r/pavement • u/MrJones____ • 18d ago

Seam

https://youtu.be/CIyZw2IhfJ8?is=X6oaF91QlFDKWGC2

Any Seam fans in here? I feel they’re usually mentioned more in relation to the slowcore scene, but I hear lots of parallels with Pavement.

Especially on this record. And it helps that Soo-Young Park sounds a bit like Malkmus here lol.

Super underrated band!

65 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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12

u/Glyph8 18d ago

Criminally-underheard band, then and now.

They don't sound a ton like Pavement to me because Seam songs are extremely, exquisitely carefully-built (not in a flashy look-at-me way, which I think is why many people missed how great they are; just patiently, subtly crafted) while Pavement favored (at least the appearance of) looseness/sloppiness, especially early on.

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u/MrJones____ 18d ago

This is a great shout! I love both but I totally hear what you’re saying.

I guess for me it’s the quiet-loud dichotomy and the vocal delivery that reminded me of Pavement.

But defo agree. A Pavement version of a song like The Wild Cat would probably end up a lot more shambolic lol

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u/Beginning-Lobster651 18d ago

i love them as well as bitch magnet. soyoung parks other band

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u/MrJones____ 18d ago

Yes! Love Ben Hur

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u/Lake_Speed 18d ago

Sweet pea is one of my favorite songs ever.

Also check out bitch magnet if you want heavier Sooyoung

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u/gouged_haunches 18d ago

I saw them a few times back in the day. and I once went to a karaoke bar with Sooyoung Park.

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u/FunAcanthocephala488 18d ago

Personally, I can’t hear much in the way of similarities between the two bands, but I love them both dearly.

I get the quiet-loud dichotomy, but there’s a vast difference in influences, in the tightness of the bands, and earnestness of lyrics to strain such a comparison.

Seam is just one of those bands that didn’t break through — either in their time or among the new generation of indie rock fans. And that’s a shame, considering their discography is so consistent, with a handful of songs that are absolute masterpieces.

I’d put them in the same category of bands like Versus (and Polvo, Guv’ner, Barcelona, Unrest, and others) who are woefully underappreciated.

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u/Chessapeak-play 13d ago

Versus 🩷🩷🩷

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u/Awkward-Initiative28 18d ago

Strapping East Asian Men

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u/gouged_haunches 17d ago edited 17d ago

I thought it stood for 'Show everyone a micro-demonstration' ? Taken from his college professor who liked to use acronyms.

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u/Awkward-Initiative28 18d ago

Weren't they related to Versus? Or did I imagine that? I haven't thought about these bands in years.

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u/gouged_haunches 17d ago

They were both on the Ear of the Dragon compilation.

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u/Glyph8 18d ago

Not in any official capacity, but they were around at the same time and both were prominent indie-rock bands led by Asian-American musicians.

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u/murphydcat 17d ago

Versus still plays live shows every now & then.

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u/sinewave1976 17d ago

One of the most under appreciated bands of the 90's. Their album "The Pace Is Glacial" is a masterpiece.

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u/Glyph8 17d ago

Never understood why a lot of Seam fans see that one as a step down; it's as good as any record they made.

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u/nominalverticle 18d ago

This album is awesome!

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u/FunAcanthocephala488 18d ago

Mac from Superchunk on the drums of their first album. Tortoise members on this album, with Brad Wood producing.

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u/Glyph8 18d ago

The sound Wood gets on the drums for them reminds me of how Albini did drums; they're super "dry" and natural-sounding. I love it.

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u/TwoSecsTed 17d ago

Great album. Great band.

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u/coreopsishill 17d ago

Exquisite band.

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u/bloodandfire2 17d ago

Great band. I would love to see sooyoung do some loud stuff again. All of their albums are great, but The Problem With Me is the one I come back to the most.

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u/sohowsyrgirls 17d ago

Forgot about these guys! Just what I was looking for. Thanks! 🥲