Superchunk - "What A Time to Be Alive"

Superchunk since the early 90's has been an absolute Punk/Indie Rock institution.  They got their career started in 1990 with the release of their self-titled debut.  This was a seriously fun, upbeat and rebellious sounding record, with everything from crowd favorites like "Slack Motherfucker" to great deep cuts like "Swinging" and "Sick To Move".  Now, I wasn't into some of the slower tunes here, like "Slow" and "Let It Go".  But Superchunk had such a fun sound, with elements of Indie Rock and Power Pop thrown in with their very upbeat and cheery Punk sound.  On their 1991 album "No Pocky For Kitty", Superchunk got a big boost in production and were writing even catchier songs.  Tracks like "Seed Toss" and "Punch Me Harder" remained upbeat and punky, but tracks like "Sprung A Leak" proved they could work with slower, more chugging environments as well. Superchunk continued their string of incredibly catchy and instantly enjoyable album's with 1993's "On The Mouth".  This album incorporated more Indie Rock and Pop Punk elements yet.  But it just gave Superchunk such a unique sound, from the soaring "New Low" to the killer 6-minute jam "Swallow That".  Superchunk went on to follow that up with 1994's fan-favorite album "Foolish", which is an album that I totally understand why it gets so much praise.  I mean, let's be real, this is by FAR the most varied Superchunk album to date, equal parts Punk-fueled Power Pop with straight up Indie jams thrown in throughout.  But for me, it leads to some really mixed feeling. Tracks like "Without Blinking" and "Water Wings" quickly became some of my favorite Superchunk tunes.  But I just felt like they missed the ball a little more often with tracks like "Keeping Track".  Still, though, I enjoyed most of this album, and Superchunk continued to impress.  But with their 1995 album "Here's Where The Strings Come In", Superchunk continued to divide me.  There were some of their best tunes yet here like "Iron On" and "Detroit Has A Skyline", even the 6 minute "Eastern Terminal" was brilliant.  But some of the later tunes here, like "Green Flowers, Blue Fish" were some of the band's most intolerable yet.  And what do you know, Superchunk officially lost my interest with 1997's "Indoor Living".  There was nothing exciting or thrilling or even catchy about this album.  On the contrary, I found most of the tracks here to be just so damn boring and lazily put together.  Superchunk to me just throughout all their energy for a more emotional and Indie sound, and to me it just didn't work.  Superchunk's 1999 album "Come Pick Me Up" wasn't as Punky and energetic once again, especially with tracks like "Low Branches".  However, I did enjoy a whole lot of the more Power Pop oriented tracks, quite a bit at that.  Tracks like "Pink Clouds" and "1000 Pounds" were just so sweet and peppy, so Superchunk still had some fuel in their tank clearly.  2001's "Here's To Shutting Up" was just as divisive for me.  Tracks like the country-twanged "Phone Sex" and the determined "Act Surprised" were great tunes.  But so much of this album had Superchunk sounding exhausted and in need of a break.  And that's exactly what they took, a VERY long break, about 10 years actually.  But what do you know, they came back with one of the most energetic and legitimately fun alba they'd put out in a long time with 2010's "Majesty Shredding".  This album was filled with gloriously cheery Power Pop, fueled by catchy hooks and determined riffs.   Tracks like "Slow Drip" and "Rosemarie" embodied everything I loved about the early years of Superchunk.  And while I still wasn't into slow burners like "Fractures In Plaster", I couldn't have been happier with this return.  On 2013's "I Hate Music", Superchunk seemed to be on cruise control.  Tracks like "Me & You & Jackie Mittoo" and "Trees of Barcelona" were the same focused, over-the-top Power Pop that I loved from them, to begin with.  But tracks like "Staying Home" were sloppy" and tunes like "Breaking Down" seemed a little underwritten.  So it's been a few years since we've heard from Superchunk, but from the sounds of these singles, they may be about to drop one of their best albums yet.  Let's talk about it. 

This album starts off with a bang with “What A Time To Be Alive”.  This one is seriously determined, I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard Superchunk singing with this much heart.  I mean, it’s been at least since the 90’s that I’ve heard them singing like this.  I love the political edge to this one, they do such a good job of making things sound sort of OK on the surface, but there’s just so much going on underneath.  After all these years, Superchunk can still write such an instantaneously memorable chorus that sticks with you.  This track in every way, IS the classic Superchunk formula.  The energy is strong, the memorable hooks are huge, and the wild performances are all here.  I absolutely love this track, and I literally feel like this could have been from their glory years.  Up next we have “Lost My Brain”, and so far I’m absolutely stunned by the intensity of this album.  Superchunk always had punk roots, ever since the early 90’s.  But this is practically inspired by Hardcore.  It’s short, intense, and really has a strong bite to it.  Thankfully though, there’s still a TON of this that’s just so catchy.  So far, Superchunk sound like their old selves. The very peppy, upbeat and determined riffs continue here with “Break the Glass”.  I feel like Superchunk just woke up from a  seriously long nap.  I feel like all around the vocals sound so refreshed and youthful.  While I wouldn’t say “Break the Glass” has nearly as much of a punk edge as some of the band’s earlier material, there’s still a real bite to this.  I absolutely love this track, and while this may be almost a victory lap for these legends, it’s a fucking GOOD one.  Now, “Bad Choices’ is a little bit less up front, and a little less peppy in a weird way.  But I’ll be honest I’m really not that into just how sluggish this one is.  Mac McCaughan's performance here is still highly commendable and is easily one of his most biting performances.  But this reminds me way too much of the band’s late 90's attempt to incorporate a more indie sound.  Sadly I’m just not into this one, and while I do love the very cynical lyrics it doesn’t save it.

Thankfully Superchunk respond with “Dead Photographers”, a much more determined and wild tune.  I love the wailing guitars and driving verses.  It’s moments like this that I feel like Superchunk have simply gotten better with age.  The hooks here are so catchy and the verses are so punchy, and as a collective I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard the entire band be on this much of the same page. Not to mention, that very wild Punk energy continues to be a huge factor in the music here.  Between all of that and an incredibly soaring chorus, “Dead Photographers” is all gravy.  Then we have “Erasure” featuring Katie Crutchfield and Stephin Merritt.   Now, seeing this lineup a few months back had my mouth watering.  I love Waxahatchee, and Stephin Merritt is one of my favorite songwriters of all time.  Now, “Erasure” isn’t nearly as Punk oriented or energetic, and is much slower and groovier.  But I just can’t get enough of just how catchy and hypnotic this one is.  Where this one lacks in energy, it makes up with tons of emotion.  It’s punchy, and while Stephin and Katie’s contributions are on the small side, I can’t say no to this one.  It’s fiery, catchy, and a seriously great single.  Now, I was actually really into the very ripping intro of “I Got Cut”.  But I just don’t get the sort of sluggish verses this one has.  I feel like they built this one up super quick and really well, but quickly deflated it.  Even lyrically, this track is nothing special, and easily one of the more thrown together tracks on here.  Sure, it has a catchy chorus that actually is one of the more memorable of the album.  But overall, this is just so forgettable, and even Mac on vocals sounds like he would so much rather be doing anything else.  Thankfully, “Reagan Youth” brings back in a lot of the chaotic and wild performances of earlier tunes.  Superchunk instantly sound so much more passionate, and that’s not too surprising since they’re getting nostalgic here.  It’s a wild track for sure, and maybe even a little paranoid at points.  But “Reagan Youth” is just so catchy and likable and shows that Superchunk still has tons of energy.  Not to mention, the solos in the last minute are a seriously nice touch. This album is a whole lot more than just a nostalgia trip, let me tell you.

Then we have “Cloud of Hate”, which is easily the most Punk influenced tune here.  It’s barely over a minute long, it’s politically charged, but it’s also super catchy when it needs to be.  I’m shocked at just how much the band sound focused still.   Superchunk constantly has to bust my balls though with these slower tunes.  I still don’t get why tunes like “All For You” are such a necessity. Even when things sort of speed up, I feel like this track is just so bland.  These aren’t the fierce and emotional performances we heard earlier.  And while yes, the chorus is absolutely catchy and sort of memorable, this one just doesn’t have the energy of other tunes here, and I’m back to feeling that this just doesn’t sound natural. Now, when I heard the opening bars of “Black Thread” I almost freaked at the thought of Superchunk ending this album with an acoustic ballad.  But this one actually has some teeth to it believe it or not.  And for a slower tune, this is actually really listenable.  Mac sounds so determined and pissed off, and overall I’m totally fine with this as a finale.  Even the chorus is just so big and anthemic, and show that Superchunk is still certainly unified. 

Rating: 8.0/10


Give A Listen To: "What A Time To Be Alive". "Break the Glass", "Dead Photographers", "Erasure"


Genre: Power Pop / Indie Rock / Punk Rock


Overall Thoughts:  Superchunk return with their first album in 5 years, sounding honestly more focused than they have since the mid-90's.  The last few recordings put out by there Power Pop/Indie Rock legends have been certainly OK, but lacked the determination and energy of their 90's heyday.  But this album is shockingly urgent, politically charged, and wildly energetic.  Also, in a bizarre twist, this is, in parts, their most Punk release ever.  Hell, part of me think that this is some bizarre lost classic the band gussied up to sound more current.  Still, this album exceded my expectations completely, and proves that Superchunk still have tons to offer us.