Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

Pig Lib

Pig Lib is the second studio album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on March 18, 2003, by Matador Records. It peaked at No. 97 in the U.S. and No. 63 in the UK. The first pressing of the record came with a bonus disc containing five additional new songs. As of June 2004, the album has sold 49,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.

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Jun 8, 2026
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Pig Lib
Studio album by
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
ReleasedMarch 18, 2003
RecordedFebruary 10, 2001 – August 20021
Studio
  • • Bear Creek Studio, Woodinville, WA
  • • Jackpot, PDX
  • • Malmö, Sweden
  • • Melbourne, Australia
GenreIndie rock
Length47:30
LabelMatador
ProducerRyan Hadlock
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks chronology
Stephen Malkmus
(2001) 		Pig Lib
(2003) 		Face the Truth
(2005)

Pig Lib is the second studio album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on March 18, 2003, by Matador Records. It peaked at No. 97 in the U.S. and No. 63 in the UK. The first pressing of the record came with a bonus disc containing five additional new songs. As of June 2004, the album has sold 49,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.2

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/1003
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar1
BlenderStarStarStarStar4
Entertainment WeeklyA−5
The GuardianStarStarStarStar6
MojoStarStarStarStar7
Pitchfork8.0/108
QStarStarStar9
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar10
SpinA11
UncutStarStarStarStar12

Pig Lib received generally positive reviews from music critics. Christian Hoard, writing for Rolling Stone, described the album as "Malkmus' loosest set of songs ever, an elegantly meandering head trip underpinned by the kind of tuneful, world-wise romanticism that's won him the hearts of English majors everywhere".10

Track listing

  1. "Water and a Seat" – 4:18
  2. "Ramp of Death" – 2:37
  3. "(Do Not Feed the) Oyster" – 4:49
  4. "Vanessa from Queens" – 3:21
  5. "Sheets" – 3:19
  6. "Animal Midnight" – 5:11
  7. "Dark Wave" – 2:26
  8. "Witch Mountain Bridge" – 5:21
  9. "Craw Song" – 2:41
  10. "1% of One" – 9:11
  11. "Us" – 4:16

Bonus disc

  1. "Dynamic Calories" – 2:23
  2. "Fractions & Feelings" – 3:28
  3. "Old Jerry" – 6:18
  4. "The Poet and the Witch" (live) – 2:05
  5. "Shake It Around" (live) – 4:04

"The Poet and the Witch" is a Mellow Candle cover.

"Shake It Around" is an otherwise unreleased original.

References

References

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pig Lib – Stephen Malkmus / Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  2. Cohen, Jonathan (June 4, 2004). "Malkmus Mulls 'Different' Record". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 12, 2004. Retrieved June 12, 2004.
  3. "Reviews for Pig Lib by Stephen Malkmus". Metacritic. Retrieved January 8, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. Smith, RJ (April 2003). "Stephen Malkmus: Pig Lib". Blender. No. 15. p. 116. Archived from the original on April 28, 2004. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  5. Hermes, Will (March 21, 2003). "Pig Lib". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  6. Sweeting, Adam (March 14, 2003). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Pig Lib". The Guardian. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  7. "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Pig Lib". Mojo. No. 113. April 2003. p. 91.
  8. Ott, Chris (March 10, 2003). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Pig Lib". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  9. "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Pig Lib". Q. No. 201. April 2003. p. 108.
  10. Hoard, Christian (March 11, 2003). "Stephen Malkmus: Pig Lib". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
  11. Dolan, Jon (April 2003). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Pig Lib". Spin. Vol. 19, no. 4. p. 104. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  12. "Crazy Paving". Uncut. No. 71. April 2003. p. 116. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
External links