Customer Reviews

Majesty Shredding

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Superchunk's last studio album ("Here's To Shutting Up") displayed all the sophistication that had been building since "Foolish." Strings, keyboard drones, and pedal steels wound through open-work pop songwriting that was among their most minimal and refined. It was a great, mature pop record that neatly joined many of the explorations Mac McCaughan had been making via his Portastatic outlet. A nine-year break followed. Portastatic stepped up its presence -- Jim Wilbur joined on bass.

There had been hints that the eventual Superchunk record was going to be a rocker. Compilation tracks (like "Everyone's Been Crushed" from Kill Rock Stars' "Fields And Streams" double-disc) were absolute corkers, and the "Leaves In The Gutter" E.P. that preceded "Majesty Shredding" last year collected 4 excellent "loose-end" songs of refreshed sounding indie rock. One of the songs, "Learned To Surf," reappears toward the middle of the new album.

Superchunk's sound remains very consistent, but within that tight-wired world of implosive distortion and guitars that hover just below feeding back, an admirable variety of musical and lyrical ideas unfold. From the opening shot of the pop-infused "Digging For Something" to the insanely catchy and slightly absurd "My Gap Feels Wide," this whole recording sounds nothing like a band that went on hiatus for most of a decade -- instead this sounds like it could easily slot somewhere between "Here's Where The Strings Come In" and "Come Pick Me Up".

The most immediate and noticeable difference that makes this separate from older Superchunk releases is the amount of range and confidence that Mac has gained as a singer. Additionally, an array of well-arranged vocal harmonies allude to the sheer volume of great pop songs already under this band's belt. "Majesty Shredding" is generally an upbeat record, keeping its energy and pace over its whole course. It's sprinkled with a couple more subdued numbers like "Fractures In Plaster" (where the strings come in) or the country-leaning/Wedding Present-esque "Rosemarie," but even those travel along at a pretty good clip. Drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Laura Ballance certainly don't sound like they sat idle either, the rhythm section on "M.S." is in excellent form. Along with the aforementioned "Learned To Surf," the opening two song salvo and the closing two songs "Hot Tubes" and "Everything At Once," their latest is well-stocked with a maddening amount of fresh twists on their signature sound. A few of the wiry riffs nod to older songs, but the band only glances over its shoulder once or twice, it never hesitates. In fact, some of the anti-solos and clever arrangements that spike up throughout "M.S." buoy any thoughts of sinking into nostalgia. One of the stalwarts of independent music-making, Superchunk has managed the neat trick of emerging from a prolonged break revitalized and brimming with ideas.

What can really be said about Superchunk that hasn't been said better before? Once again they've put out a great record, as if no time passed at all, and I can't stop listening to it. I think that's the sign of a great comeback.

I won't pretend to be unbiased: Superchunk are my favorite band. But the idea that they could take a nine-year break and come back with what may well be the best Superchunk record ever seemed impossible to me. And, yet, here we are. A great place to start for first-timers, and a welcome return for longtime fans. I was fortunate enough to see them on a recent tour, and seeing a whole audience spontaneously clap along in rhythm on the breakdown for "Digging For Something", without being prompted by anyone onstage, tells you everything you need to know - these songs hit the sweet spot just as well aas anything they've done.

If you're not convinced, start with "Digging For Something", "Learned to Surf", and "Everything at Once", and then go from there. Pure indie-rock, dual guitar, jump-up-and-down sing along crunchy pop hook bliss.

Some where in a music quiz it would be wonderful to throw in a killer question on which band have left the longest gap between albums throughout their career? The Blue Nile are notoriously slow recorders of albums with gaps of five years and more; the recent Swans album with the title of the year - "My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky" came thirteen years after their last release and now we have Superchunk with a mere nano second in comparison amounting to nine years since their last album 2001's "Here's To Shutting Up". Was it worth the wait, too bloody right it was for "Majesty shredding" is a power pop/rock diamond packed with great songs and huge choruses but infused with the punk ethic aptly summarised in their greatest in your face classic "Slack Motherf**ker" (they don't do titles like that any more!). Indeed "Majesty Shredding" sees the band turning back the clock to their early albums such as "Here's Where The Strings Come In" but at the same time sounding totally vital and contemporary.

The songs on this album are relentless in their hook driven brilliance and it is the type of music that you need to play at Spinal Tap 11 to fully appreciate. Take for example the hugely propulsive "Digging for Something" which should be number 1 in seven continents. It starts with huge chords and a underpinning melody that calls down the ghosts of the Beach Boys and Husker Du in equal measure. Its one of those songs that requires 10,000 sweaty teenagers going mad in a field in middle England and giving the bouncers at the front of the stage all kinds of health and safety challenges. Likewise "Crossed Wires" is anthem laden crunchy pop of the highest order while "Learned to Surf" previously appeared on the "Leaves In The Gutter" E.P and sounds even more wonderful her with crisper production and enough feistiness and charm to have the bands name tattooed on your anatomy. The slightly heavier "Fractures in plaster" comes over like a metal version of a Teenage Fanclub song and I can think of no higher recommendation, while "Winter Games" start with drums that threaten your houses foundations and pile drives to a glorious conclusion. Finally "My gap feels weird" is like an Elliot Smith song on speed and one of this albums great highlights. By the time the album finishes with "Everything at once" all you can do is send singer and guitarist Mac McCaughan a heartfelt vote of thanks and ask him to pass your highest regards on to his chums in this great band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

If the world in 2010 played fair Superchunk would be plastered over bedroom walls and have songs covered by Justin Bieber! Alas you suspect its not to be. It should not however deter you from purchasing this great album of frenzied intensity and pop swagger which proves that while nine years may have past they were far from wasted.

Actually, I gave up on these guys after 2001 when they released, "Here's to Shutting Up". In my opinion this album and "Come Pick Me Up" were kinda weak. However, "Majesty Shredding" is more comparable to "On The Mouth" or "Here's Where The Strings Come In" which is still my favorite Superchunk lp. The first four songs have great hooks in that patentable, crunchy, fat pop punk guitar sound. "Fractures in Paris" is the big ballad of the album, and one of my favorites. Really, all these songs are standard fare for Superchunk. Nothing has really changed after 22 years or whatever. I noticed they almost graciously embrace their age singing about generation gaps, being "out of it" and difficulties in getting older, while playing with the energy and voices that could come from a band in their early 20s. You can definitely hear the years of experience with the superb songwriting on this album. I would recommend Majesty Shredding.

When I was a little kid, the prevailing phrase was "never trust anyone over 30."

Today, the phrase seems to be "never listen to anyone under 30."

Superchunk has been around forever, they've rocked forever, and they continue to rock. Get a grip on this terrific release and weep for the younger generation, as it seems to have lost its way.

Hurry up and figure out how not to suck, youngsters, so you can make some money and pay my social security.

My admiration is unreserved! Majesty Shredding gives us gnarly melodies that will win more and more of your love with each listen; witty and striking lyrics in every song; and passionate vocals with remarkably excellent elocution (how often does that happen?). All this, and crunchy guitars too! I found it hard to stop replaying this thrilling CD, but found the willpower to pause and write this review.

I'm only a minor Superchunk fan -- I mean, I guess I have all their albums and like them all to varying degrees -- but this one is really a standout, just a great, straight-ahead melodic hard rocker.

It's like they took their early hard-rocking days and mixed those with their more-recent melodics, experimentation, & better singing, and put them together to create this great, energy-filled, fun dynamo of an album.

Now I guess I'm a MAJOR Superchunk fan. Great to know that older can indeed mean better.

My history with Superchunk goes back to the early 90s. Singles Collection, No Pocky, and On the Mouth were on regular rotation on my record player/in my cd player. After that I lost track of the band's newer material. That is, until the other day when thumbing through the used bin of a record store (they still have those?); I ran across this and picked it up. Boy am I glad I did. If you don't know Superchunk, they're an energetic power-pop, guitar fueled, hooky, indy sounding gem of a band. Same ol' Chunk, but with just more polish and maturity than the early days. Mac's voice comes through more on this recording than back in the day, and that's a good thing. There is not a clunker in this bunch, and this album makes a great late summer soundtrack.

I'm a big Superchunk fan. Saw them live a bunch of times, and they always rocked. This might actually be their best album. Honestly, it blows me away that they could come up with something this awesome so "late" in their career. If you like Superchunk, BUY this album (they deserve the money). You will not be disappointed.

But then, if I hadn't purchased the cd, I would not have received in addition the fabulous lyric book insert with photos of each band member in a pose. You can imagine each of them thinking something like 'ugh, I could have been a technical writer instead of an awesome musician performing music that impacts peoples lives and propels them to a happier existence for a period of time.' OK, i love the guitar work here, the drums, the bass. I love this music. My favorites include the first two, crossed wires is hard to get out of my head, Learned to Surf is awesome - the free download available on amazon is what lead me to discover and love this band (but it's a different version). And Everything at once is really hard to get out of my head. A unique band with a distinguished sound that is actually worth listening to. You know the drill, sample the tracks and see if it's something you're into. I fully recommend this one.