as well as a solid listening experience on its own. With a non-linear tracklist chosen by the band, it's got snarky singles ("Range Life," "Cut Your Hair," "Summer Babe," "Shady Lane"), early low-fi faves ("Box Elder," "Mellow Jazz Docent," "Shoot the Singer"), deep cuts ("Heaven is a Truck," "Grounded," "Two States"), and rarities like their 1993 REM tribute "Unseen Power of the Picket Fence." Earning a rare perfect 10 from those tastemakers Pitchfork, Quarantine the Past has style for miles and miles, and the tunes, too.

black vinyl LP