Soundtrack to 'Louder Than You Think' documentary on Pavement drummer Gary Young out on Friday

Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement, the original motion picture soundtrack from the 2023 documentary film, will be released on Jan. 30 via digital outlets, Special Edition CD and black and colored vinyl editions on Independent Project Records. 

The first single from the soundtrack, “Please Be Happy (For Us),” from Gary Young & Pavement is available here.

Pavement, an alt-rock band best known for the top 10 modern rock radio hit "Cut Your Hair" in 1994, reunited in 2010 and performed at Coachella Festival. 

When drummer Gary Young was approaching the age of 40, he joined twenty-somethings Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg (Spiral Stairs) to become Pavement's original drummer, as well as producer. He appeared on the seminal debut album Slanted and Enchanted in 1992 and exited the band the following year.

The film soundtrack features rare and never-before-heard tracks from the Stockton music scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s, including bands like Fall of Christianity, CRLLL, The Authorities, Gary Young’s Hospital, and Hot Spit Dancers. The album also includes tracks scored for the film from Edward W. Dahl (Jodorowsky’s Dune) and Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Cate Le Bon).

“Louder Than You Think is the story of original Pavement drummer Gary Young,” said Pavement’s Scott Kannberg. “This soundtrack captures the spirit and warped vision that could only come from Gary and the ‘underbelly of California,’ Stockton!"

Pavement themselves make memorable appearances throughout the record with rare live tracks, as well as on a song that was improvised by Gary during filming - “Please Be Happy (For Us).” Old friend Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg created a musical track (spiced with some Stephen Malkmus feedback yowls). It’s both a surprising reunion and a heartwarming send-off recorded for the movie shortly before Gary’s passing in August 2023.

Directed by Jed I. Rosenberg and produced by Jeffrey Clark, Brian Thalken and Kelly Thomas with Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg on executive producer duties, Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement is a SXSW-winning documentary. 

Track List below:

1. Wink & A Nod – Edward W. Dahl
2. Achtung! – The Authorities
3. Feed ‘Em to the Lions – Fall of Christianity
4. Later Than You Think – Hot Spit Dancers
5. Sparkle / Bloom Padding – Edward W. Dahl
6. LSD – The Authorities
7. Orchard / Drama in the Clean Room / Malice in the Chalice – Noah Georgeson
8. No Sex – CRLLL
9. Distribution / Cushion of Sense – Edward W. Dahl
10. Glacial Victory – Noah Georgeson
11. Baptist Blackjack (Live May 19, 1992) – Pavement
12. Lions (Linden) (Live May 19, 1992) – Pavement
13. Summer Babe (Live May 19, 1992) – Pavement
14. Refrigerator Light / Laptop Tanktop – Gary Young & Noah Georgeson
15. Dread is a Dreadful Place – Noah Georgeson
16. Plant Man – Gary Young’s Hospital
17. Birds in Traffic – Gary Young’s Hospital
18. Please Be Happy (For Us) – Gary Young & Pavement
19. Appropriation Mix – Noah Georgeson