In this week's slate of Rolling Stone reviews, Jon Dolan praises Mirror Traffic, the latest album from former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus and his band, the Jicks. "The guy really is a nuanced guitar player, probably the most underrated of his generation," Dolan writes, noting that the indie rock legend's "softer side has become his best side." Also, Will Hermes says that the new Patti Smith anthology Outside Society is the "perfect primer for those who've discovered her through her recent National Book Award-winning memoir" Just Kids, and Simon Vozick-Levinson endorses the "tweaked-out beat" of Das Racist's new single "Michael Jackson."

ALBUMS

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic (stream one song)

Patti Smith - Outside Society

Bobby Charles - Bobby Charles

Ana Egge - Bad Blood (stream one song)

SONGS

Das Racist "Michael Jackson"

Blink-182 "Heart's All Gone"

Coldplay "Hurts Like Heaven" (stream)

Coldplay "Princess of China" (stream)

Coldplay "Charlie Brown" (stream)

Coldplay "Us Against the World" (stream)

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Song Stories