Cup of Sand

Superchunk

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
• Original Release Date: August 19, 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Merge Records
• ASIN: B0000A59VF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,391 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The indie pride of Chapel Hill, NC, Superchunk kept its DYI spirit alive in the face of oft-shaky alt rock fortunes. This set is essentially an exercise in vault-cleaning, culling a decade's worth of outtakes, EPs, B-sides, and previously compilation-only cuts into a 25-track double-disc that chronicles the band's disparate muse--including energetic covers of Adam Ant's "Beat My Guest" and David Bowie's "Scary Monsters"--if as many undercooked ideas as accomplished ones. Superchunk's strength has always been as a singles band, and when their music is focused into the smart, propulsive energy of "Basement Life" or the Indoor Living outtake "The Majestic," it's as good as anything their more successful contemporaries churned out. Snarky acoustic takes of "1000 Pounds" and "Detroit Has a Skyline" also showcase the band's intriguing range of musical colors and emotion. Superchunk devotees will welcome the band's detailed comments on every track and the collection's convenient gathering of tracks from a daunting range of eclectic sources, if only four previously unreleased cuts. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where are those songs!? Oh, there they are..., October 31, 2005

By	Stargrazer "the lost mixtape of my life" (deep in the heart of Michigan) - See all my reviews

One of the nice things about Superchunk's singles and EPs is that you know the B-sides are going to be good. Not content to throw on a muffed studio take or a tossed-off live version, the band instead includes songs that stand on their own merits every bit as well (and sometimes better) than album cuts.

For completists or those who don't want to track down all the singles (a few of which are vinyl only), this is a great way to fill in the gaps. And it's pretty revelatory if you were a bit disappointed in the pace and production of "Indoor Living" or "Come Pick Me Up." Songs like "Her Royal Fisticuffs," "The Majestic" and "The Mine Has Been Returned To It's Original Owner" crackle with life. The loping "Fader Rules" appears in all its Tom Petty-conjuring glory. Fun covers of David Bowie, Adam Ant and Government Issue add some extra kick to this indie-rock curry. And "Becoming a Speck," "Clover," and "The Hot Break" shouldn't be missed by any serious Superchunk fan.

It's not exhaustive -- the superlative acoustic renditions from the "Hello Hawk" and "Driveway to Driveway" EPs are still AWOL, the wonderful Failure cover off the limited ed. "Laughter Guns" EP and a few others that deserve wider exposure remain missing. Perhaps we'll see them on future collections?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of keepers in this collection!, June 2, 2004

By	John M. Abbott (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The only drawback to B-side collections is that when you discover a song that's really, really good, you wonder why the band didn't put IT on the album it was recorded for and leave off some of the garbage they DID put on the album. And so it is with Cup of Sand. "The Majestic," "Reg" and "With Bells On" are amazing songs that somehow didn't make the cut for Indoor Living; I think they're better than practically anything on Side Two of that album. And "Her Royal Fisticuffs" deserved better than languishing on an EP. Cup of Sand also collects some fun covers, acoustic versions of much-loved tracks like "Detroit Has a Skyline" and various songs that definitely DIDN'T deserve a spot on an album proper. The accompanying booklet is very meaty, as all four band members weigh in with their memories (or lack thereof) of each track.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars to think `Chunk thought this was crap, December 11, 2003

By	C. Popp (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Okay, the first cd is a little slow and I am biased cuz' I already had most of the songs but the second cd is really great. Two of my faves, the cover of Adam Ant's "Beat My Guest" and the Bowie cover: "Scarry Monsters". "Becoming A Speck" is more of the classic Punk-esque `Chunk. If your a fan of the greatest band in the world, then you'd enjoy this cd.