Wowee Zowee
| Wowee Zowee | ||||
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| Studio album by Pavement | ||||
| Released | April 11, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | November 14–24, 1994, Easley Recording Studios, Memphis, Tennessee February 10–14, 1995, Random Falls Studio, New York December 2–5, 1994 and January 2–5, 1995, Speed Mix Studio |
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| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Length | 55:51 | |||
| Label | Matador | |||
| Producer | Pavement | |||
| Pavement chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Wowee Zowee | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Chicago Tribune |  |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Select | 4/5 |
| Spin | 7/10 |
| The Village Voice | A |
| Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition | ||||
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| Compilation album by Pavement | ||||
| Released | November 7, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | March 3, 1994 to March 15, 1995 |
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| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Length | 156:15 | |||
| Label | Matador Records | |||
| Pavement chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |
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| Blender |
[1]
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| Pitchfork Media | (9.3/10) link |
| Slant Magazine |
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| Stylus Magazine | (A+) link |
Wowee Zowee is the third studio album by American indie rock band Pavement. The album showcased a more experimental and spontaneous side of the group, returning them to the clatter and unpredictability of their early recordings after the more traditional rock sound of 1994's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain.
Rolling Stone speculated that the relative success of their previous album (having sold 169,000 copies by this time) was a reason for this album's eclectic nature; the magazine's review claimed Pavement were afraid of success. Stephen Malkmus refuted this, saying that while his judgment may have been clouded by excessive marijuana usage, the songs "sounded like hits" to him.Rolling Stone later voted Wowee Zowee the 12th Coolest Album of all time.
Matador Records released an expanded 2 disc edition of this album under the title Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition on November 6, 2006, which featured extensive liner notes, outtakes and b-sides.
The songs "Grounded," "Flux = Rad," "Pueblo," and "Kennel District" were originally written at the same time as the songs that became Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, and rough versions appear on Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins disc 2.
The album was recorded at Easley Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with the exception of some tracks recorded at Random Falls, a recording studio in New York.
The album's title is an homage to former drummer Gary Young, who would frequently yell "Wowee zowee!" when excited. The phrase also notably dates to Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention's 1966 album Freak Out!, which featured a track titled "Wowie Zowie".
Dick-Sucking Fool at Pussy-Licking School (conceived by Bob Nastanovich) was briefly considered as a potential album title, but discarded after being considered too risque by the rest of the band. Nevertheless, the phrase is included in the album's booklet art. The would-be title was a nod to the Rolling Stones' Cocksucker Blues.
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Wikipedia