Great old footage! I was actually at that super old show at the Humble Pie (Raleigh, NC) when Mac had long hair. Seen them ~15+ times. Thanks for making this.
Great video! I agree that the Incidental Music comp is fantastic, as are Tossing Seeds and Cup of Sand. Superchunk are masters of the B-sides/odds-and-ends comps. On The Mouth would be my #1.
Here’s my humble, yet definitive & obsessive Superchunk favorite tracks (order by album). Ending at 2001: *Superchunk:* Sick to Move, My Noise, Slack Motherfucker *No Pocky:* Skip Steps 1 & 3, Seed Toss, Cast Iron, Tower, Throwing Things *Tossing Seeds:* My Noise, Fishing, Cool, Seed Toss, Brand New Love *On the Mouth:* Precision Auto, From the Curve, Mower, Package Thief, I Guess I Remembered it Wrong *Foolish:* Like a Fool, The First Part, Water Wings, Driveway to Driveway *Incidental Music:* Shallow End, On the Mouth, Cadmium, Ribbon, 100,000 Fireflies, Throwing Things (acoustic), Forged It *Strings…:* Hyper Enough, Silver Lead & Snowy Tears, Iron On, Detroit Has a Skyline, Animated Airplanes… *Indoor Living:* Unbelievable Things, Marquee, Watery Hands, Nu Bruises, European Medicine, Martinis on the Roof *Come Pick Me Up:* So Convinced, Hello Hawk, 1000 Pounds *Here’s to Shutting Up:* Late-Century Dream, Rainy Streets, Art Class, Drool Collection
Great vid! Cool that you met them back in the day and everything. I'm a newer fan (started with Majesty Shredding) and I have been blown away by their whole discography. I am so glad I checked it all!
I stopped getting the albums after Foolish, this has reminded me I need to pick up a few more. I have the Wwax singles (Macs earlier band) and was really into Merge as a record label early on. Agree with your top pick. Nice work again.
Glad you brought up the 'Mats. They were the band I thought of when I heard "Skip Steps 1 and 3", on No Pocky, the first album I heard from them. A kudo to MTV's 120 minutes for turning me on to them. The channel was still good for something back then.
Hi Dave. Not sure if I had already left you a comment on this video original not. The thing is your ranking here has meant a huge opportunity for me to visit Superchunk's catalogue and dig into some f their records, just leaving me wanting more if them. For now I love No Pocky and On the Mouth but Majesty Shredding is so good! My favourite álbum is between this one and No Pocky. Still I like and bought I hate music too. And would like to complete my Superchunk's collection with Foolish. I miss a lot this kind of ranking vídeos of bands like The Muffs, Sunny Day Real State, Firehose, etc. A guy of your large background, experiencia and knowlege, whenever you prepare a video with any personal story driving a band's álbum or live performance or anything, man I learn the load if It and cannot thank you enough for sharing. New banda and música un general today is not what used todo be back in the nineties. Looking forward to your next video. Please keep up with this channel. A gift for ears and true music lovers. Hugs from Asturias, Northern Spain.
Mine 1. On the Mouth (almost perfect album so much variety) 2. Foolish (again classic Superchunk and lots of variety) 3. No Pocky (dig it, but I've always thought the production was kinda flat) 4. Superchunk (some of its not as strong as future songs but Sick to move, Slack MF, My noise are classics) 4. Here’s Were The Strings Come In (Hyper is an amazing song, but at the time much of it sounded too polished) 8. Indoor Living (Was disappointed at the time in the direction and way Mac starting singing, but it suits a different mood) 9. Come pick me up (As above but even more so) Im in a similar position they were my favourite band in early to mid 90s but lost interest a bit after Strings I bought Majesty shredding and I hate music but havent really got into them or anything since. But Tossing seeds and Incidental music would rank 2nd and 4th if included and Cup of sand would come in after Strings
1. Foolish 2. No Pocky For Kitty 3. On The Mouth 4. Here’s Were The Strings Come In 5. Here’s To Shutting Up 6. Majesty Shredding 7. Come Pick Me Up 8. Indoor Living 9. I Hate Music 10. Superchunk 11. What A Time To Be Alive Also one of my all time favorite bands, I started listening to them in 2014 so it was quite overwhelming (in a good way) having all these great records to discover. I’ve probably only listened to the latest record maybe twice since it’s come out, it just didn’t hook me at the time and I need to listen to it more. Here’s to Shutting Up was definitely toward the bottom for me initially but over the last few years I’ve really grown to love it.
Great reviews of both Husker Du and Superchunk. How about a ranking of Buffalo Tom's albums? Along with Huskers and Chunk they too are criminally underrated.
Hi Dave. I am not well versed when it comes to Superchunk's discography. I only have the debut. I got turned onto them after I bought Neutral Milk Hotel's 'In the Aeroplane over the Sea' on vinyl. I looked into Matador/Merge Records and found out that Mac and Laura co-owned the label. From there I bought the debut and the second album No Pocky for Kitty I grabbed on CD. I was stoked to see that you gave the first place prize to No Pocky. Well done Dave. You are a master at ranking bands. A master~ Rob/Boston
Thanks, as always, for the kind words, Rob. Now is the time for you to start expanding that Superchunk collection! That's interesting how you got into them, actually.
Big Superchunk fan - glad you put this together. Agree with your assessment of Incidental Music. Loved seeing Strings come in so high on your list. I am going to listen to that after this. I had actually been thinking about doing some sort of ranking of either all their albums or just the 90's run. I'm pretty sure my top four would be the same albums as yours in a different order - and I am maybe a little more positive on that late 90's run through Shutting Up.
Good to see you again, VD. When I was asking friends for their choices for best Superchunk album, most everyone picked from those top four. However, I did have a long time friend and old school fan say 'Indoor Living' was his fave of all time. I was shocked. Like I said in the video, I initially didn't give some of those late 90s records a fair chance. I like them now more than I did back then.
Huge Superchunk Fan. I started college in 1989 in Chapel Hill where they are from and saw them quite often at the Cats Cradle. John Plymale, the producer of one of their albums, was the guitar player and vocalist for the band Sex Police and performed with Superchunk often. John is pretty great and performed with Norwood Cheek who was the bassist for Sex Police.
Thanks for watching. We are probably about the same age. I started college in 89, as well. I saw them a bunch in the 90s, but haven't seen them since 2011.
I remember seeing them after the No Pocky For Kitty album came out. Went to the merch table and they didn't have the only '45 I was missing but I hung out talking to them about how I loved the band. If they had a video out I hadn't seen it and I had no idea what the band looked like. So when they hit the stage I shouted "The guys at the merch table ARE Superchunk"
Great rankings for SC and HD. I look forward to more! Huge fan of both of the bands. I actually had Bob Mould standing right behind me last time I saw SC at a festival! Keep up the intriguing and unique content! 'Mats? Soul Asylum? Spoon?
I thought about Replacements, but feel it's too obvious with regards to the order. Soul Asylum is a maybe. Need to get a little more familiar with the newer records. Spoon...is a possibility. Had Buffalo Tom recommended, as well.
Great to see your Superchunk list. I've seen Majesty Shredding a bunch of times at record stores but for some reason I never got it. I may need to pick it up next time. I am still not familiar with some of their albums but Foolish is my #1. It came out at the right time for me along with so many great 1994 albums. On the mouth would be 2 for me but that might change as I listen to some of their older albums. Will check out No Pocky.
You definitely need to get No Pocky and Majesty Shredding. I love 'Foolish' (never liked the artwork), and like I said, it was hard to make a choice for the top couple albums.
Longtime fan here of Superchunk. I’m glad you posted this ranking. It was fun the revisit their albums - mostly some that I had forgotten about (Here’s to Shutting Up and Majesty Shredding). I agree, I was so pumped when Majesty was released - it sounded like they were invigorated and the songs were good. I would have to rank Foolish, Here’s Where the Strings..., and On the Mouth as my top 3. I really liked Indoor Living and got a chance to see them on that tour w/ Neutral Milk Hotel - amazing! I liked some of the added parts to IL, but they were changing. Just didn’t like how quiet they got on Come Pick Me Up (least fav). I also agree - Incidental Music is fantastic (fav song Home at Dawn). What did you think of Tossing Seeds singles comp?
I guess I am just not hearing what others hear in Indoor Living. I love Tossing Seeds. Part of why I said they were the best singles bands of the 90s is because those comps are so good.
Ah I see you also like NPFK best of their regular albums. There are 3 albums I can think of with amazing guitar sounds that, to my mind, even after all these years have gone by, tower over everything else in rock. These are Superchunk- No Pocky for Kitty; Thin White Rope- Moonhead and the Meatpuppets- II . A fourth album that is close to that elevation would be Come - Don't Ask Don't Tell and also within stone's throw Dinosaur Jr- You're Living all over me.
This vid popped up when i was watching the old "Throwing Things" vid.. I didn't know what I'd think of this guy, but i'll tell you what I immediately thought to myself... "I don't know about his overall ranking of SC albums, but "Pocky" & "On the Mouth" MUST be the top 2." Idc the order of those 2, but they are the top 2, hands-down, for this great band. Well he didn't disappoint.. and I got a lot of good food for thought along the way. For instance, hard to believe you'd put "incidental music" above the other 2 (if b-side collections were included)... i definitely remember liking some songs on that album... but that seems excessive. Buuttt.. ill definitely have to go back to that one. And minor quibble.. surprised you didn't list "For Tension" among the standouts from "On the Mouth." Man, that is as good as anything these guys ever did.. right up there with "Throwing Things" or "Certain Stars." Great vid.
no way.. Foolish was decent.. esp Like a Fool, the First Part & Keeping Track.. but Foolish began that inevitable slide into "maturity" .. ie when a band is no longer as young & hungry, and the music is not as inspired. imho most rock bands' best albums are their first, or at least among the first. Take as an example Smashing Pumpkins. Not sure if you've ever heard their first album (most people haven't.. "Gish" on Caroline records).. about as good a rock album as you'll ever hear. Why? Cuz they were still young & hungry, and filled with energy, and it was still all about the "art." Same with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Local H, Swell, Sugar (well they only had 2.5 albums & they were all great).. most of all Janes Addiction. Even take a mainstream band like U2... nothing in their later catalog compares to what they put out in their first 4 or 5 (most esp album 3, War). Anyway not tryn to bend yr ear, great job on the Superchunk listing.. Reminds me, I went to see them this one time in the mid-zeroes in Hartford, in a little club, & they were opening up for some band i never heard of, and everyone was there to see the other band. Beautiful & sad at the same time.. All cuz they rejected major labels i guess.. if there were any justice in the world the Superchunks & Sonic Youths would be rich and famous and the Taylor Swifts would be toiling in obscurity. Peace..
Great review, but i'm a bit disapointed with you, agree with the first places, on the mouth and No Pocki for Kitty are the best, but for me in door living etape was good, and the last etape worst.
Indoor Living was so jarring to me back then, and such a departure, that I've never been able to totally get into it. I have come to like it more decades later.
@@Thedarkstuff I kind of liked Indoor Living too. Martinis on the Roof...I think was a favorite and though I cannot remember the tune now (have to revisit it and give it a listen again), I liked it at the time and liked some of the new instrumentation (especially on that particular song) but of course you are right that you kind of want that beautiful raging rock power to hang on forever and thus I was experiencing some disappointment that they just had lost or decided to leave off some of that to "evolve".
Great old footage! I was actually at that super old show at the Humble Pie (Raleigh, NC) when Mac had long hair. Seen them ~15+ times. Thanks for making this.
Very cool!
Great video! I agree that the Incidental Music comp is fantastic, as are Tossing Seeds and Cup of Sand. Superchunk are masters of the B-sides/odds-and-ends comps.
On The Mouth would be my #1.
Thanks for watching. Yeah, OTM was a very close second for me.
Here’s my humble, yet definitive & obsessive Superchunk favorite tracks (order by album). Ending at 2001:
*Superchunk:* Sick to Move, My Noise, Slack Motherfucker
*No Pocky:* Skip Steps 1 & 3, Seed Toss, Cast Iron, Tower, Throwing Things
*Tossing Seeds:* My Noise, Fishing, Cool, Seed Toss, Brand New Love
*On the Mouth:* Precision Auto, From the Curve, Mower, Package Thief, I Guess I Remembered it Wrong
*Foolish:* Like a Fool, The First Part, Water Wings, Driveway to Driveway
*Incidental Music:* Shallow End, On the Mouth, Cadmium, Ribbon, 100,000 Fireflies, Throwing Things (acoustic), Forged It
*Strings…:* Hyper Enough, Silver Lead & Snowy Tears, Iron On, Detroit Has a Skyline, Animated Airplanes…
*Indoor Living:* Unbelievable Things, Marquee, Watery Hands, Nu Bruises, European Medicine, Martinis on the Roof
*Come Pick Me Up:* So Convinced, Hello Hawk, 1000 Pounds
*Here’s to Shutting Up:* Late-Century Dream, Rainy Streets, Art Class, Drool Collection
Thanks for the list!!
Great vid! Cool that you met them back in the day and everything. I'm a newer fan (started with Majesty Shredding) and I have been blown away by their whole discography. I am so glad I checked it all!
Thanks so much for watching, it's very much appreciated.
I stopped getting the albums after Foolish, this has reminded me I need to pick up a few more. I have the Wwax singles (Macs earlier band) and was really into Merge as a record label early on. Agree with your top pick. Nice work again.
Great band! Thanks for doing this! Also loved the Husker Du post you did prior to this. Nobody else seems to be doing this kind of thing! Keep it up!
Glad you brought up the 'Mats. They were the band I thought of when I heard "Skip Steps 1 and 3", on No Pocky, the first album I heard from them. A kudo to MTV's 120 minutes for turning me on to them. The channel was still good for something back then.
120 Minutes was everything in the early 90s! I still love seeing clips from that show. Hated that Dave Kendall guy, but the show was great.
Really enjoyed this one. I missed out on a lot of their stuff back in the day. Nice to know which ones to focus on.
Curious if you end up agreeing with my assessment.
Hi Dave. Not sure if I had already left you a comment on this video original not. The thing is your ranking here has meant a huge opportunity for me to visit Superchunk's catalogue and dig into some f their records, just leaving me wanting more if them. For now I love No Pocky and On the Mouth but Majesty Shredding is so good! My favourite álbum is between this one and No Pocky. Still I like and bought I hate music too. And would like to complete my Superchunk's collection with Foolish. I miss a lot this kind of ranking vídeos of bands like The Muffs, Sunny Day Real State, Firehose, etc. A guy of your large background, experiencia and knowlege, whenever you prepare a video with any personal story driving a band's álbum or live performance or anything, man I learn the load if It and cannot thank you enough for sharing. New banda and música un general today is not what used todo be back in the nineties. Looking forward to your next video. Please keep up with this channel. A gift for ears and true music lovers. Hugs from Asturias, Northern Spain.
Mine
1. On the Mouth (almost perfect album so much variety)
2. Foolish (again classic Superchunk and lots of variety)
3. No Pocky (dig it, but I've always thought the production was kinda flat)
4. Superchunk (some of its not as strong as future songs but Sick to move, Slack MF, My noise are classics)
4. Here’s Were The Strings Come In (Hyper is an amazing song, but at the time much of it sounded too polished)
8. Indoor Living (Was disappointed at the time in the direction and way Mac starting singing, but it suits a different mood)
9. Come pick me up (As above but even more so)
Im in a similar position they were my favourite band in early to mid 90s but lost interest a bit after Strings I bought Majesty shredding and I hate music but havent really got into them or anything since.
But Tossing seeds and Incidental music would rank 2nd and 4th if included and Cup of sand would come in after Strings
1. Foolish
2. No Pocky For Kitty
3. On The Mouth
4. Here’s Were The Strings Come In
5. Here’s To Shutting Up
6. Majesty Shredding
7. Come Pick Me Up
8. Indoor Living
9. I Hate Music
10. Superchunk
11. What A Time To Be Alive
Also one of my all time favorite bands, I started listening to them in 2014 so it was quite overwhelming (in a good way) having all these great records to discover.
I’ve probably only listened to the latest record maybe twice since it’s come out, it just didn’t hook me at the time and I need to listen to it more. Here’s to Shutting Up was definitely toward the bottom for me initially but over the last few years I’ve really grown to love it.
Not a bad list, but I'd give What a Time... another chance.
Great reviews of both Husker Du and Superchunk. How about a ranking of Buffalo Tom's albums? Along with Huskers and Chunk they too are criminally underrated.
Not a bad idea. I like Buffalo Tom a lot. I would need to listen to the whole catalog again to get it fresher in my mind.
I did it: th-cam.com/video/sWJFjR8UgpY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qQs2MYzFeVPUmstB
Hi Dave. I am not well versed when it comes to Superchunk's discography. I only have the debut. I got turned onto them after I bought Neutral Milk Hotel's 'In the Aeroplane over the Sea' on vinyl. I looked into Matador/Merge Records and found out that Mac and Laura co-owned the label. From there I bought the debut and the second album No Pocky for Kitty I grabbed on CD. I was stoked to see that you gave the first place prize to No Pocky. Well done Dave. You are a master at ranking bands. A master~
Rob/Boston
Thanks, as always, for the kind words, Rob. Now is the time for you to start expanding that Superchunk collection! That's interesting how you got into them, actually.
Big Superchunk fan - glad you put this together. Agree with your assessment of Incidental Music. Loved seeing Strings come in so high on your list. I am going to listen to that after this. I had actually been thinking about doing some sort of ranking of either all their albums or just the 90's run. I'm pretty sure my top four would be the same albums as yours in a different order - and I am maybe a little more positive on that late 90's run through Shutting Up.
Good to see you again, VD. When I was asking friends for their choices for best Superchunk album, most everyone picked from those top four. However, I did have a long time friend and old school fan say 'Indoor Living' was his fave of all time. I was shocked. Like I said in the video, I initially didn't give some of those late 90s records a fair chance. I like them now more than I did back then.
Huge Superchunk Fan. I started college in 1989 in Chapel Hill where they are from and saw them quite often at the Cats Cradle. John Plymale, the producer of one of their albums, was the guitar player and vocalist for the band Sex Police and performed with Superchunk often. John is pretty great and performed with Norwood Cheek who was the bassist for Sex Police.
Thanks for watching. We are probably about the same age. I started college in 89, as well. I saw them a bunch in the 90s, but haven't seen them since 2011.
Great picks! I agree No Pocky is their best and one of the greatest albums of the 90s
I remember seeing them after the No Pocky For Kitty album came out. Went to the merch table and they didn't have the only '45 I was missing but I hung out talking to them about how I loved the band. If they had a video out I hadn't seen it and I had no idea what the band looked like. So when they hit the stage I shouted "The guys at the merch table ARE Superchunk"
I did a similar thing with Pavement when I saw them on Slanted.
Great rankings for SC and HD. I look forward to more! Huge fan of both of the bands. I actually had Bob Mould standing right behind me last time I saw SC at a festival! Keep up the intriguing and unique content! 'Mats? Soul Asylum? Spoon?
I thought about Replacements, but feel it's too obvious with regards to the order. Soul Asylum is a maybe. Need to get a little more familiar with the newer records. Spoon...is a possibility. Had Buffalo Tom recommended, as well.
Great to see your Superchunk list. I've seen Majesty Shredding a bunch of times at record stores but for some reason I never got it. I may need to pick it up next time. I am still not familiar with some of their albums but Foolish is my #1. It came out at the right time for me along with so many great 1994 albums. On the mouth would be 2 for me but that might change as I listen to some of their older albums. Will check out No Pocky.
You definitely need to get No Pocky and Majesty Shredding. I love 'Foolish' (never liked the artwork), and like I said, it was hard to make a choice for the top couple albums.
Longtime fan here of Superchunk. I’m glad you posted this ranking. It was fun the revisit their albums - mostly some that I had forgotten about (Here’s to Shutting Up and Majesty Shredding). I agree, I was so pumped when Majesty was released - it sounded like they were invigorated and the songs were good. I would have to rank Foolish, Here’s Where the Strings..., and On the Mouth as my top 3. I really liked Indoor Living and got a chance to see them on that tour w/ Neutral Milk Hotel - amazing! I liked some of the added parts to IL, but they were changing. Just didn’t like how quiet they got on Come Pick Me Up (least fav). I also agree - Incidental Music is fantastic (fav song Home at Dawn). What did you think of Tossing Seeds singles comp?
I guess I am just not hearing what others hear in Indoor Living. I love Tossing Seeds. Part of why I said they were the best singles bands of the 90s is because those comps are so good.
Ah I see you also like NPFK best of their regular albums. There are 3 albums I can think of with amazing guitar sounds that, to my mind, even after all these years have gone by, tower over everything else in rock. These are Superchunk- No Pocky for Kitty; Thin White Rope- Moonhead and the Meatpuppets- II . A fourth album that is close to that elevation would be Come - Don't Ask Don't Tell and also within stone's throw Dinosaur Jr- You're Living all over me.
This vid popped up when i was watching the old "Throwing Things" vid.. I didn't know what I'd think of this guy, but i'll tell you what I immediately thought to myself... "I don't know about his overall ranking of SC albums, but "Pocky" & "On the Mouth" MUST be the top 2." Idc the order of those 2, but they are the top 2, hands-down, for this great band.
Well he didn't disappoint.. and I got a lot of good food for thought along the way.
For instance, hard to believe you'd put "incidental music" above the other 2 (if b-side collections were included)... i definitely remember liking some songs on that album... but that seems excessive. Buuttt.. ill definitely have to go back to that one.
And minor quibble.. surprised you didn't list "For Tension" among the standouts from "On the Mouth." Man, that is as good as anything these guys ever did.. right up there with "Throwing Things" or "Certain Stars."
Great vid.
Thanks so much for watching! Glad you were down with my top 2. Seems like everyone thinks Foolish is the best.
no way.. Foolish was decent.. esp Like a Fool, the First Part & Keeping Track.. but Foolish began that inevitable slide into "maturity" .. ie when a band is no longer as young & hungry, and the music is not as inspired. imho most rock bands' best albums are their first, or at least among the first. Take as an example Smashing Pumpkins. Not sure if you've ever heard their first album (most people haven't.. "Gish" on Caroline records).. about as good a rock album as you'll ever hear. Why? Cuz they were still young & hungry, and filled with energy, and it was still all about the "art." Same with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Local H, Swell, Sugar (well they only had 2.5 albums & they were all great).. most of all Janes Addiction. Even take a mainstream band like U2... nothing in their later catalog compares to what they put out in their first 4 or 5 (most esp album 3, War). Anyway not tryn to bend yr ear, great job on the Superchunk listing..
Reminds me, I went to see them this one time in the mid-zeroes in Hartford, in a little club, & they were opening up for some band i never heard of, and everyone was there to see the other band. Beautiful & sad at the same time.. All cuz they rejected major labels i guess.. if there were any justice in the world the Superchunks & Sonic Youths would be rich and famous and the Taylor Swifts would be toiling in obscurity. Peace..
since there's a good amount of crossover, what on your thoughts on Seam?
Are You Driving Me Crazy is my favorite album of all time.
I like Seam. The were never one of "my bands" but always liked them.
My number one has to be No Pocky for Kitty....haven't looked at yours yet.
I saw Chuck when he was with Small 23. Easily the sweatiest drummer I've ever seen.
I forgot he played with them
Great review, but i'm a bit disapointed with you, agree with the first places, on the mouth and No Pocki for Kitty are the best, but for me in door living etape was good, and the last etape worst.
Indoor Living was so jarring to me back then, and such a departure, that I've never been able to totally get into it. I have come to like it more decades later.
@@Thedarkstuff I kind of liked Indoor Living too. Martinis on the Roof...I think was a favorite and though I cannot remember the tune now (have to revisit it and give it a listen again), I liked it at the time and liked some of the new instrumentation (especially on that particular song) but of course you are right that you kind of want that beautiful raging rock power to hang on forever and thus I was experiencing some disappointment that they just had lost or decided to leave off some of that to "evolve".