Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement is a compilation album released by Pavement

Pavement (band)

Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...

 on March 8, 2010 to coincide with the band's reunion. The title of the compilation references a lyric from the 1994 song "Gold Soundz

Gold Soundz

"Gold Soundz" is the second single lifted from Pavement's 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song did not perform particularly well as a single, failing to chart on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where their previous single, "Cut Your Hair" peaked at #10...

", which is the first song featured on the compilation.

Background

On January 5, 2010, Matador Records

Matador Records

Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...

 announced that a greatest hits compilation entitled Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement would be released on March 9 on CD, double LP, and would contain 23 tracks from Pavement's entire career including “the scratchy and mysterious sounds of their early vinyl-only releases to the rich, multi-layered warmth of their final recordings.” The blog posting noted that “although the compilation does not include any unreleased material, it definitely digs deeper than the hits.” The blog posting revealed the artwork of the compilation, and announced a contest to guess the order of the songs on the album (except for the first track, which had been already revealed to be the band's 1994 single "Gold Soundz

Gold Soundz

"Gold Soundz" is the second single lifted from Pavement's 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song did not perform particularly well as a single, failing to chart on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where their previous single, "Cut Your Hair" peaked at #10...

") in which the first place winner would get to see a Pavement reunion concert at Central Park Summerstage. In addition, a second place winner with the “most imaginative track listing” (as chosen by the band) would have their tracklisting pressed on a limited edition Record Store Day

Record Store Day

Record Store Day is an internationally celebrated day observed the third Saturday of April each year. Its purpose, as conceived by independent record store employee Chris Brown, is to celebrate the art of music...

 double LP version of Quarantine The Past. On January 25, Matador announced the correct track listing of the album and announced the winner of the competition.

Track listing

1. "Gold Soundz
   Gold Soundz
   "Gold Soundz" is the second single lifted from Pavement's 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song did not perform particularly well as a single, failing to chart on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where their previous single, "Cut Your Hair" peaked at #10...
   
   " - 2:40 from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
   Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
   Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is an album released by Pavement in 1994. With this album, the band abandoned the lo-fi sound displayed on Slanted and Enchanted...
   
   (1994)
2. "Frontwards" – 3:01 from Watery, Domestic
   Watery, Domestic
   Watery, Domestic is an EP by Pavement.The record marked the recording debuts of both Bob Nastanovich and Mark Ibold on percussion and bass respectively - although both had been touring members for some time, the debut album, Slanted and Enchanted and the preceding EPs had been recorded by a trio of...
   
   (1992)
3. "Mellow Jazz Docent" – 1:52 from Perfect Sound Forever (EP)
   Perfect Sound Forever (EP)
   Perfect Sound Forever is Pavement's third release, a 10" EP on Chicago's Drag City recording label. The songs on this record would later be made available on the Drag City compilation Westing ....
   
   (1991)
4. "Stereo" – 3:07 from Brighten the Corners
   Brighten the Corners
   Brighten the Corners is the fourth studio album released by Pavement. All songs were written by lead singer Stephen Malkmus, apart from "Date with Ikea" and "Passat Dream". The title is likely a reference to Ella Fitzgerald's Brighten the Corner, or its title track "Brighten the Corner Where You...
   
   (1997)
5. "In the Mouth a Desert" – 3:48 from Slanted and Enchanted
   Slanted and Enchanted
   Slanted and Enchanted is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released in April 1992 on Matador Records. The album was distributed to critics as early as 1991, months before its official release; the original distribution did not feature the entire band as several members...
   
   (1992)
6. "Two States" – 1:48 from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
7. "Cut Your Hair
   Cut Your Hair
   "Cut Your Hair" is a song by American rock band Pavement from their second album, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. It was written by Pavement songwriter and lead singer Stephen Malkmus. The song snidely attacks the importance of image in the music industry...
   
   " – 3:05 from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
8. "Shady Lane / J Vs. S" – 3:51 from Brighten the Corners (1997)
9. "Here" – 3:55 from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
10. "Unfair" – 2:31 from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
11. "Grounded" – 4:15 from Wowee Zowee
    Wowee Zowee
    Wowee Zowee is the third studio album by Pavement. The album showcased a more experimental and spontaneous side of the group, returning them to the clatter and unpredictability of their early recordings after the classic rock vibe of 1994's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain...
    
    (1995)
12. "Summer Babe (Winter Version)
    Summer Babe
    "Summer Babe" is a 1992 song by Pavement. It was the last single released on Chicago's Drag City label before the band moved to the New York-based Matador label. The songs on this single would later be included on the Drag City compilation Westing , and on Matador's Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe...
    
    " – 3:15 from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
13. "Range Life
    Range Life (song)
    "Range Life" is a song by Pavement, the third single from their 1994 album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The song attracted attention with controversial lyrics that seemed to mock alternative rock superstars the Smashing Pumpkins and the Stone Temple Pilots; Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan expressed...
    
    " – 4:56 from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
14. "Date w/ IKEA" - 2:38 from Brighten the Corners (1997)
15. "Debris Slide" - 1:56 from Perfect Sound Forever (EP) (1991)
16. "Shoot the Singer (1 Sick Verse)" - 3:15 from Watery, Domestic (1992)
17. "Spit on a Stranger
    Spit on a Stranger
    "Spit on a Stranger" is a single by the indie-rock band Pavement, coming from their final record Terror Twilight.-CD Track listing:# Spit on a Stranger [Album Version] – 3:03# Harness Your Hopes – 3:26# Roll With the Wind – 3:17...
    
    " - 3:01 from Terror Twilight
    Terror Twilight
    Terror Twilight is the fifth and final studio album released by Pavement. It was produced by Nigel Godrich and featured Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead playing harmonica on the songs "Platform Blues" and "Billie"....
    
    (1999)
18. "Heaven is a Truck" - 2:29 from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
19. "Trigger Cut
    Trigger Cut
    "Trigger Cut" is a 1992 single by indie rock band Pavement. The title song was featured on their debut album, Slanted and Enchanted. The B-sides, "Sue Me Jack" and "So Stark ," were recorded at the same sessions as the Watery, Domestic EP. Both B-sides were among the bonus tracks featured on the...
    
    /Wounded-Kite At :17" - 3:15 from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
20. "Embassy Row" - 3:50 from Brighten the Corners (1997)
21. "Box Elder" - 2:24 from Slay Tracks (1933–1969) (1989)
22. "Unseen Power of the Picket Fence" - 3:50 from No Alternative
    No Alternative
    -Home video track listing:# Matthew Sweet "Superdeformed"#*directed by Kevin Kerslake# Neneh Cherry "Athens, Georgia 1993"#*directed by Jim McKay & Michael Stipe# Urge Overkill "Take a Walk"#*directed by Matt Mahurin...
    
    compilation (1993)
23. "Fight this Generation" - 4:23 from Wowee Zowee (1995)

Record Store Day Limited Edition

On February 2, 2010 Matador Records announced the second place winner of their competition, in which their “most imaginative” track listing would be made into a special edition Record Store Day double LP release. Limited to 1,000 copies, this edition features special silkscreen cover art designed by the band themselves and was released on April 17 at participating record stores. The track listing is as follows:

1. "Zurich Is Stained" – from Slanted and Enchanted
   Slanted and Enchanted
   Slanted and Enchanted is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released in April 1992 on Matador Records. The album was distributed to critics as early as 1991, months before its official release; the original distribution did not feature the entire band as several members...
   
   (1992)
2. "Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17" – from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
3. "Grave Architecture" – from Wowee Zowee
   Wowee Zowee
   Wowee Zowee is the third studio album by Pavement. The album showcased a more experimental and spontaneous side of the group, returning them to the clatter and unpredictability of their early recordings after the classic rock vibe of 1994's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain...
   
   (1995)
4. "Unfair" – from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
   Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
   Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is an album released by Pavement in 1994. With this album, the band abandoned the lo-fi sound displayed on Slanted and Enchanted...
   
   (1994)
5. "…And Carrot Rope
   Carrot Rope
   "Carrot Rope" is a song from Pavement's 1999 album Terror Twilight. It is erroneously known as "...and Carrot Rope", the "...and" was added to the stylized tracklisting on the back of Terror Twilight signifying that it is the final song on the album and not actually a part of the title. The song...
   
   " – from Terror Twilight
   Terror Twilight
   Terror Twilight is the fifth and final studio album released by Pavement. It was produced by Nigel Godrich and featured Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead playing harmonica on the songs "Platform Blues" and "Billie"....
   
   (1999)
6. "Shady Lane / J Vs. S" – from Brighten the Corners
   Brighten the Corners
   Brighten the Corners is the fourth studio album released by Pavement. All songs were written by lead singer Stephen Malkmus, apart from "Date with Ikea" and "Passat Dream". The title is likely a reference to Ella Fitzgerald's Brighten the Corner, or its title track "Brighten the Corner Where You...
   
   (1997)
7. "Two States" – from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
8. "Fame Throwa" – from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
9. "Cut Your Hair" – from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
10. "Here" – from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
11. "Extradition" – from Wowee Zowee (1995)
12. "Stereo" – from Brighten the Corners (1997)
13. "The Hexx" – from Terror Twilight (1999)
14. "Shoot The Singer (1 Sick Verse)" – from Watery, Domestic
    Watery, Domestic
    Watery, Domestic is an EP by Pavement.The record marked the recording debuts of both Bob Nastanovich and Mark Ibold on percussion and bass respectively - although both had been touring members for some time, the debut album, Slanted and Enchanted and the preceding EPs had been recorded by a trio of...
    
    (1992)
15. "Kennel District" – from Wowee Zowee (1995)
16. "Price Yeah!" – from Slay Tracks (1933–1969) (1989)
17. "No Life Singed Her" – from Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
18. "Stop Breathin’" – from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
19. "Type Slowly (Live)" – from Tibetan Freedom Concert compilation (1997)
20. "Fin" – from Brighten the Corners (1997)
21. "Forklift" – from Demolition Plot J-7
    Demolition Plot J-7
    Demolition Plot J-7 is the second extended play by American indie rock band Pavement, released in 1990. The EP was the band's first release on Chicago independent label Drag City, and its first release that was not self-issued...
    
    (1990)
22. "Fight This Generation" – from Wowee Zowee (1995)
23. "Box Elder" – from Slay Tracks (1933–1969) (1989)

Personnel

• David Winton Bell – Photo Courtesy
• Greg Calbi – Mastering
• Doug Easley – Engineer
• Mitch Easter – Engineer
• Jesper Eklow – Compilation
• Nigel Godrich – Engineer
• Bryce Goggin – Engineer
• Cy Jameson – Engineer
• Davis McCain – Engineer
• Mark Ohe – Art Direction
• Pavement – Compilation, Art Direction
• Mark Venezia – Engineer

Chart Performance

Chart	Peak Position
Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...	170
US Independent Albums Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...	23