Face the Truth is the only solo album of his I really like, as it doesn't sound like he's desperately trying to sound like Pavement, but doesn't sound TOO different, like Travis Morrison's album, which ends up being too sugary and too poppy.
So yeah, I'd say Stephen has been doing a pretty good job, as he was the real creative driving force behind Pavement, which kind of explains why Spiral Stairs' solo albums haven't done too well.