Pavement

California indie rock/lofi band Pavement was formed in 1989 and led by frontman Stephen Malkmus. Their debut album was released commercially in 1992, Slanted and Enchanted, which has since become cited as one of the most influential indie albums of the '90s.

Their second record came in 1994. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain spawned their only mainstream hit (at the time), "Cut Your Hair," which earned several TV appearances. The album saw a shift away from the lofi style of their earlier releases towards a more polished indie rock style.

The band embarked on an increasingly wide spread of genres on their next album, Wowee Zowee, seeing punk, country, and balladry across its many tracks, often avoiding traditional song structures. The next record, Brighten the Corners, was shorter and more convential.

Pavement's final album before their breakup, Terror Twilight, was a source of frustration for band members, heightening tensions. The band's breakup was messy, but they reunited in 2010 for a reunion tour. Since 2022, the band has toured regularly.