THE COMPLETIST: SUPERCHUNK
For better or worse, Superchunk may be quintessential modern indie band, D.I.Y. to their core, not only without compromise but with great success. Initially starting as a post-hardcore band Superchunk evolved into a indie rock band in the classic sense: a mix of punk ethos with pop tendencies. Albums like No Pocket For Kitty, Foolish and Come Pick Me Up became the gold standard. Courting from the major labels came about in part of the early Nineties rush of the alternative scene but ‘chunk chose to remain independent as founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance instead created Merge Records to release their own albums and became one of the most successful, respected indie labels in the nation. My own introduction to Superchunk came in 1992 when I saw a video for Throwing Things on 120 Minutes. Immediately I was transfixed and asking “Who is this band?!?!” I bought No Pocket For Kitty at my next available chance and was promptly blown away. From there I bought their new albums the day of their release and tried to catch any Chunk show I could. (6 so far, with a 7th on the horizon this Wednesday. I’m still gutted to lose a ticket to a sold-out show in Chicago only to find it in my wallet the very next day). They became defined as a Nineties band, if only because they went on an indefinite hiatus shortly after that decade. Relationships stayed in tact, McCaughan and Ballance continued to shepherd Merge into the label of superstars like Arcade Fire and Spoon, among others, while Wilbur joined the touring unit of McCaughan’s other project Portastatic. But in 2009 they surprised us again with new music in Leaves In The Gutter EP and the subsequent Majesty Shredding the following year. With the release of I Hate Music this past month Superchunk seems to be saying they are here to stay.
THE COMPLETE SUPERCHUNK My fellow completists, Superchunk is your friend. While the band is known for one-off singles and contributions to numerous compilations, etc. they are kind enough to gather them up every so often and release them in rarities compilation. There isn’t a b-side left untouched. You gotta love that! For our purposes here I chose to reflect the EPs made up of completely new music rather than EPs based off album singles. Saavy? For a rundown of the rules for The Completist, go here. Here’s a ratings system: ***** Essential, even for non fans **** Own it *** Fans only ** Completists only * For no one
Superchunk (1990) Slack Motherfucker was one of the those perfect early singles to pistol start a great band. Recycled here on their self-titled debut, it is paired with just some good, fierce, chugging rock songs. The production quality leaves a bit to be desired but the potential for what they would become was there. Best songs: Sick To Move, Let It Go, Slack Motherfucker Rating: ***1/2
No Pocket For Kitty (1991) Woof! What a record! An endless assault (thanks in part to engineer Steve Albini) the album begins with three of the best songs in the band’s catalog to this day. It’s brilliant and breathless and complete in every way with essential album closer Throwing Things. Start the needle back to the beginning and listen again. Best songs: Skipping Steps 1 & 3, Seed Toss, Cast Iron, Punch Me Harder, Throwing Things Rating: ****1/2
*Tossing Seeds (Singles 89-91) (1992) Collecting the initial 7 inch singles Superchunk released at the start of their career this collection is as essential as any of their early albums, if not more. Songs you may recognize from other albums are presented here in their singles form, some as different recordings. Get it for the Fishing/Cool 7 inch alone. Best songs: Slack Motherfucker (yes, again), Fishing, Cool, Cast Iron Rating: ****
Having lost founding members guitarist Jack McCook after their self-titled and drummer Chuck Garrison post-No Pocket For Kitty, new guitarist Jim Wilbur and drummer Jon Wurster came together to complete the Superchunk lineup that exists to this day, the “classic” lineup. Also coming into the play around this time that would play significantly in where they went from here: the breakup of Mac and Laura as a couple and a slight evolution in their sound...
On The Mouth (1993) They didn’t alter from the sound of No Pocket For Kitty too much and becomes sort-of a sister record to that album as though nothing stopped. Wilbur and Wurster show some potential before baring their teeth as essential in the band’s sound. If Precision Auto doesn’t get you moving in the first few seconds nothing will. Best songs: Precision Auto, Package Thief, Untied, The Question Is How Fast Rating: ****
Foolish (1994) A game changer, straying somewhat from their punk roots into a more melodic rock band, this was their Zen Arcade moment. A couple utter Chunk classics appear here (see all the highlights below) and the album flows perfectly. This is the band’s version of comfort food. Best songs: Like A Fool, The First Part, Driveway To Driveway, Who Do You To Put A Date On Everything? Rating: ****
*Incidental Music 1991-95 (1995) Their first rarities compilation and, man, for b-sides generally being tossed aside album cuts this is still a rather good collection of songs. Disjointed, but fun. Best songs: Cadmium, Ribbon, Throwing Things (acoustic) Rating: ***1/2
Here’s Where The Strings Come In (1995) A seemingly underrated album in the Chunk catalog but one that holds up strongly over time. It is solidly consistent throughout, you’d have trouble picking your favorites among the songs. Out of all the albums this is the one I feel like revisiting the instant I am done writing this. I’ll say it again: underrated! Best songs: Hyper Enough, Iron On, Animated Airplanes Over Germany, Detroit Has A Skyline Rating: ****
The Laughter Guns EP (1996) First, this EP is gathered in full on the Cup Of Sand compilation. Second, it’s weird, but in the right way. It just seems different from other Chunk stuff but in a way I can’t articulate so I may be wrong. But it’s good. Experimenting with new sounds in the right way. Best songs: The Mine Has Been Returned To Its Original Owner, Hero Rating: ***1/2
Indoor Living (1997) A record that disappointed me at the time, too much heart-on-it’s-sleeve and so few tear-em-ups. Also missing it the stone classic songs Superchunk usually had replaced with songs that may actually annoy you. In hindsight it’s a better album than I recall. Talk to me in a month and I may bump it up a half a star... Maybe even now, but I don’t want to give this band carte blanche... I better move on before I do... Best songs: Unbelievable Things, Watery Hands, Every Single Instinct Rating: ***
Come Pick Me Up (1999) The ten year mark usually represents the downslope for a band. Superchunk instead delivered one of their best records. Producer Jim O’Rourke, the Karl Rove of 90’s indie rock, finds a beautiful sound to compliment the band that others hadn’t seen previous. A close companion to Foolish. Your girlfriend will love it. Best songs: Hello Hawk, 1000 Pounds, Honey Bee, June Showers Rating: ****
Here’s To Shutting Up (2001) This even-keeled record was one of those albums that plays pleasantly enough, nothing to clunky (except Phone Sex) nor nothing to amazing (except Art Class). It’s just a pretty good album which is fine but little did we know if would be the last one for a while. Best songs: Late-Century Dream, Florida’s On Fire, Out On The Wing, Art Class (Song For Yayoi Kusama) Rating: ***1/2
The hiatus begins, save for a compilation. Gigs were few and Superchunk were almost all but forgotten over the course of the decade. In the meantime, Wurster became a session/touring musician for several acts including Mountain Goats and Bob Mould and McCaughan focused on side project Portastatic (with Wilbur in tow) while also working with Ballance in making Merge Records into one of the most important labels of the past decade. In 2009 the band re-emerged with an appearance at Coachella and a new EP.
*Cup Of Sand (2003) At 2-discs this thing is epic! Starting off where Incidental Music ended (and then some) everything is here. It’s uneven, sure, but it’s complete. Like I said, Superchunk is a completist’s friend. Best songs: The Majestic, Detroit Has A Skyline (acoustic), Clover Rating: ***
Leaves In The Gutter EP (2009) The welcome return. Not broken-up, just on hiatus longer than we had hoped. Immediately the EP allows you to let out your bated breath with Learned To Surf immediately followed by Misfits & Mistakes. Best songs: Learned To Surf, Misfits & Mistakes, Knock Knock Knock Rating: ***1/2
Majesty Shredding (2010) A generally well-regarded album, the slower balladry that made appearances on their last few albums has been discarded in favor of their fastest record since perhaps On The Mouth. It’s a good record, and critically it appears they liked it more than I, yet I still like it a lot. Best songs: Digging For Something, My Gap Feels Weird, Fractures In Plastic Rating: ***1/2
I Hate Music (2013) This is a pleasant surprise. I expected the album to be on par with Majesty Shredding but not better than it. This is a great album, blasting on vinyl as I write this (and do buy the vinyl edition that comes with the 7-inch of the song White Screen) Songs like Void and Low F are perfection. Still so good after almost 25 years. Best songs: Me & You & Jackie Mittoo, Void, Low F, FOH Rating: ****
VERDICT Superchunk’s got a pretty tight catalog, that’s for sure. Where to start. I almost always say No Pocket For Kitty, however, if you’re less inclined to a punkier,post-hardcore sound and more attuned to poppier, indie stuff than either Foolish or Come Pick Me Up will do. On The Mouth and Here’s Where The Strings Come In after those, or just go newest with I Hate Music. If you go further, you’re now officially adopting yourself as a fan so go wild, and if you’re a fan that makes you a completist when it comes to Superchunk because nothing is bad in their catalog. Nothing! The two rarities compilations are probably the last you need to purchase. Also highly recommended is the Crowding Up Your Visual Field DVD collection. Excellent videos but also the closest to a greatest hits you’re likely to see. Chunk up, guys.
STJ
Is there a band you’d like to see get The Completist treatment? Contact me at [email protected]
