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Archive for the ‘Superchunk’ Category

Rick Moody–”Hawaiian Night” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Death, Funny (strange), New Yorker, Rick Moody, Short Story, Superchunk on October 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-“Driveway to Driveway” (1994).

This disc is a first for Superchunk EPs.  The three “B” sides are all acoustic.  One of the nice things about that is that it showcases how good the songs are underneath all of the noise and distortion.

“Seed Toss” is from No Pocky for Kitty & “Sick to Move” is from Superchunk.  Obviously, they’re good songs or they wouldn’t have chosen them (out of all the back catalog…I mean, they could have chosen “Slack Motherfucker” after all).  And these acoustic versions are fun and interesting.

The final track is an acoustic “Driveway to Driveway.”  This is the most immediate in terms of comparison to the original (not least of which is the acoustic is a minute longer).  It allows them to breathe a little bit (and to make the lyrics more clear).

I’m not suggesting that Superchuink should be acoustic by any means, but it’s nice to hear the heart underneath the noise.

[READ: September 30, 2010] “Hawaiian Night”

Rick Moody is the fourth New Yorker 20 Under 40 author in the 1999 issue.

I’ve enjoyed a few of Rick Moody’s works (although now that I looked him up I found that he wrote a book called Garden State set in Haledon NJ (right near where I grew up…how did I not know this?…I shall have to read it very soon).

This piece seems like an experimental scene rather than a short story (or perhaps it’s from a longer work?).  It begins quite fascinatingly in a stark narrative style.  Pieces of information are doled out.  The information sets a scene with more and more detail. It is “Hawaiian Night” at a corporate picnic.  We see the limbo and the tuna skewers.  And then we meet the cast: dozens of interchangeable children having sanctioned fun amidst the adult workers.

And then suddenly things grow dark.   (more…)

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Sherman Alexie–”The Toughest Indian in the World” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in Books about writers, LGBTQ, Native Americans, New Yorker, Sherman Alexie, Short Story, Superchunk, Violence on October 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-The First Part (1993).

The First Part opens with a guitar riff, very different from the chugga-chugga songs that they’ve played on the other tracks.  In fact, at the end of the verses, the bass backs out entirely leaving an interesting and unexpected sound for the song.

The second song, “Connecticut” is similar in that it also has a guitar riff (and a kind of solo) in the introduction.  The surprise comes at about a minute thirty-five when the guitar solo kicks in and the song suddenly shifts into an all out rocker.  This change is especially surprising since the song is just over 2 minutes long.

“Foolish” plays with a distortion-fueled repetitive riff that keeps the song moving.  It’s really quite infectious and something of a departure for the band.  This whole EP shows quite a leap forward in terms of Superchunk singles.

[READ: September 30, 2010] “The Toughest Indian in the World”

Sherman Alexie is the third author in the New Yorker’s 1999 20 Under 40 collection.

I have read a few Sherman Alexie pieces, and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read.  And yet, for some reason, he’s not one of the authors I keep a look out for.

This story is about a newspaper writer. He is Spokane Indian.  We learn a little about his past.  And one thing–his father only ever picked up hitchhikers if they were also Native–is a tradition he follows today.  Even though his girlfriend doesn’t want him to pick up anyone.   We also learn a little about his previous girlfriends (like the white woman who only dated non-white men).

Alexie’s writing style is wonderfully fluid and relaxed during this background information. It’s a very easy read, and quite funny too.  But things change when he meets the titular toughest Indian. (more…)

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Chris Adrain–“The Warm Fuzzies” (New Yorker, September 27, 2010)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Boredom, Chris Adrian, Funny (ha ha), McSweeney's, Morality, New Yorker, Religion, Superchunk on October 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-Mower (1993).

It was a robin’s egg and it was blue. Such is the oft-repeated line in the title track. It’s another great single from Superchunk:  poppy and cool and fun to bounce around to.

The second song, “On the Mouth” is a much faster, more punk track, apparently about frustrated love.

The final track is a live version of the song “Fishing.”  It’s one of the few live Superchunk tracks that I’ve heard (and it lasts over 5 minutes!).  It’s full of feedback squalls and lots of noise.  When the drums eventually kick in, it’s a fast-paced thundering experience.  The squealing guitar (and feedbacking outro) leads me to suspect that their lives shows were even more energetic than their albums.

[READ: October 4, 2010] “The Warm Fuzzies”

I have The Children’s Hospital from Adrian which I’ve been meaning to read for ages, but so many other things get in the way.  I have read a few of his short stories in McSweeney’s and the New Yorker. Adrian’s story was the final one of the 20 Under 40 stories in this year’s New Yorker list.

I felt this story was a little clunky at first.  I had a hard time keeping the story straight. And yet, once it settled down I found it really engaging and rather fascinating.

The story is about the Carter Family.  Not that Carter family, but another singing Carter Family. One day both mother and father Carter woke up and decided to stop being just the Carters; they decided to devote their life to Jesus in song.  And so, as it opens, we see The Carter Family practicing another one of their four chord songs.

In this particular practice, a new kid is playing the tambourine.   This new kid is, like all of the other new kids, a foster child and black.  This new foster child is named Paul, although he tells them all his name is Peabo.

The confusing thing in the beginning was just getting the hang of who all the family members were.  But once they were settled in, it was very easy to keep straight, and more importantly, to get hooked into the story.  We get a brief look at the family before music enter their lives, and we see how the children treat each other.  Each new foster child brings something new to the sound. And Paul/Peabo brings a bit of unexpected flair to their rather tepid music.  But the only one who seems to notice is Molly.  And really, this is Molly’s story. (more…)

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie–”Birdsong” (New Yorker, September 20, 2010)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, Marriage Trouble, New Yorker, Romance, Short Story, Superchunk, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me on October 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-The Question is How Fast (1992).

With a new CD out, and–even more impressive–an appearance on NPR’s Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me, I thought it would be fun to revisit Superchunk’s output (starting with their EPs).

This is the earliest Superchunk EP that I own.  The title track is a bracing four minute blast of speedy alt-rock.  It has a poppy structure but the guitar is distorted enough to keep the song interesting over repeated listens.  Of course, it’s the catchy chorus that sells the song.  And it sets the tone for future Superchunk tracks: high pitched vocals sung loud and with unimpeachable pop sensibility.

The second track is “Forged It” a more punk-sounding track that, when the chord changes come in, makes it sound like it’s moving even faster.  A blistering guitar solo muscles its way into the song, too.  The final track is “100,000 Fireflies” a cover of The Magnetic Fields song (and one that they play quite often, it seems).  It’s given suitable bratty treatment from the band.

[READ: October 2, 2010] “Birdsong”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the second to last 20 Under 40 author from the New Yorker. This story has the delightful exoticism of being set in Lagos.

And yet, the basic premise is quite simple: a wealthy married man falls for a woman and they begin an affair.  It’s a fairly typical story of illicit love and jealous.  However, some details are rather different: he allows her to move into his “work” house (he bought it to turn it into condos, but he liked it so much he kept it as an office).  And she lives with him in this way for around 18 months.

Her office mate, a judgmental woman who she would never be friendly with if they didn’t work together is very disapproving of this affair, and always calls him, “your man” knowing fully well that he is actually someone else’s man.

And that, in addition to the love he clearly shows to his wife eats away at her.  So, in many ways, this is a fairly conventional story. (more…)

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