Pavement's off-kilter songwriting, cryptic lyrics and underground, lo-fi slacker aesthetic turned them into ‘90s indie rock heroes. Stephen Malkmus' nimble, absurdist wordplay and creative guitar work—sometimes fractured and jagged (“In the Mouth a Desert”), sometimes blissful (“Major Leagues”), sometimes explosive and rowdy (“Unfair”)—are a knockout combo that often surprises. But artful cunning aside, the band wrote deceptively simple pop tunes, like the sun-kissed, laidback California breeziness of “Range Life” or “Gold Soundz”, which sparkles and rolls with unfading, summery vibes.