Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks/Lithics

After indie rockers Pavement dissolved in 1999, singer-guitarist Stephen Malkmus embarked upon a solo career with a little help from his friends in the band the Jicks. Malkmus & the Jicks have issued a number of albums and toured quite a bit too. Though the last Malkmus & the Jicks album came out four years ago, Malkmus has kept busy. He contributed to Soldiers of Fortune's Early Risers LP and was featured on the Grateful Dead tribute charity album Day of the Dead. He also scored the Netflix series Flaked. He and the Jicks have apparently recharged their batteries too. They've just issued Sparkle Hard, their first new album in four years. (Niesel)