Pavement

Although their commercial success was virtually non-existent, Pavement emerged as the torch-carriers of lo-fi, post-Nirvana indie rock through a series of massively acclaimed albums. Fronted by guitarist/vocalist Stephen Malkmus, whose bizarre, fractured lyrics and mumbled, nearly out-of-tune vocals came to define the band's sound, Pavement were at the forefront of a weird, scrappy DIY revolution, picking up where their forefathers R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and Pixies left off. Though their early live shows were justifiably legendary--original drummer Gary Young had a penchant for drunken antics like onstage handstands and doling out mashed potatoes to eager fans--Pavement were, rightly, most respected in the studio. After a series of early EPs, Malkmus and company released 1992's Slanted and Enchanted, possibly the most frequently referenced album in alternative music history. Despite their proclivity for experimentation (most notably feedback-laden guitars and disjointed song structures), most Pavement tracks are, at their core, pop songs, But while sophomore release Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain flirted with MTV success due to the clever video for single "Cut Your Hair," they largely remained a critics' band. The sprawling, experimental Wowee Zowee tested the waters of jazz and country, eliciting a more divided critical response, although that opinion has brightened in hindsight. 1999's Terror Twilight saw the band working with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, perhaps an indication that they were no longer indie rock's leading tastemakers. After a decade of inactivity, a brief 2010 reunion tour brought their legendary tracks to a whole new generation of fans.