The thing is is that Pavement has always been a jam rock band. Whenever someone mentions the word 'jam' near the word 'rock' my skin usually crawls and my face contorts, but come on, some bands have done it well. Ahh, you say, but those are 'classic rock' bands. The band is done making its mark with the cutting edge crowd. Its been poised for bigger and better things for a few years now, and the music is up to the task, though the audiences might not be.
Pavement has the unfortunate stigma of coming from the school of noise.
I read a recent review of the band's opening night in Chicago for the current tour, and it was full of fan complaints that the band was too mellow and didn't play enough oldies. Pavement's new album, Terror Twilight, is by far the best thing the band has ever recorded, but it doesn't have a trendy or shocking sound. It's just clever, melodic, timeless rock 'n roll. The band has never sounded so grounded or polished. This will draw grimaces from Chicago noise freaks, I'm sure, but a good tune is a good tune, and Terror Twilight is full of them.