The Shady Lane EP combines all the tracks from the two-part British single for "Shady Lane," which is presented here in a slightly faster, slightly shorter edited version. While the remaining four songs aren't essential, they're fun for collectors. "Slowly Typed" is a shambling, countrified piss-take on Brighten the Corners' "Type Slowly," "Wanna Mess You Around" is dynamic, noisy, one-and-a-half minute punk, "Cherry Area" is by-the-books Pavement with a great intro, and "No Tan Lines," with its faux-bossa nova beat and bitchy lyrics, is the best of the bunch. The EP is hardly necessary -- each song is essentially a throwaway, and none of them are nearly as good as "Give it a Day" or "Gangsters and Pranksters" from the previous EP, Pacific Trim -- but it has a lighthearted sense of humor that was missing from Brighten the Corners, which makes it of interest to diehard fans. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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