So how does “Majesty Shredding” stand as an album? Man the summer is fading and I can feel that evil fall depression kicking in. Leaves are falling. It’s cold when I walk the dogs in the morning. I can’t stop blowing my nose. And suicides are on the rise (I have no hard proof to support this last claim cept that Brother P overheard a conductor saying there’s been a lot of people jumping in front of trains this week.) Regardless, this is no time for poppy indie punk. Unless of course it’s so poppy as to override the fall slump and make me feel pretty good-ah. “Majesty Shredding” does that. Take this morning for example. Packed train of assholes (I include myself in this assessment) and I’m listening to My Gap Feels Weird (my favorite track on the album) and somehow I don’t mind that the side of my face is crammed against the window.

You don’t have to take my word for it though. You could have also checked the full stream on NPR (before it was taken down). And then you could have complained that it sounds like a tinny mess cause you’re listening to music on a computer you asshole. Just buy the record. When has Uncle T steered you wrong? Like all Merge vinyl this one comes with a download code that’ll get you the album in its 320kbps version. Merge also sent me a huge “Majesty Shredding” poster and some stickers. Plus the day the album was released in stores they emailed me a link for a free B-Side download of February Punk off the “Digging for Something” 7 inch. Merge…another label that gets it.

And if your so inclined pick up the reissues of the Albini produced “No Pocky For Kitty” and the John Reis produced “On The Mouth” both recently reissued on heavy heavy gram wax. They’ve both never sounded better. In fact and as an aside I always loved that there’s a picture of Speedo in the liner notes for “On The Mouth”. I think that’s the only time I’ve ever seen a band put a photo of their producer in a record. I can’t explain why but I find this hilariously awesome.

So yeah don’t jump in front of any trains please… listen to Superchunk instead.

Back to “In And Out Of Control” though. The best part about this album is how they are able to pay tribute to acts like The Ronette’s and Buddy Holly musically but lyrically take things in a completely different direction with songs about abusive relationships exploding in the streets (Bang!), overdosing (Last Dance), rape (Boys Who Rape Should All Be Destroyed), runaways committing suicide (Suicide), death (Oh, I Buried You Today), and sadistic women mad for violent men (Break Up Girls!). They’re a little bit like The Ramones in this sense (they even reference listening to Rockaway Beach at one point). These songs are either fucked up odes to all the worst parts of the 50s and 60s turning idealistic notions of the time on its head, or they’re a direct reference to the modern day sugar coated by the sweet sounds of the past. Either way it’s a hell of an engaging listen, total Rock and Roll, and well worth buying. It’s worth picking up for the songs Gone Forever, Breaking Into Cars and Heart of Stone alone. I picked up the vinyl and not only does it come with a download code but the MP3s have been specially mastered so they don’t sound like shit when you’re listening on the go. Not much more that you can ask for.