Stephen Malkmus is soon to release his fifth post-Pavement album, Mirror Traffic (out August 23) on Matador. The new album was recorded by Beck (candidly, we’re not fans of his) in Los Angeles over the past couple of years and includes 15 songs.  Check out the first song released from the album, entitled Senator, below.  In light of the recent wiener-revelations swirling around Representative Weiner, along with the allegations concerning the IMF’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn (OK, go ahead and pick amongst 30-50 possible sordid government or regulatory offenders), the lyrics are particularly apropos.  And if this song is any musical indication of the caliber of the new album, it sounds like Malkmus is back on track and making vibrant, melodic and interesting sounds, and not just wanking on his guitar as he has over the course of the last couple of albums and tours with the Jicks.  We’re sure it was because of our earlier plea. Vive le Malkmus!

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks–Senator

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/stephen_malkmus_jicks_senator.mp3|titles=stephen_malkmus_jicks_senator]