Monday, September 27, 2010

Superchunk - Majesty Shredding

Nine years. That's how long it's been since we've had ourselves a new Superchunk record. No wonder it's been so shitty for me this last epoch! With the Chinese Democracy precedent of diminishing returns and the low-key manner of '01s Here's To Shutting Up, my hopes were not especially high for an up-tempo keyboard-free Chunk release, to the point where I hadn't even listened to the record a day before the team rolled into town. The Leaves In The Gutter EP bade well, but I was in too fragile a place to find that the new Superchunk disc was a disappoinment.

Dropping the laser on Majesty Shredding, I am happy, nay ecstatic, to report that Superchunk are back to rock your lame ass in a pronounced fashion. Even by Superchunk standards, this little firecracker is a good one. The first single, "Digging For Something" has a great whoa-oh hook and has been featuring stage invasions by Mr. John Darnielle of late, so you can safely assume that realness is being kept with our heroes. Wonderfully enough, it's the tip of the rock iceberg, as a solid 85% of Majesty Shredding is head and shoulders above 99% of the rock that has dropped this year. The other 15% is probably just head above, but regardless a virtual or actual trip to your favorite music purveyor is most definitely in order. Here's a link to Merge. If you are of a mind to see if the new stuff translates live, musical godsend NYC Taper has the whole MHOW set for free here.

R

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