originally published: 02/01/2026
(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- Independent Project Records announced that Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement, the original motion picture soundtrack to the 2023 SXSW-winning documentary film, was released on January 30, 2026 on LP (black and pink vinyl), Special Edition CD, and all digital outlets.
Proudly resistant to genres and conventions, the Louder Than You Think soundtrack tells the story of Gary Young, a true original in life and behind the drum kit, who, when he was approaching the ripe old age of 40, joined twenty-somethings Stephen Malkmus and Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg to become the original drummer, as well as producer, for soon-to-be indie royalty Pavement.
More than just a soundtrack, the release features rare and never-before-heard tracks from the underappreciated Stockton music scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s, as seen through the lens of the LSD and alcohol-fueled hippie who helped define the sound of all things lo-fi, indie rock and slacker in between headstands, including bands like Fall of Christianity (the Stockton rebels that struck a chord with a teenage Spiral Stairs), 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).
Two tracks from the soundtrack will be especially interesting to Pavement and indie rock fans: the first is “Please Be Happy (For Us),” a Gary Young-penned oddity that Gary’s old friend Spiral Stairs turned into a suitably trippy musical track (spiced with some Stephen Malkmus feedback yowls), recorded for the movie shortly before Gary’s passing in August 2023. It’s both a surprising reunion and a heartwarming send-off. The other is a proper Pavement rarity, a riveting “Summer Babe (Live May 19, 1992)” recorded at the Cattle Club in Sacramento as the group was bursting into the indie rock scene. Both numbers are sure to make collectors take notice.
Interest in this project has been elevated recently, as Pavement’s own Spiral Stairs and documentary producer/IPR co-owner Jeffrey Clark recently took part in a Bandcamp Listening Party with fans. Additionally, press for the project has been confirmed in print, online and podcast outlets such as MOJO, Uncut, The Big Takeover, Classic Rock, Goldmine, Yahoo, Parade, Stereo Embers podcast, Zig at the Gig podcast, Mazzy’s Music on YouTube, Ink19, the 13th Floor and others.
“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!"
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 the SXSW-winning documentary dedicated to the wild polymath best known as the original drummer for Pavement: his one-of-a-kind history is surveyed from the early hardcore punk and post-punk days to the merry chaos of Hospital, whose “Plant Man” ended up being an improbable MTV favorite.
Known for their unique musical sensibilities and extraordinary artwork & design, Independent Project Records is a favorite of record collectors and music fans alike for their bespoke packaging and attention to detail. Grammy-nominated founder Bruce Licher’s graphic design and his hand-letterpress packaging have been a mainstay in music circles since 1982’s Tragic Figures from Savage Republic. Since that time, the label has released seminal albums and singles from artists as diverse as Savage Republic, Alison’s Halo, Human Hands, Kommunity FK, Camper Van Beethoven, Scenic, For Against, Deception Bay, Half String, Autumnfair, The Dentists, Tone, WOO, Stereolab and more.
Since the label’s relaunch in 2020, IPR has released new music, lost albums, reissues with bonus tracks on digital, compact disc and vinyl formats for a variety of artists including A Produce, Afterimage, Alison Clancy, David J, Half String, Bruce Licher, Greg Lisher, Jeffrey Runnings, The Ophelias, Red Temple Spirits, Savage Republic, Scenic, Shiva Burlesque, Springhouse, Torn Boys, WOO and multiple various artist compilations. Coming up later this year and in 2026 are new titles from WOO, David J, Driveway Ceiling, and more to come.
Track List:
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 Blacktick (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 in 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
Founded in 1980 by musician and artist Bruce Licher, Independent Project Records and its sister entity Independent Project Press are known for their instantly recognizable hand-printed record covers for bands including Camper Van Beethoven, For Against, Polvo, R.E.M., Savage Republic, Silversun Pickups, Stereolab and more. Aside from creating much of the artwork on his vintage two-ton hand-fed letterpress, Licher was nominated for a Grammy Award for his design work on the IPR released debut album from For Against. In 2020, the label was relaunched by both Licher and Jeffrey Clark with new and archival releases and is distributed by MRI/The Orchard & via Proper Music Group outside the USA & Canada. IPR is based in Bishop, California, at the base of the Eastern Sierra Mountains.
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