Superchunk C or D

My edit.

And mine.

Put my current brain in my bemusingly sticklike 16-year-old body = I'm all for it.

*ducks*

Eh, you just caught me during some of the ebbs. There are just as many flows.

*ducks*

I never understood the "all the songs sound the same" thing - it was true-ish around the NO POCKY days, but they've gone way past that. Anyone who thinks that, say, "Late Century Dream", "Nu Bruises", and "Swallow That" (to name just three) sound the same either has nonfunctional ears or has given up on listening to music objectively. And "Art Class" off the new one is a freaking great single.

I like the Tossing Seeds compilation best of their records, but they have some other good songs.

Mac's voice is pretty flat, it doesn't have alot of dynamics, which is why I like their songs when the guitars have some roar. It probably would have helped if they did more doubling of the vocals, which they did on a few songs.

whatever you think of their recent albums, they still rock the fuck out live.

i say classic, all kinds of classic. at one point, they defined indie, in a good way. they matured and made more good music, and their last few albums -- while not vital to anyone outside of their fans at this point -- may well be their best. and whenever i play SC's version of '100,000 fireflies', i sing along. loud. and it feels good.

besides, in some ways, they're as politically important as fugazi(stayed the indie course, blah blah blah), and merge is far better than dischord or many contemporaries. (teenbeat, et al.)

lastly: they were one of the first 'Super' bands. there have been hundreds of 'em since. and as much as i like, oh, supergrass and the like, i'm sick of super band names now.

So: haveing a 'SUPER' name: classic or dud?

Woah, I just realized one of MY bands has the word Super in their name (the Powers sounds okay, I guess...). So I guess it's classic after all.

Unfortunately, it did not place on the 1990s poll that Gear is conducting. But don't worry, 1992gax!, I placed "slack mofo" quite high, in a compensatory move. Now, I will go listen to "Cool" for the third time in a row.

From an old Superchunk.com news update: "Superchunk's teen anthem of '89, "Slack MF" came in at #19 in Spin magazine's "Top 20 Singles of The Decade" poll."

As for the question at hand, dud. I mean really, that voice....

On The Mouth is probably my fave full-length of the era where each album had one specific sound the whole way through. I can't wait for another album, yet I never have the urge to buy any Portastatic. This is probably contradictory.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ccolcord/detail?entry_id=74667

Superchunk’s Here’s Where the Strings Come In has been out of print for years, and in celebration of Record Store Day (this weekend!), we are reissuing it on CD and LP.

Remastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering Company from the original 1/2” reels, the album will be available for the first time on 180-gram vinyl (with download coupon) and on CD newly packaged in LP-style cardboard sleeves. The heavy-duty vinyl jackets were reprinted by Stoughton Printing Co., the same plant that produced them for the original 1995 release.

The new and improved version of Here’s Where the Strings Come In will include exclusive acoustic demos of songs from the Strings sessions, as well as a free download of The Clambakes Vol. 5: Cup of Clams. Recorded on October 16, 2003, at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC, by an unknown recordist, this live Superchunk performance was edited and mastered by Mac with additional editing by Brian Paulson.

Mac offers this description of the event: “This show took place as part of the small tour we did in 2003 in support of the Cup of Sand 2-CD singles and rarities compilation. Hence the setlist now appears kind of bizarre as it’s stocked with B-sides we’ve hardly ever played live (“White Noise”) and then-unreleased songs like ‘Knock Knock Knock,’ among more familiar numbers. Sure, there are a few haphazard moves, but it wouldn’t be a clambake otherwise… Hope you enjoy.”

Superchunk – The Clambakes Vol. 5: Cup of Clams Live at the Cat’s Cradle, October 2003

1. Tiny Bombs
2. The Majestic
3. New Low
4. Watery Hands
5. Becoming a Speck
6. Knock Knock Knock
7. Hello Hawk
8. Cast Iron
9. White Noise
10. Nu Bruises
11. Screw It Up
12. The First Part
13. 100,000 Fireflies
14. Like a Fool
15. Freaks in Charge
16. Package Thief
17. Throwing Things

Superchunk’s Here’s Where the Strings Come In has been out of print for years

...this seems, uh, wrong? De Beers/al Saud-style supply tactics?

yeah thats weird, and remastering it? really?

Scanning the tracklist it is definitely one of the least regarded releases in their catalog... that said, "Watery Hands" is one of my all-time fave songs of theirs.

oh wait, that's the live tracklist, never mind.

Wish they'd have sent the actual tracklist for the damn reissue in the Merge email. This is actually my favorite Superchunk album and bonus acoustic demos would be reason enough for me to buy this. There's an acoustic "Detroit Has A Skyline" floating around on some CD single or something, iirc, that was pretty awesome.

Also LOL 'out of print' - used to be you could find this on CD for like two bucks

"Detroit Has A Skyline" acoustic is on the Cup of Sand compilation, and was probably one of my favorite songs ever (that version) the year I bought it.

Here’s Where the Strings Come In is pretty much the best rock record of the 90s imo, looking forward to the reish. and i saw one of the shows on the '03 tour the new Clambake is from, really fun show and "The Majestic" and "Becoming A Speck" are awesome underrated songs.

man, the first four songs on Foolish are such a high

"Keeping" is a monster too

still a regular summer jam for me.

yeah (said with a deep breath to express the years & the memories that I won't recount here)

foolish is very hit and miss for me, large chunks of it just don't connect at all. "why do you have to put a date on everything" is an all-time favorite though.

rocket fuel is the key

the new album is rather good

precision auto good?

don't blaspheme

how does this compare to majesty shredding?

i'm so bummed that Laura has hearing problems and isn't gonna be touring with the band this year :(

Not terribly into the two new songs on Spotify.

Never listened to this band until today- the only thing I knew about was a funny anecdote that was related to me- but this new album sounds pretty good. Wonder if it is in fact atypical and I wouldn't like anything else.

nothing they've done is atypical, really

iirc their publishing arm is 'all the songs sound the same (bmi)'

(shut up ned)

yeah if you dig this record you'd probably dig most of them (which was not necessarily the case with some of the later pre-hiatus records).

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BUprgYRCUAAoiyI.jpg

exactly what I thought

how is babby made? punk-pop euphoria + my face

woooow. what publication is that?

FIRST NEW ORLEANS SHOW SINCE HALLOWEEN 2001. jon came out dressed like stallone in cobra. there was a dude dressed like one of the twin towers with each of his arms half of a plane. strange days.

when i was a teenager in DC i saw superchunk play like every couple of months. all the time. now it's been 12 years. /peers into silent terrifying chasm of age and death

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2013/09/27/superchunks-mac-mccaughan-on-d-c-s-old-days-yo-la-tengo-and-aging-out-of-sisters-of-mercy/

Mac talks about all those DC gigs plus times he used to come up to DC to see other groups play here

that's very cool. thanks!

No probs, that just got posted today.

I like the song "Me and You and Jackie Mittoo" . I also just like saying that

This new record is surprisingly excellent, I listened to/reviewed it for my radio station the other day.

My pal Josh played "Me & You & Jackie Mittoo" the other night at Fenway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl165mXyy9M

After not hearing it for a long long while, I think I love I hate music more than ever.

man, i think Black Thread from their new album might be my favorite song they've ever done.

they are on a roll in my opinion

wurster kicks all types of ass on the latest record

Yes it's a fantastic record

love the record. "Reagan Youth" doesn't fail to bring me up short.

Honestly never gave Superchunk much time, for no good reason, despite traveling in similar circles as listener and peer, I guess. But I told our little house robot to play Superchunk tonight and damned if every song so far hasn't been really good.

Well, it’s all the same song (lol)

but it's a good song!

Not fair, they got a lot more dynamic over time.

I haven't paid all that much attention post-Foolish but on those occasions when I revisit the early records I find myself enjoying them almost as much as I did as a kidlet. Though, yeah, some nostalgia may be involved; amusing that that's a major theme upthread!

I saw them once, paired with Buffalo Tom. Pretty good, IIRC!

All the Songs Sound the Same Music (BMI)

also fuck you all they are the best band ever

is the title of "My Gap Feels Weird" borrowed from a comment that Mac & Laura's kid made about a tooth-loss vacancy? this is something that has bothered me for ten years now but I never had anyone to ask

mac & laura are married to different people and do not have a kid together

that sounds vaguely familiar tho. probably mac's child, as i think he writes all the lyrics

well shoot, you learn something new every day. not always the thing you were wondering about, but still

I think I might actually prefer their more recent albums to the "classic" 90s stuff which I was a little bit too old/weird for at the time

Well, it’s all the same song (lol)

― Scam Likely (morrisp), Thursday, September 24, 2020 7:06 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

but it's a good song!

― Josh in Chicago

this is true of many great bands!

one of the great not-really-an-emo-band-but-every-member-of-an-emo-band-loooved-superchunk bands

What A Time to Be Alive is a masterpiece

otm

new album in february

!!

Love this adorable picture of Wurster with his parents and grandpa:

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_1600/d6def11edb558fe8b0e917cc9b05792a.jpg

I heard that Laura can’t play with them live anymore, due to extreme hearing damage? That’s really awful

lol I thought I had clicked on the Big Thief thread and was like "wow whatever this aging filter is, it's really realistic."

Not really feeling this new album. Only about halfway through so far but the only song sticking with me is “Endless Summer”

I also didn't feel the new one. Not as loud, not as angry. Good for Mac for not needing to be, I guess.

the albums in their best stretch--here's where the strings come in through here's to shutting up--aren't very loud or angry. i think the comeback quality dip is just boring songwriting. i'd like to blame the arcade fire somehow.

What A Time to Be Alive is a masterpiece

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, January 6, 2021 6:43 PM (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink

otm

― mookieproof, Thursday, January 7, 2021 12:10 AM (

i'd like to blame the arcade fire somehow.

I have not heard this new one yet but, uh, did I miss something?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CofAEmQOoDv/?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY%3D

wurster out!

He doesn’t mention Laura in that note - did she leave the band too at some point?

I think she retired from performing live (outside of one-offs here and there) due to hearing damage, but still plays on the records

But Wurster is still in Mountain Goats and (with Narducy) Mould? He's probably pretty busy for three bands.

every time i saw superchunk my eyes were on wurster, it was so fun watching him play those songs

I think she retired from performing live (outside of one-offs here and there) due to hearing damage, but still plays on the records

― JRN, Friday, February 10, 2023 bookmarkflaglink

Ah, that’s right.

he's gonna be replaced by philly boy roy

that IG post struck me more like he was going laura's route, no? just not performing live with the band anymore.

I dunno, when you say your heart is not in it, it's hard to read that as any sort of hedge.

oh damn. spent 30 years basically staring at him drum every time I've seen 'em. gonna be weird without him.

I think she retired from performing live (outside of one-offs here and there) due to hearing damage, but still plays on the records

I can believe it. I saw them at Webster last year and it was one of the loudest shows I've been to, maybe the loudest.

My friend played guitar at a benefit in a band with Wurster on drums, and he said he hit harder and louder than anyone he'd played with before.

Mac (on drums/vox!), Soo-Young & Lexi covering TVPS on a rare(?) b-side:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dHdpDW3IOE

On the Mouth is a perfect album. There's not one dud on it. I'd be hard-pressed to choose between it and Foolish , however. Favorites are those two, along with Come Pick Me Up and the Incidental Music (singles, miscellany) album.

Surely this band has been disussed extensively on here, my apologies. My opinion is definitely skewed; a result of having found their music (beginning with OTM) early on, while i was still in high school. I managed to catch them live once (Lollapalooza 1995), and they didn't leave a strong impression. I recall being overly enthusiastic for a disinterested friend to see them perform, locally. Sonic Youth's performance (ofc, they had the main stage) thrilled me. Washing Machine's introduction coincided with my first year of college, and i became enamoured of them.

I've been returning to On the Mouth lately, and it never fails to get stuck in my head (several of the songs, esp. from side 1) ... the noisy feedback of the guitars works so well (compared to say, that of sonic youth) because of the quality of the songwriting / hooks.

I listened to Here's Where the Strings Come in around Christmas time (visiting home, 'Eastern Terminal' was a favorite) and I still have the tape cassette, but it wasn't so thoroughly encoded in my head. Indoor Living has 2-3 songs that i liked, but i didn't find it all that remarkable. CPMU was the first Superchunk album which stoked enthusiasm in my friends as well, which was nice.

On the Mouth is by far my favorite too. I think the first half of Foolish might be their single best run of songs but the second half is not as strong.

On the Mouth is probably my favorite too. I saw them live touring for that record in a warehouse space where punk bands used to play in Tucson. It was an amazing show and I remember them just hanging around with the audience after 2ards.

this is my favorite album by my favorite band

LA residents: this album was recorded across the street from the Toyota dealership one block east of Amoeba. They recorded it on a week break of a nationwide tour with Polvo (eg, Drive Like Jehu/Superchunk/Polvo in San Diego which was A++). They came into our station and did a couple songs on a live session to work them out as well ("Package Thief" for sure). Wurster was spanking new and already contributing.

2025 or 1995, you decide:

https://superchunk.bandcamp.com/album/bruised-lung

When is Superchunk going to make their autotune album?

> 1986 in 2025

https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandmasPantry/s/CIB5eT8y7P

haha

xxp Precision Autotune

Huh, they covered Alastair Galbraith on a 7" last year!

https://superchunk.bandcamp.com/track/as-in-a-blender

When we were thinking of covers to record for the B-side—dedicated to Hamish Kilgour in the runout groove—I came in one day and said, “What about an Alastair Galbraith song?” and Jim said, “‘As in a Blender’?” Galbraith’s meditation on mortality and the passage of time is somewhat more sanguine than ours and was exactly the one I had been listening to.

Breakfast in Bayfield, Ontario this morning. Asked two waitresses about the poster; neither could explain its presence, but there was some speculation that the previous owner left it behind.

https://i.postimg.cc/RhKwYSMY/superchunk-2.jpg

bayfield breakfast place otm

On the Mouth is indeed the best. Still thrills me. I also still love Come Pick Me Up and especially Here's Where the Strings Come In. None of the reunion albums have thrilled me other than the occasional song but they're still a fun live band.

lol new one is called Songs in the Key of Yikes, such a funny title, very Yo La Tengo.

Got a ticket to see them in New York this fall. Just one of those bands I've always taken for granted, so it's been a while since I caught them live.

I've found the newer albums to have been of a fairly consistent high quality.

Yup.

Mac can still rip one amazing solo after another tho. He's an underrated guitarist.

^^^ Mac's got some great solos on this.

I think this one is slightly better than the last one, but otherwise pretty much on par with their really good "reunion" records.

Was sad to lose Wurster, but there was really no way he could keep balancing three bands. I get it.

The last one is the only Superchunk album I really disliked. This one is better than that though doesn’t feel super essential.

I think Majesty Shredding holds up pretty well against some of their later pre-breakup albums.

No drop-off here.

Seeing them Thursday for the first time in ... at least a decade. Easy band to take for granted, so I didn't want to miss them this time around (despite only being 50% OG, but these days that's OK).

to be realllllllllllllllly pedantic, Superchunk hasn't been 50% OG since just after No Pocky for Kitty.

this is like dissing ronnie wood for being the new guy

Or Ringo

John Rutsey

look, the name of the band is superCHUNK, not superWURSTER.

SuperGorch

New record has really grown on me. I've also found myself on a Cup of Sand kick which is has been really kicking my ass -- a bounty of great material.