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News

Sep 26, 2023

Acclaimed actor/musician Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy (of Superchunk, Split Single, and Bob Mould’s band) have announced that they will go on tour next February where they will perform R.E.M.’s 1983-released debut album, Murmur, in its entirety, alongside some other early R.E.M. singles. More

Feb 22, 2022

TORRES (aka MacKenzie Scott) has announced rescheduled U.K. and Europe dates for her upcoming tour with Superchunk, which is set to begin this Friday. Scott has also shared her covers of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” and Rodney Crowell’s “Making Memories of Us.” The reel-to-reel tape recorded covers were previously available as a 7-inch single release from Merge. More

Superchunk Share New Song “On the Floor”

Wild Loneliness Due Out February 25 via Merge

Feb 07, 2022

Superchunk have shared a new song, “On the Floor.” The song features backup vocals from Mike Mills of R.E.M. and piano from Franklin Bruno. It is the latest release from the band’s forthcoming album, Wild Loneliness, which will be out on February 25 via Merge. More

Superchunk Share New Single “This Night”

Wild Loneliness Due Out February 25 via Merge

Jan 19, 2022

Superchunk have shared a new single, “This Night.” It is the latest release from their forthcoming album Wild Loneliness, which will be out on February 25 via Merge. More

Superchunk Announce New Album, Share Lead Single “Endless Summer”

Wild Loneliness Due Out February 25 via Merge

Dec 07, 2021

Superchunk have announced the release of a new album, Wild Loneliness, due out on February 25 via Merge. The band has also shared the album’s lead single, “Endless Summer,” which features musical contributions from Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley. More

Sep 09, 2021

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk (and also co-founder of Merge Records) is releasing a new solo album, The Sound of Yourself, on September 24 via Merge (of course). Now he has shared its third single, the atmospheric and dreamy “Burn a Fax,” via a video that features a snail. The song features guest vocals from TORRES (aka MacKenzie Scott) and saxophone from Matt Douglas of The Mountain Goats. More

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk Shares Video for New Solo Song “Circling Around”

The Sound of Yourself Due Out September 24 via Merge

Aug 17, 2021

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk (and also co-founder of Merge Records) is releasing a new solo album, The Sound of Yourself, on September 24 via Merge (of course). Now he has shared its second single, “Circling Around,” via a video that intercuts images of him singing the song with those of nature. The song features Michael Benjamin Lerner of Telekinesis on drums. More

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk Announces New Solo Album, Shares New Song “Dawn Bends”

The Sound of Yourself Due Out September 24 via Merge; New Song Features Yo La Tengo and Jon Wurster

Jul 20, 2021

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk (and also co-founder of Merge Records) has announced a new solo album, The Sound of Yourself, and shared its first single, “Dawn Bends,” which features Yo La Tengo, as well as his Superchunk bandmate Jon Wurster (on drums). In a press release McCaughan says the single is “a cautionary tale about getting a little too into the isolation.” More

Merge Records Announces Initial Lineup for 30th Anniversary Festival

July 24-27, 2019, in Carrboro and Durham, NC - Destroyer, Wye Oak, Waxahatchee, The Mountain Goats, Superchunk, and More

Feb 06, 2019

Merge Records are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a hometown festival July 24-27, 2019, in Carrboro and Durham, NC. The four-day festival is set to feature more than 30 artists and the initial lineup has been announced. More

Flip These Houses Midterms Benefit Features Spoon, Superchunk, The Hold Steady, and More

New York Show Includes Ted Leo; Michael Shannon; and Members of Sonic Youth, Nada Surf, The Walkmen, and More

Aug 29, 2018

Flip These Houses is a benefit concert on September 28th at the Knockdown Center in Queens, NY. Its purpose is to encourage people to vote Democratic in this November’s midterm elections. More

Soundtracking the Resistance – France in the House

Emmanuel Macron, Iran Nuclear Deal, Superchunk, Janelle Monáe, North Korean Diplomacy, and Kanye West Buddies Up to Donald Trump

Apr 27, 2018

Our Gallic friends came to visit this week, plus cabinet positions remain unfulfilled, lawyers refuse to speak, Kanye West continues to court controversy, and Janelle Monáe remains impeccably cool. More

Apr 23, 2018

Superchunk released a new album, What a Time to Be Alive, back in February via Merge. Now they have shared a video for previous single “Erasure,” which features the guest vocals of Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields) and Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee), Whitey McConnaughy directed the video, which humorously shows the negative effect President Trump’s tweets can have on people on a day-to-day basis. More

Superchunk Share Energetic “Cloud of Hate” Video

What a Time to Be Alive Out Now via Merge

Mar 05, 2018

Superchunk released a new album, What a Time to Be Alive, last month via Merge. Now they have shared a video for “Cloud of Hate.” The song is only 73-seconds only and the video is understandably fast-paced and energetic. More

Jan 09, 2018

Superchunk are releasing a new album, What a Time to Be Alive, on February 16 via Merge. Previously they shared a lyric video for its title track. Now they have shared another song from the album, “Erasure,” which features the guest vocals of Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields) and Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee). More

7 Best Songs of the Week: Marlon Williams, Chromeo, Morrissey, Superchunk, and More

Plus Elbow, Widowspeak, Mavis Staples, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Nov 10, 2017

We haven’t done a Songs of the Week post for a few weeks, due to various factors, but now we’re back. This week we’ve got the first singles from the upcoming new albums by Marlon Williams, Chromeo, and Superchunk, as well as two covers (Widowspeak covering Neil Young and Elbow taking on The Beatles). More

Nov 08, 2017

Superchunk have announced a new album, What a Time to Be Alive, and shared a lyric video for its title track. As its title suggests, the album is partly inspired by America’s current political situation (as we hit the one-year anniversary of the election of President Donald Trump). What a Time to Be Alive is due out February 16, 2018 via Merge. More

Jan 20, 2017

Battle Hymns is a new protest compilation released today timed to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss of Quasi put it together. More

Watch Fred Armisen and Bill Hader’s Talking Heads Spoof Band Perform in “Documentary Now!” Clip

This Wednesday's Episode Parodies Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads' Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth React

Oct 10, 2016

This week’s episode of Documentary Now,! Fred Armisen and Bill Hader‘s excellent faux documentary show on IFC, spoofs Talking Heads and their 1984 concert documentary Stop Making Sense. More

Under the Radar Examines Music and Politics with the 2016 Protest Issue

Special Issue Takes On Sexism and Feminism in the Music Industry, Tackles the Election, and Features Amanda Palmer on the Cover

Sep 09, 2016

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our 2016 Protest Issue (out September, October, and into November), which is out now both digitally and on newsstands. We’ve done a Protest Issue every U.S. Presidential election year since 2004 and as before this issue features articles examining the intersection of music and politics and photo shoots with musicians holding protest signs of their own making. Then in mid-October we will be launching our charity Protest Auction, in which we auction off all the protest signs in the issue, with all profits going to the American Cancer Society. More

Watch SXSW Panel Featuring Performances from Spoon’s Britt Daniel and Arcade Fire’s Will Butler

Superchunk's Mac McCaughan, Nada Surf's Matthew Caws, Big Star's Jody Stephens, and Marshall Crenshaw Also Took Part

Sep 01, 2015

SXSW 2015 may have been many months ago, but a video was just posted online of the full “I Wrote That Song” panel. The panel featured from Spoon’s Britt Daniel, Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan, Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws, and Marshall Crenshaw as they all discussed their songwriting process. More

Merge Announces Full 25th Anniversary Festival Line-up

Featuring Neutral Milk Hotel, Superchunk, Eleanor Friedberger, Telekinesis, and More

Apr 11, 2014

Continuing to celebrating its 25th anniversary as a record label Merge has announced the official line-up of its upcoming four-day music festival, taking place July 23-26. More

Jan 10, 2014

This year Merge will celebrates its 25th anniversary. Honoring the milestone the longtime label will be releasing a number of special reissues throughout the next 12 months, kicking off with Superchunk‘s out-of-print debut album Indoor Living. More

Watch: Superchunk - “Void” Video

Starring Jon Glaser & H. Jon Benjamin

Nov 26, 2013

Decades into their career, Superchunk know that some of their longtime fans are starting to get a little up there in the age bracket. More

Aug 19, 2013

This week Superchunk will release their tenth studio album, the ironically titled I Hate Music. More

Aug 12, 2013

This August sees the release of several notable albums. Ahead of their impending due dates, three of them have become available to stream in full online. More

May 13, 2013

Superchunk have announced the release of their tenth studio album, I Hate Music. More

Merge Presents The Concert to Defeat NC Amendment One

Featuring Bob Mould, David Cross, The Love Language, Superchunk

Apr 20, 2012

Last September the North Carolina Legislature proposed an amendment to its Constitution that woudl ban legal recognition for all unmarried couples and strip protections and benefits from families across the state. More

Listen: Superchunk Cover the Misfits

Legendary Chapel Hill Indie Rockers Post Cover of "Where Eagles Dare"

Oct 31, 2011

Superchunk have covered “Where Eagles Dare” by iconic horror punks The Misfits in honor of Halloween. We have the track. More

Superchunk Announce “Foolish” Reissue

1994 Album Remastered and Featuring Bonus Material

Aug 03, 2011

Superchunk have announced that on September 13 Merge will be reissuing their 1994 release Foolish, which was their fourth full-length and first full-length for Merge. More

Bright Eyes Get Back on the Road

Conor Oberst and Co. Announce Dates for Spring 2011 Tour

Dec 14, 2010

Bright Eyes make their first full run of U.S. shows in over three years. We have the details. More

Superchunk Are “Digging For Something” in New Video

"Majesty Shredding" Streets Tomorrow

Sep 13, 2010

Superchunk‘s first full-length in nine years, Majesty Shredding, streets tomorrow via Merge, so the video for opener “Digging For Something” debuts today. We have the clip. More

Versus Stream New Album, Announce Record Release Show

NYC Fans Can Prepare to Hear Them Rock Brooklyn’s Rock Shop

Jul 26, 2010

Versus, in addition to some already announced tour dates with Polvo, Superchunk, and Jenny and Johnny, have announced a record release show at the new Brooklyn venue Rock Shop and are streaming the record in its entirety. We have the details. More

The Love Language Streams New Album, Announces New Shows

Hear the Album at Merge Website, Catch the Band Live the Week Libraries is Released

Jun 08, 2010

The Love Language are streaming their new album Libraries and have announced more tour dates surrounding its release. We have the details. More

Superchunk Releases More Details for New LP

First Since 2001 for Seminal Indie Act

Jun 04, 2010

Superchunk announce their first full-length album since 2001’s Here’s to Shutting Up along with new tour dates and a television appearance. We have the details. More

Superchunk Announces Fall Tour Dates

New Album Will Be Titled Majesty Shedding

May 18, 2010

Superchunk will be playing at festivals this summer and on the east coast in September. They will perform at Primavera Sound Festival in late May along with Pavement and The Fall. Check out the rest of the tour dates here. The band’s much-anticipated new album now as a title: Majesty Shedding. More

Merge Announces Record Store Day Exclusives

Includes Telekinesis, Superchunk, The Love Language, and Let’s Wrestle

Mar 31, 2010

In celebration of Record Store Day, a yearly celebration in which independently owned record stores collaborate with artists to commemorate the art of music, Merge will release three exclusive 7-inches. There will be one each from Telekinesis and Superchunk, along with a split 7” with The Love Language and Let’s Wrestle. All will be released on April 17. We have the details. More

Superchunk Discusses First New Album in Nine Years

Mac McCaughan Expects New Album in 2010

Mar 30, 2010

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2010 section in Under the Radar‘s Winter 2010 Issue includes a short article on Superchunk’s new album. We’ve now posted the full Q&A of that interview with Mac McCaughan. North Carolina’s Superchunk, an indie rock trailblazer throughout the 1990s, hasn’t released an album since 2001’s Here’s to Shutting Up, but the band has remained active over the last decade, playing sporadic local shows and touring infrequently. In 2009, frontman Mac McCaughan and bassist Laura Ballance celebrated the 20th anniversary of both the band and Merge Records, the record label they co-founded in Chapel Hill. With the recording of the Leaves in the Gutter EP in the spring of 2009, the seeds were planted for Superchunk’s ninth album, which McCaughan expects to be released in 2010. More

Jamie Lidell, TV on the Radio, Of Montreal, Chuck D, and Others on Michael Jackson

Architecture in Helsinki, Superchunk, Pop Levi, Herbie Hancock also Comment on the King of Pop's Passing

Jun 26, 2009

Various musicians have either provided Under the Radar with quotes or issued general statements about the passing of Michael Jackson that we thought we’d share with you. Included are quotes or statements from Architecture in Helsinki, Chuck D, Jamie Lidell, Of Montreal, Pop Levi, TV on the Radio, Herbie Hancock, Superchunk, Snow Patrol, and others. More

Merge Announces Initial Line-up for 20th Anniversary Festival

Merge XX to go down in North Carolina in July

Apr 08, 2009

In honor of their 20th anniversary, the seminal indie label Merge Records will be presenting a five-day festival in North Carolina entitled XX Merge. More



Interviews

A Season For Cynics: Musicians Contemplate a Lesser-of-Two-Evils Election

A Conversation with Billy Bragg, Deerhoof's Greg Saunier, Kristin Kontrol, Mew's Jonas Bjerre, Moby, Thurston Moore, Okkervil River's Will Sheff, Amanda Palmer, Henry Rollins, Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, Superchunk's Laura Ballance, and Andrew W.K

Nov 03, 2016

On July 11, 2016, Democratic nominee for president Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, thereby ending one of the unlikeliest campaigns in American political history. It had been a remarkable run for the 74-year-old Vermont senator, going from barely registering in national polls to running neck and neck with Clinton throughout much of the primary. And, if public statements and Twitter endorsements are to be believed, the world of indie rock stood almost unanimously in their support for him. Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear-all performed for Sanders at his rallies. Killer Mike of Run the Jewels filmed interviews with Sanders to help spread his message. More

Superchunk’s Jon Wurster

Hiding in Plain Sight

May 20, 2011

As one of the few artists who can legitimately claim dual citizenship in both the music and comedy worlds, Jon Wurster has witnessed firsthand the evolution of the relationship between the two scenes. Having kicked around the indie rock scene for nearly three decades now, ending up with fulltime gigs drumming with both Superchunk and Mountain Goats, he is also one-half of the team behind The Best Show on WFMU, the long-running radio program hosted by writer and comedian Tom Scharpling. More

Remembering First Concerts

Greatest Stories Ever Told

Jul 30, 2010

Musicians reflect on their first concerts. Includes stories from Tegan & Sara, Camera Obscura, Girl Talk, Owen Pallett, Art Brut, The Hold Steady, MGMT, Broken Social Scene, Ariel Pink, !!!, Mew, Real Estate, The Dears, Vivian Girls, Mayer Hawthorne, The Drums, Telekinesis, Fuck Buttons, El Guincho, and more. More

Superchunk: In the Studio

Mac McCaughan Discusses Superchunk's First Album in Nine Years

Mar 29, 2010

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2010 section in Under the Radar‘s Winter 2010 Issue includes a short article on Superchunk’s new album. Here is the full Q&A of that interview with Mac McCaughan. North Carolina’s Superchunk, an indie rock trailblazer throughout the 1990s, hasn’t released an album since 2001’s Here’s to Shutting Up, but with the recording of the Leaves in the Gutter EP in the spring of 2009, the seeds were planted for the band’s ninth album, which frontman Mac McCaughan expects to be released in 2010. More

A Decade of Indie: The Rise of the Outsiders

A Discussion with Geoff Barrow, Isaac Brock, Wayne Coyne, Bradford Cox, Black Francis, Scott Kannberg, Jason Lytle, Mac McCaughan, Colin Meloy, and Chris Walla

Nov 10, 2009

Though it’s reputed to be the most widely spoken musical language in the world today, rock and roll was born on the margins. More


Reviews

Nov 17, 2023

Following the pattern but doubling the size of their three previous clean-up collections, Chapel Hill’s heroically brilliant Superchunk have seen fit here to unlock a treasure trove overflowing with gems, oddities, and curiosities. More

Sep 13, 2023

Superchunk celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of “On The Mouth” with a career spanning set at the Ardmore Music Hall. More

Mar 01, 2022

When we last heard from Superchunk back in 2018, they put out What a Time to Be Alive, perhaps the toughest, angriest, most ferocious record they’d ever made. More

Feb 16, 2018

What a Time to Be Alive combines the energetic catchiness of classic Superchunk with a raw punk rock that both harkens back to the band’s early days and rallies against the current political climate like the spirit of punk is meant to do. More

Aug 22, 2013

A key component of the ‘90s alt-rock scene was that many of its musicians had an ambivalence bordering on downright contempt for the very art form they practiced. More