Superchunk release ‘No Hope’, another catchy song about the resilience required for our current times from their recently announced forthcoming album, Songs in the Key of Yikes – due August 22nd on Merge Records.
“The last…10 (?) years have given us plenty of material for crushing nights and endless days, and this rollercoaster is only going down at the moment, but here we are singing”,Mac McCaughan explains. On the track McCaughan’s lyrics paint a crushing scene before entering its titular refrain. He repeats the phrase nine times, pauses a beat, and transforms its sentiment entirely, breaking the chant with the line “and here we are singing”. The lyric is sharp, at once a simple observation and a profound statement of being but McCaughan’s voice finds a certain sweetness in having endured, and continuing to do so.
Superchunk announced Songs in the Key of Yikes last month with its opening track and lead single ‘Is It Making You Feel Something‘. The track received praise from publications like Kerrang, Uncut, Pitchfork, Consequence, Paste, Stereogum, The Needle Drop, The Line Of Best Fit and Bring The Noise, who called it “quintessential Superchunk” and said “they sound as vital and urgent and purposeful and completely inspired as they ever have”.
“It’s always been the case that everyone is going through something that you may not be aware of,” notes Mac McCaughan. “This is currently more true than ever – but also the case that we are all going through some things together. In the face of that, what good is art and where is happiness found? (Spoiler alert: I don’t know)”. In seeking an answer, Songs in the Key of Yikes unleashes a sound that is triumphant and bright in the darkness, Majesty Shredding in overdrive.
Songs in the Key of Yikes is a signature Superchunk album: visceral and timeless and catchy as hell – a cathartic balm for these oppressive times that will feel even better once we’ve figured our collective shit out.
1. Is It Making You Feel Something
2. Bruised Lung
3. No Hope
4. Care Less
5. Climb the Walls
6. Cue
7. Everybody Dies
8. Stuck in a Dream
9. Train on Fire
10. Some Green
Photo credit: Alex Cox