Chronicle Blogs » Superchunk

Review: Mission of Burma’s The Sound The Speed The Light

Andrew Hibbard — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:39:15 +0000

In a lot of ways, Mission of Burma’s latest LP reminds me of Superchunk’s Leaves in the Gutter EP, released earlier this year. Although the Chapel Hill indie rock band has never seen an album reach quite the level of critical acclaim as the Boston band (and comparing Superchunk to a Matador release is mildly heretical), both bands are are storied. And on their third post-reunion album, Burma is doing exactly what Superchunk did earlier this year: churning out classic tracks and reminding us why we ever liked them in the first place.

To be fair to both bands, neither was quite “churning out” tracks. But neither album charts new territory. And that’s totally fine. After all, why would we care about a post-punk band 30 years after their formation if they never gave us a reason to care in the first place?

And that said, Mission of Burma’s The Sound The Speed The Light is a great release. Twelve tracks, just over 41 minutes, all of the top quality. Here is the working man’s album. The band is on with every song, energetic and enjoyable as they were during the Reagan administration. From opener “1,2,3 Partyy!” (it sounds like you think it would) to “So F– It” and “Good Cheer” all the way to the closing “Slow Faucet,” Roger Miller and co. hit nary a stray note.

So what’s wrong? In effect, nothing. Mission of Burma is as good as they were in their two-studio-LPs 1980s. Even with a 19-year hiatus, they show no signs of slowing down. As mentioned earlier, they don’t sound the same per se, but the band is doing what they’ve always done–and it’s what it’s good at. This is classic Mission of Burma, classic post-punk. Who cares if they aren’t charting new territory? The Sound The Speed The Light is better than 90 percent of the junk released today. If only we were so lucky to have every band be as consistent and hard working as Mission of Burma.

Image courtesy of Courtesy Matador Records

VIDEO: McCaughan & Ballance Perform at Regulator Bookshop, 9/15/09

Kevin Lincoln — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:33:17 +0000

In addition to reading from Our Noise last night, Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan made some music. The two played “Throwing Things” from No Pocky for Kitty, and McCaughan played two solo covers: the first from Butterglory’s Matt Sugg’s debut album, “Where’s Your Patience Dear?” The second was from Lambchop’s How I Quit Smoking, “Theone,” which McCaughan doesn’t know how to pronounce. Check out the videos below.

Mac McCaughan & Laura Ballance Read From Our Noise

Kevin Lincoln — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:04:04 +0000

In celebration of yesterday’s release of Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, Merge’s/Superchunk‘s Laura Ballance stopped by the Regulator Bookshop to read from the book and play a few songs (those videos are forthcoming). McCaughan read from the Lambchop chapter and Ballance from Spoon’s. Check out the video below. The label owners will be reading tomorrow at Bull’s Head Bookshop on UNC’s campus at 3:30 and later that evening at 7:30 p.m. at Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books (and at Malaprop’s in Asheville Oct. 2).

XX Merge Details Emerge

Andrew Hibbard — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:15:05 +0000

Courtesy Merge Records.

Sorry to be a little late on this (Full Frame all day). Merge has released some details on its 20th anniversary festival, XX Merge. The event is a centerpiece of the local label’s year-long anniversay celebration.

Four nights of the July 22-26 festival will be held at the Cradle, with a fifth at UNC’s Memorial Hall. Bands include Spoon, Superchunk (0bviously), the Broken West, the Rosebuds, Polvo (!!), Destroyer, Guv’nur, Spent, M. Ward, Connor Oberst, Pipe and “many more expected & unexpected.” It’s a solid set list, but who else is still holding up for a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion?

Five-day passes are available for $150. Passes go on sale April 8 at 10 a.m. More details are available here.

Merge celebrates 20 years

Andrew Hibbard — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:13:18 +0000

If you didn’t have reason to stick around Durham this summer, Triangle-based Merge Records just gave you a reason to pay the Tarheel State a visit. In celebration of their 20th year, the record label owned by Superchunk/Portastatic frontman Mac McCaughan is hosting a five-day summer concert series featuring Merge artists from the past 20 years. XX Merge will be held from July 22-26 in the “summer heat of sunny North Carolina.” (i.e. location is TBA). Here’s hoping Jeff Mangum makes an appearance

Merge is also offering a year-long subscription for $199 that gets you 14 curated compilation CDs, a remix CD, a Merge covers CD a book of album art and tons of other stuff. Definitely worth it and it can be purchased here.