Tag Archives: Indie Rock

Review: Superchunk – Foolish (Remastered)

Posted on by
Reply

Backtrack to 1994 when Superchunk originally released Foolish on their own label moniker, Merge Records, after a three album stint with Matador Records. On the heals of the grunge movement, this album truly was different compared to other releases at the time. Superchunk breathed a unique life into ‘alternative’ music that was dominated by bands like Nirvana, Oasis, Beck and Soundgarden. Their sharp buzz saw guitars, slightly off kilter vocals and melodic hooks made Foolish an instant classic which stood out from their contemporaries and marked a new direction for the band from their punk rock roots.

Fast forward to present, and Superchunk / Merge Records remastered and re-released Foolish. Amazing tracks like the kick-you-in-the-face aggression of Water Wings, cool indie rock swagger of Driveway to Driveway and ultra moody Like A Fool have been given a mastering overhaul. Even today, in 2011, they remain as unique and relevant as they did when they originally released Foolish. This album could come out today and fit into the current indie rock landscape with no problem.

The Foolish reissue is available now on CD, LP, digital download, and deluxe version CD through Merge Records. All formats will also feature new artwork and liner notes from drummer Jon Wurster. The deluxe reissue version will include the following bonus material: The Clambakes, Vol. 6: One in a Row, a 64-minute live recording from 1994 of Superchunk’s show at First Avenue in Minneapolis during the Foolish tour; three songs from rehearsals in Jon Wurster’s basement taped just before the band entered the studio to record the album; and the three acoustic b-sides from the Driveway to Driveway EP.

Watch their video for Driveway to Driveway.

 

See them live in UK later this year
December 1 – London, England @ Scala
December 2 – Minehead, England @ All Tomorrow’s Parties

For more information on Superchunk, visit www.superchunk.com.

Review: An Horse – Walls

Posted on by
Reply

An Horse’s latest album Walls, the follow-up to 2009′s Rearrange Beds, is out now on Mom + Pop Music. If you aren’t familiar with An Horse, they are the Australian indie-rock duo of Kate Cooper (singer/guitarist) and Damon Cox (drummer/singer) who met while working in a record store in Brisbane.

Cooper spoke about the previous record as well as the new album, Walls. “With Rearrange Beds, we made a record of two people learning how to play together. I don’t think you can hear that on the album per se, but that’s what it was.” This time, the pair decided to make a record that reflected their bond not just as music aficionados, but as musical collaborators. “Walls was really deliberate,” Kate explains. “We had hundreds of shows under our belt and we had figured out how to play off each other.”

An Horse set out to record Walls in Vancouver after taking a break in their home cities (Cooper lives in Montreal and Cox in Melbourne). They chose Howard Redekopp, who has previously worked with The New Pornographers and Tegan and Sara as well as An Horse (Redekopp mixed Rearrange Beds), to produce the album. You can definitely hear similarities to both of these acts on Walls, more so to Tegan and Sara (in a good way).

The album still has a distinct, consistent style and sound throughout. Walls has catchy written all over it and runs the spectrum from minimalist pop songs to full-on blazing indie rock (still with a Cooper’s pop vocals). The album is a very solid sophomore offering and definitely a must have for anyone into Tegan and Sara or Sleater-Kinney / Wild Flag. Standout tracks include the razor sharp guitar indie rock of ‘Sharply Dressed’ and ‘Trains and Tracks’, and the pop hooks of ‘Airport Death’. Listen below.

Sharply Dressed

Trains and Tracks

For more information about An Horse, visit:
www.anhorse.com
www.myspace.com/anhorse