Superchunk – Leaves In The Gutter
Merge
Reviewed by Chip Norman

Superchunk’s Leaves in The Gutter took seven years to sound like 1994 and the Get Up Kids.

I blame the Get Up Kids, but regardless of emo successors, Superchunk is back to being Superchunk. Anyone who saw even a little action in high school will probably be asking why.

Nostalgia is the obvious answer. For scads of dorky thirty-year-olds, hearing new Superchunk sounding like old Superchunk must be like looking at yearbooks and pretendng someone actually signed them. And to that end, “Leaves In The Gutter” is fairly effective. It reminded me of a happier and extremely gay high school career that I didn’t have. And the Promise Ring.

Since all of that makes me uncomfortable, and I don’t like emo, I won’t be listening to this again. For the chunkers among you, however, Superchunk will be firing on every sentimental cylinder. The songs are catchy, the lyrics vulnerable and starry-eyed, and there are zero signs of danger. Only surfing references, sunshine and major chords to be found here. If your breath is bated for new Lifetime jams, then this will go down like Sabbath.

Sure, there’s no real reason for this thing to exist, but I’ll stop before I ruin anyone’s ten-year reunion. Mac and co. are having fun so that other geriatrics can have fun, too. And there’s no shame in it. At least, no shame that aging Superchunk fans wouldn’t already have. So start crying on the dance floor, dorks; it’s your birthday.

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