Terror Twilight

Pavement’s fifth and final studio album, Terror Twilight, released on 8 June 1999, marked both an evolution and an ending. Produced by the famed Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck), the album aimed to sharpen Pavement’s trademark looseness into something more polished, a choice that sparked both innovation and tension within the band.

Godrich’s involvement promised a grander sonic ambition, and tracks like Platform Blues and Spit on a Stranger exemplify his vision of a “straighter” album meant to resonate with a broader audience. However, the process was fraught. Stephen Malkmus, the band’s principal songwriter, later voiced dissatisfaction with the production, while other members, sidelined creatively, found the experience strained. The album, for all its polish, feels like a solitary affair for Malkmus, with Godrich at times alienating the rest of the band.

Musically, Terror Twilight balances the offbeat charm Pavement fans love with a more refined edge. The slowed-down menace of The Hexx and the quirky sweetness of Carrot Rope illustrate the band’s ability to bridge experimentation and accessibility. Jonny Greenwood’s harmonica contributions on Platform Blues and Billie add unexpected textures, while tracks like Ann Don’t Cry hint at the band’s impending disbandment, making the lyrics feel eerily prophetic.

Despite its fraught creation, Terror Twilight received warm reviews upon release and has aged gracefully. Its legacy was cemented with the 2022 reissue Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal, which revisited Godrich’s preferred tracklist and offered fans a trove of unreleased material.

The end of Pavement may have been inevitable, but Terror Twilight captures a band at its crossroads—both embracing and resisting change. It’s a record of subtle triumphs and bittersweet farewells, rewarding for those willing to bask in its twilight glow.