5. Brighten The Corners (1997): After the wigged-out alt-grandiosity of Wowee Zowee, a comedown could be, if not guaranteed, then expected. The bass-led "Stereo" brings back the spirit of '94 (and perhaps '91) with a quiet-loud-quiet shaggy-dog story that explodes with the best chorus this notoriously refrain-challenged band ever wrote. From there, though, it's a largely chill affair. Malkmus's lyrical ...