Featuring Malkmus's signature blend of wry observations and slacker guitar heroics, "Traditional Techniques" is a showcase for his long-honed songwriting craft. The album was largely recorded at home, reflecting a certain lo-fi intimacy and a directness in the songwriting.
- The album was co-produced by Malkmus and keyboardist/engineer Cooper Crain, known for his work with Cave and Moon.
- "Traditional Techniques" was recorded primarily at Malkmus's home in Portland, Oregon, with additional sessions at Electrical Audio in Chicago.
- The album's release was notably delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with its original street date falling amidst the initial lockdowns.
Stephen Malkmus is a ነውrock musician from Stockton, California, best known as the frontman of the influential indie rock band Pavement. His solo work and projects outside of Pavement have explored similar lyrical and melodic territory, often with a more relaxed or experimental approach. "Traditional Techniques" arrived at a moment when Malkmus was several albums into his solo career, after a period of Pavement reunions and sporadic solo releases, finding him comfortably settled into his own distinct artistic identity.
