Pavement + Times New Viking

Beyond monetary gain, there is no discernible reason for Pavement to regroup. The band concluded its initial run with no unfinished business and a secure legacy. It notoriously dazzled on record and underwhelmed onstage, yet its current run extends to lucrative live dates, not recordings. The band's five New York dates are all sold out. Times New Viking made its name recording songs so lo-fi they sound like accidents. While the band has grown slicker, its songs remain largely short and often come off as unformed, resembling raucous riddles of years past from the likes of British bedroom punks Swell Maps and, yes, early Pavement.