The Hard Quartet, Sharp Pins

Forming a Nineties alumni supergroup in your mid-50s is either exactly what Stephen Malkmus had in mind for his “Range Life” or proof that he can’t settle down – I can’t decide. The Hard Quartet is Malkmus, multi-instrumental collaborators Matt Sweeney and Emmett Kelly, and drummer Jim White. Though all four have careers that stretch back decades, the Hard Quartet is no mere nostalgia pander. Their self-titled debut album ties together each member’s experience with playfully distorted guitar solos and easygoing melodic structures to create a sound that feels distinctly fresh – yet could’ve been a part of the Nineties indie art rock canon all along. – Caroline Drew