7.

The Amps- Pacer

I see Kim Deal as probably my favourite vocalist of the 90s, and one of my favourite female vocalists of all time, I will be so bold to say. There’s nobody that sounds like her. There’s something both fragile and powerful about her voice. She’s totally unique, and it really stands on its own. I love everything that she’s done, but this album came after The Breeders broke up, after Last Splash, and she went and made this record. And I often say that I think it’s the best non-Breeders Breeders record. I think it’s one of the best things she’s ever done. I love the Breeders records that consequently followed, especially Title TK, which I think is one of the best actual Breeders albums. But I think Pacer has everything. It’s kind of experimental; there’s a lot of vocal experimentation on the record. I love the recording. I don’t think it’s a Steve Albini recording, but it sounds like it. The drums are very abrasive and raw, and it has everything. There’s an incredible mix of pop songs and weird, kind of abrasive almost punk rock songs, and there’s real beauty I think on this record. It’s been something that I’ve loved ever since I’ve heard it, and I think it’s one of the best things that Kim Deal’s ever done, and I feel like it never gets talked about! The Breeders’ shadow looms too long. But presumably this album is something that she loves as well, because they re-recorded one or two songs for Title TK.

The crafting of the songs feels very loose and incredibly idiosyncratic. It’s curious and kind of beguiling. Occasionally you think you’re listening to something standard, but it’s given these elements that are not standard at all, and are kind of weird, and that’s something I’ve always admired about her as well. There’s nothing straightforward about what she does, but there’s a sort of looseness to her approach that makes you think it’s easy.