Brighten the Corners

Brighten the Corners, released in 1997, is Pavement's fourth studio album and shows the band moving toward clearer, more polished production while keeping their loose, off-kilter indie rock approach. The songs mix jangly, melodic guitar lines and concise pop sensibilities with Stephen Malkmus's cryptic, conversational lyrics, producing a sound that feels both tuneful and slightly ragged. The album sits at the intersection of alternative rock and lo-fi aesthetics and is often cited for its blend of catchy hooks and idiosyncratic songwriting.