The Real Feel (Bonus Track Edition)

As the shadowy architect behind Pavement, lurking while singer Stephen Malkmus cranked up through sheer indifference the ironic slacker prince persona, Scott Kannberg (a.k.a. Spiral Stairs) was responsible for much of the band’s ramshackle sound. His post-punk roots displayed a great fandom for Mark E. Smith and the Fall. But this first Spiral Stairs solo album (previous post-Pavement work was released as Preston School of Industry) is a surprising mesh of styles many genres away from the sound of the mighty Pavement. “True Love” opens things with a rock star’s swagger. But much of the album has a country-rock tone. “Call the Ceasefire,” “Cold Change,” “A Mighty, Mighty Fall” and “Blood Money” are odd country-rock with their lagging western lopes complimenting Kannberg’s comforting drawl. “Wharf Hand Blues” shuffles with the rocker blues of Johnny Thunders, Chuck Prophet or Paul K. “Subiaco Shuffle” and “Stolen Pills” are more in line with expectations as they’re propelled by modern day garage rock and more discordant electric guitars with the raspy vocals to match.