Best of 2010: #5 Superchunk - Majesty Shredding

You would have to be crazy to expect much, an “indie rock” band, though indie rock seemed to have left this sound some time ago, from the 90’s putting out an album of original material nearly a decade since their last release. There are piles of records released by bands in similar positions and none of them scratch the surface of how good this is. This year Superchunk made an album that was not only “good considering” it was just great regardless of context. A record that could potentially be the best of an excellent career.

I feel so bad for those few voices(fewer and fewer every year), who when Weezer put out a record they say things like “return to form” and “best since…” and every year what they get is a series of more confounding choices from a band that barely resembles the one these fans fell in love with so many years ago. Superchunk’s triumph made me feel worse for them this year. What they’ve done here is come back as an idealized version of themselves. The hard rocking urgency of their early albums, the catchy immediacy of their later 90’s albums, a slight nod the wider sonic palette of their last record(the under appreciated Here’s To Shutting Up), it’s all here. They’ve given fans a record they definitely didn’t expect and didn’t realize they needed.

Majesty Shredding is pop-punk for adults without sacrificing any of the energy and scrappiness the genre requires. Every song has “best song on the album” potential. “Digging For Something,” “My Gap Feels Weird,” “Crossed Wires,” “Winter Games,” listing these songs reads to me like a brand new greatest hits package. If you know someone who excitedly downloaded and was let down by Hurley this year, Majesty Shredding is the Christmas gift you should, nay must, buy them.

Top 5 Self Titled Albums

A musician (who exactly I can't recall) once said "Life's too short for self titled albums." I couldn't agree more. There are simply too many great options for album titles to go around using one's band name. But every now and again these eponymous albums turn out just ducky in spite of the lack of care in titles. Here's my top 5.


5. Paul Simon (1972) - Paul Simon would be more expansive in his solo career but he was rarely as melodicly satisfying as on his solo debut.



4. The Velvet Underground (1969) - The album that perhaps carries the imprint of the Velvet Underground's droney and downcast reputation more than any other also happens to be packed with Lou Reed's most emotive songs written for the band. The album finds the band finding the true balance of their clanging with the subdued sense of tone later copped by R.E.M. and millions of other bands.



3. Suicide (1977) - In the year of punk Suicide decided to take the next step. Rather than pumping songs like "Ghost Rider" and "Cheree" with punk distorted power chords and howls they created a burbling synth record. Some of the creepiest music of the generally creepy post punk genre.


2. Weezer (1994) - The most well crafted guitar pop album of the 90's (possibly ever) was also one of the most blandly packaged hits of that decade. It happens to remain one of the most listenable albums of the Alternative Nation and a perfect entry point for most pre-teens to the world of indie-geek chic.

1. The Modern Lovers (1976) - Maybe I just make lists to talk about how amazing this pre-punk album is. Not a spec of fat on this album that includes it's lack of a title. Jonathan Richman was one of the finest songwriters of all time if for only this albums 12 tracks.



Some Honorable mentions:
Ramones (1976), The Beatles (1968), They Might Be Giants (1986), The Clash (1977), Liars (2007), The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967), LCD Soundsystem (2005).