The Natural Bridge CD

David Berman scrapped a session with Pavement members Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West, walked out of the studio, and made The Natural Bridge without them instead, which is either a tantrum or the smartest career move of his life. Wedged between 1994's Starlite Walker and 1998's American Water, it trades band muscle for something sparer and more country-leaning, and Pitchfork rewarded the gamble with a 9.2. Turns out the guy didn't need Pavement to sound like himself.