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Here's to Shutting Up

 
Album Review: Here's to Shutting Up

  • Artist: Superchunk
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: September 18, 2001
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Based on the first few musical moments on the opening cut, "Late Century Dream," the verdict is in: Superchunk has matured into an intelligent pop/rock band with commercial potential. Though indie purists may scoff at this revelation, Here's to Shutting Up is an enjoyable and refreshing collection that owes as much to the classic sounds of Brian Wilson or early-'70s David Bowie as it does to the punk ethic that established this band as an important alternative to the mainstream in the early '90s. Bursting out of the gate with "Rainy Streets" and the traditional country-tinged "Phone Sex," Superchunk flexes its melodic muscle with an array of textures, balancing a pedal steel with keyboards, acoustic/electric guitars, ambient noises, and strings. Producer Brian Paulson continues in the vein of the band's previous release, Come Pick Me Up, whipping up arrangements that serve the songs with clarity and precision playing. For those who need to rock there is "Art Class (Song for Yayoi Kusama)," and for those who need to reflect there is "The Animal Has Left Its Shell." ~ Tom Semioli, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Late Century Dream Superchunk Superchunk (4:37)
Rainy Streets Superchunk Superchunk (2:07)
Phone Sex Superchunk Superchunk (4:54)
Florida's on Fire Superchunk Superchunk (3:11)
Out on the Wing Superchunk Superchunk (5:51)
The Animal Has Left Its Shell Superchunk Superchunk (3:32)
Act Surprised Superchunk Superchunk (3:59)
Art Class (Song for Yayoi Kusama) Superchunk Superchunk (4:15)
What Do You Look Foward To? Superchunk Superchunk (7:41)
Drool Collection Superchunk Superchunk (3:32)

Credits

Laura Ballance (Bass), Jim Wilbur (Guitar), Brian Paulson (Producer), Mac McCaughan (Vocals), Mac McCaughan (Keyboards), Heather McIntosh (Cello), Mac McCaughan (Guitar), Jon Wurster (Drums), Chris Lopez (Vocals (Background)), Daniel Coston (Photography), John Neff (Pedal Steel), Superchunk (Producer)
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Wikipedia: Here's to Shutting Up
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Here's to Shutting Up
Studio album by Superchunk
Released September 18, 2001
Genre Alternative, Indie rock
Length 43:41
Label Merge Records
Producer Brian Paulson, Superchunk
Professional reviews
Superchunk chronology
Come Pick Me Up
(1999)
Here's to Shutting Up
(2001)
The Clambakes Series Vol. 1
(2002)

Here's to Shutting Up is the eighth studio album by Superchunk. Brian Paulson, who served as co-producer, previously worked with the band on 1994's Foolish.

On this album, the band continued to develop away from the fuzzy punk-pop of its earlier days to something more textured. Keyboards, strings and acoustic guitars abound, and even a pedal steel makes an appearance on "Phone Sex."

The band left "Phone Sex" out of the initial performances of the accompanying tour; with the 11 September 2001 attacks a painfully fresh memory, the members felt uncomfortable performing a song featuring the lyrics "Plane crash footage on TV / I know, I know that could be me." [1]

The title of the album is taken from the opening of the song "Out on the Wing."

Track listing

  1. "Late-Century Dream" - 4:37
  2. "Rainy Streets" - 2:07
  3. "Phone Sex" - 4:54
  4. "Florida's on Fire" - 3:11
  5. "Out on the Wing" - 5:51
  6. "The Animal Has Left its Shell" - 3:32
  7. "Act Surprised" - 3:59
  8. "Art Class (Song for Yayoi Kusama)" - 4:15
  9. "What Do You Look Forward To?" - 7:41
  10. "Drool Collection" - 3:32

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Here's to Shutting Up" Read more