American indie rock band formed in Stockton, California in 1989. Lineup historically: Stephen Malkmus (vocals/guitar), Scott Kannberg/Spiral Stairs (guitar), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums, joined 1993), and Bob Nastanovich (auxiliary percussion/vocals). Distinguished by lo-fi production, slacker-ironic lyrics, and one of the most acclaimed indie-rock catalogs of the 1990s.
Five studio albums between Slanted and Enchanted (1992) and Terror Twilight (1999). Critical peaks across the entire catalog. Reunited in 2010 and again in 2022-2023 to wider critical reappraisal — particularly of Terror Twilight, after the Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal (2022) reissue. Malkmus has subsequently led the Jicks.