#479: Musical Not-obiography, Pt. 2 — Pavements

The Next Picture Show

Like I’M NOT THERE, Alex Ross Perry’s new docu-like feature PAVEMENTS takes a “print the legend” approach to its subject, blurring reality and fiction to convey the significance of defining ‘90s indie rock group Pavement from a few different semi-fabricated angles. Is that approach better suited to established fans, including our returning guest and longtime friend Noel Murray, than it is to newcomers less equipped to parse how the film skews the band’s history and creative output? Perhaps, and we get into that this week before placing PAVEMENTS’ slanted snapshot next to I’M NOT THERE’s fractured Bob Dylan portrait to see how each attempts to portray an artist’s essence, if not their biography, and explores how fame can turn a person into a persona. And in Your Next Picture Show we recommend another one of Perry’s experiments in using music-biopic conventions to tell a different kind of rock-n-roll story, 2018’s HER SMELL.

Please share your thoughts about I’M NOT THERE, PAVEMENTS, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to [email protected], or leaving a short voicemail at [phone].

Next Pairing: Celine Song’s MATERIALISTS and Joe Wright’s PRIDE & PREJUDICE

Intro: 00:00:00-00:02:34

Friendship discussion: 00:02:34-00:31:28

Friendship/The Master Connections: 00:31:28-00:53:11

Your Next Picture Show: 00:53:11-00:57:40

Next episode preview and goodbyes: 00:57:40-end

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