Superchunk-FOH

There is so much humor and sarcasm attached to Superchunk calling their new album I Hate Music I don't know where to start. There is no way a band would create their tenth record is their was a hint of any animosity to the craft. There is no way that a band who runs an music empire as sprawling and magnificent as Merge Records could possibly hate music. There is also no way Superchunk could make something as catchy as "FOH" if they hated music. And let me emphasis, "FOH" (standing for 'Front of the House', which I don't why they didn't just call the song that) is catchy. A nice attack on domesticism and feeling trapped by it, which shouldn't be surprising for a band composed of now fourty-somethings. It follows the same dynamics and style that the band created on Majesty Shredding, meaning their is glossy production and the smallest tamper in the usual Superchunk speed. There's even a complete drop out of the instruments near the end that is destined to become a massive singalong at all future live shows. But at its core "FOH" has so much life and energy to it, from the on fire guitars to the noisy overdrives that kick in near the end, that whatever sense of adulthood has entered Superchunk's music, they are still making spitfire indie rock tunes without fail. If every time a new Superchunk album comes out, the only thing people talk about is how they've still got it, I'll be completely fine with that because Superchunk have still got it.



Links:

Superchunk's Website
Pre-order I Hate Music here, from Merge Records

Top 15 Singles of 2012

The seven inch will always hold a special place in my heart. It is the perfect introduction to a band, an affordable way to acquire new music, and it’s a format that still manages to hold my attention span despite its rapid decrease thanks to modern life. This year’s crop for the most part either emerged from a darker area or pushed the artist into a darker path, though there are more than enough releases on here to contradict that thesis as well. My one rule was that every single must have been physically released in some fashion, so a few very worthy digital singles were unfortunately disqualified.

15. Pale Lights-EP: There are few things as wonderful a perfect pop single, and Pale Lights' EP was that in strides. Simple but oh so elegant airy pop from a handful of indie-pop veterans who haven’t lost their passion for the craft. Singles like this are almost a dime a dozen, but when done right as Pale Lights did, they just worm their way into the ear and heart and never leave.

14. King Tuff-"Wild Desire" 7": It is a testament to King Tuff that he could release a single as great as “Screaming Skull” and it could still come in second to another one of his singles. But the “Wild Desire” 7” is just that good. An exemplification of all of King Tuffs’ most addictive qualities (ungodly infectious jangly guitar lines, simple yet honest lyrics, and power-pop, garage, and pop-punk energy fused together), there was not one person (myself included) who was not singing along to this single after one listen.

13. WAR/VÅR-"At War for Youth" 7”: How many people were caught off guard when this synth project was announced, fronted by the two front men of Iceage and Sexdrome? How many people were caught off guard of how great it was? A single that was not only three tracks of very creative and intelligent lo-fi synth work, but introduced me to a whole genre of music that I wasn't really listening to beforehand. For that reason alone, it should be commended.

12. Heaven’s Gate-High Riser EP: Heaven’s Gate’s debut, just from the warped cover art alone gives you a solid hint of the distortion inside. Seven slices of decidedly modern shoegaze crammed onto one lathe, all but one song shorter than two minutes. High Riser twists and contorts, stops when you least expect it, screams and shouts out you over its sixteen minute duration. In other words, just utterly awesome indie rock.

11. Superchunk-"This Summer" 7”: Superchunk are a perfect single band in the sense that every time they decide to release a seven inch, it always winds up being a near indie rock classic (if it doesn't wind up being just a flat out indie rock classic). Case in point with the “This Summer” 7”; two tracks, one a upbeat yet melancholy infused yelper, the other a Bananarama cover of “Cruel Summer”. And not only do the two tracks complement each other perfectly, but I guarantee this single will be spinning every summer for years to come.

Superchunk-Where Eagles Dare (Misfits Cover)

There is nothing that needs to be said. Superchunk have covered The Misfits, the best Halloween band ever, on Halloween, and their best song as well, "Where Eagles Dare". As if this Halloween could not get any better. Danzig has nothing Mac McCaughan. Enjoy.

(mp3) Superchunk-Where Eagles Dare (Misfits Cover)

Links:

Superchunk's Website

New Superchunk 7 Inch, Tour Dates

All though I didn't cover it like I wanted to, I am more than excited about Superchunk's Majesty Shredding when it comes out this year on September 14. In the mean time, Superchunk has released the first single off that album (if you don't count last year's "Crossed Wires" 7 inch), "Digging for Something" which emulates all the greatness of both their past albums and what was showcased on their last two releases as well. In normal words, it sounds like another really, really catchy Superchunk song. No download is up, but a nice stream of the song can be heard over at Stereogum. The limited addition, numbered, and colored 7 inch will be released on July 13 b/w "February Punk". Also in more good Superchunk news, the band has added a few more tour dates as well for this year. Fingers crossed this snowballs into a full on tour.

Tour Dates:
6/19 Denver, CO – Westword Music Festival
6/20 Chicago, IL – Taste of Randolph Street Festival
7/24 Omaha, NE – MAHA Music Festival
9/17 Washington, DC- 930 Club
9/18 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
9/19 Brooklyn, NY- Music Hall of Williamsburg
9/20 New York, NY – Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
9/21 Boston, MA- Royale
9/22 Philadelphia, PA- Trocadero
10/13 Vancouver, BC – Venue Nightclub
10/14 Seattle, WA – The Showbox
10/15 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
10/19 Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box at Fonda

Links:

Superchunk Website

Pre-order the 7 inch here, at Merge Records

7 Inch Singles Reviews: Superchunk-Crossed Wires and The Evaporators/Andrew W.K.-A Wild Pear

Ah Superchunk were have you been all this time? Oh, that’s right, on an eight year hiatus! Well no more. 2009 seems to be the year Superchunk comes back to indie rock and I couldn’t be happier. After giving us the great Leaves in the Gutter EP only a few months ago, they return with this single to tease us more until they finish the new album. And you know what, it’s a great tease. These two tracks are classic Superchunk in every sense. The guitars are still distorted to the max and Mac’s lyrics about alienation still hold up even with him being in his late 30’s. It’s nice to see that after all this time, Superchunk is still masters of the 7 inch format. Sure, they aren’t the most “innovative” tracks in the Superchunk library, but your getting two tracks by one of the best indie bands around for the first time in eight years and it’s on clear vinyl. Make the right choice

This is a fun single and that’s all there is to it. It’s not trying to be single of the year or the next big thing on Gorilla vs Bear. No it’s just a simple little single, and that is what makes it so great. The Evaporator’s (one of Nardwaur the Human Serviette’s many projects) is very well done. A brand new song plus a cover of an old forgotten 60’s Canadian band called Les Hou-Lous. However, I think it’s the Andrew W.K. side that steals the show. Sure, fell free to start taking your indie-rock shits all over him because he’s Andrew W.K., but trust me when I say this is a great single side. A cover of the (Canadian) Subhuman’s “Oh Canaduh” and the Leather Uppers’ “Don’t Sell Hot Dogs Tonight” add a nice punk sheen to this single. Plus a section of the Nardwaur’s interview with Andrew W.K. sandwiched between the two covers. Yes, the whole single is a bit dorky, but when it comes on white vinyl, has great cover art, and one of the best inserts ever that explains how every track came to be on the single plus how this almost impossible to imagine collaboration came to be, dorkyness should not be a factor.

(No mp3s posted due to respect of vinyl only releases)

Superchunk's Website

Buy the Superchunk single here

The Evaporators' Website

Andrew W.K.'s Website

Buy the split 7" here