I’ve always seen Superchunk as akin to an alternative universe version of Sloan: same pop sensibilities, but with one primary vocalist, a punker edge and the record label they started becoming kind of a big deal. Though Superchunk has worked together in spits and spurts since Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance began spending most of their time running Merge, Majesty Shredding is its first full-length in almost a decade and there’s not a spot of rust in sight. It’s an effortless collection of power-pop chords and hummable melodies perfect for cranking out of car windows and dorm-room doors in the dying days of summer.
This article appears in Sep 23-29, 2010.