Superchunk: Art Class (Song For Yayoi Kusama) : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Superchunk's buoyant, indefatigable rock is one of life's simple pleasures. Whether it's the band's insistent, urgent rhythms or frontman Mac McCaughan's reedy inflections and flirty falsettos, it's nearly impossible not to get caught up in the moment with this Chapel Hill quartet. This four-song EP highlights the title track (a tribute to the avant-garde Japanese sculptor), from last year's Here's to Shutting Up, and features two non-LP cuts, "The Hot Break" and "A Collection of Accounts." Other bonuses include a nice acoustic rendition of "Art Class" from a Dallas in-store performance and, for computer users, a live video for the track. "The Hot Break" is an especially combustible Superchunk B-side, while the subtle "A Collection of Accounts," led by analog synth and drum programming, resembles a song by McCaughan's side project, Portastatic. With so many CD singles in the band's past, it's nice to see Superchunk engaging in its own modest tradition. Sometimes it's the simple things in life that matter most.

MARK WOODLIEF
(April 9, 2002)