Pavement – Westing (by Musket And Sextant)

Westing (by Musket and Sextant) is a compelling snapshot of Pavement’s early, scrappier years—an exhilarating romp through lo-fi charm and raw musical creativity. The compilation weaves together their first three EPs and early singles into a vibrant tapestry that captures the unpolished genius of Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg experimenting with feedback-drenched guitar tones and off-kilter percussion. It’s not merely a collection of B-sides and EP tracks—it’s a window into the roots of a band that would help define indie rock in the '90s, offering both frenetic energy and melodic insight in equal measure.

What makes Westing so rewarding is its unfiltered authenticity: the audio rough edges and spontaneous arrangements speak volumes of Pavement’s fearless embrace of imperfection. Songs like “Box Elder” emerge as lo-fi pop gems buried among more experimental oddities, and hearing them alongside snowballing, surreal tracks like “Debris Slide” or “Forklift” showcases how these early recordings foreshadowed the crafty, ironic detachment that became the band’s signature. The charm lies in the collage-like presentation—these tracks are not polished, but their spirit is unmistakably Pavement.

Reviews

"Westing (by Musket and Sextant) a 7" gold mine of exciting dipshit noise whose collage cover and phrases and song titles alluded to its own canon subversion." – Post-Trash

"For the most part, Pavement have dedicated songs about nothing in particular, and it's an extremely easy and satisfying listen if you get past the primitive production." – Sputnikmusic