INCIDENTAL MUSIC 1991-95 (Merge, 1995)

Jon: I'll go track by track here and try to come up with something interesting to say about each (yeah, good luck!):

Shallow End: I'm reminded of the intro that the Del Fuego's Dan Zanes would spiel before they played a song called "Nervous And Shaky" back in the day ('86): "If you're like us you didn't see the movie 'Weird Science', this song is in that movie". Unfortuanltey I did see the movie this song was in. Our appearance on the soundtrack to 'The Jerky Boys' is one of the few moments in the Superchunk history book that I am not so proud of (please refrain from writing in and suggesting other moments I should be not so proud of as well). The song was recorded at TGS studios in Chapel Hill (where we remixed a few "On The Mouth" tracks) along with a pre-'Strings" version of "Green Flowers". FYI "Green Flowers" was earmarked for the 'Johnny Pneumonic' soundtrack. Fate was kind to us and the director decided on going with a full on score instead of individual songs from outside artists. I used a 12" Ascend snare drum on this. This accounts for the high pitched "plonk". I still enjoy playing this number live.

Mower: The first song I ever recorded with the band. We worked up this song, "For Tension", "On The Mouth" and "Invitation" in Mac's old house. "Mower" was recorded at Duck-Kee studios in Raleigh, NC by Jerry Kee. Duck-Kee was located in Jerry's house. This is also where "Superchunk", all of the early singles and the Portastatic records were done.

"On The Mouth": From the same session as "Mower". I played horribly on this one and I shan't go back and listen to it now. This is one of our most requested live numbers. Our tribute to the Nip Drivers.

Cadmium: Recorded at the second to last location of the Cat's Cradle nightclub by Caleb Southern. Caleb was the soundman at the Cradle, he put a 16 track studio in there that he operated during off hours. "Cadmium" was the lead off song on our Australian tour EP from 1992 called "Hit Self-Destruct". My drums were being repaired so I used Mac's Tama kit for this session. I believe these are the drums he used on the Seam recordings. The studio was incredibly dark and dank-it was a deserted rock club after all. I cannot believe how slow this version of the song is.

Who Needs Light: The b-side of "Ribbon". Recorded at Duck-Kee. I remember liking the fact that this was the band's first waltz.

Ribbon: I wish this one had been saved for inclusion on a studio album. We wanted to release a single and this is what we came up with. A pretty good peppy little number. Recorded @ Duck-Kee. I've always liked this song. We relearned it for our Brazilian tour of '98.

Foolish: Our first dance mix. Actually everything was recorded live. Laura returns to the mic (last seen as lead vocalist on "Nancy Sin") to lend some back-up vocals. Kinda puts me in mind of My Bloody Valentine. Either them or Wild Cherry.

100,000 Fireflies: I had been hearing this song in the van for quite some time when I suggested to Mac that we cover it. Turns out he had been thinking the same thing. Recorded during the "On The Mouth" sessions in L.A. Always a crowd pleaser (I guess that's why we stopped doing for a while-ha ha). There seems to always be someone who requests for it as "10,000 Fireflies". What's up with that?

Invitation: One of the truly forgotten Superchunk songs. Played live maybe twice. This ended up on the 'Pyloric Waves' compilation on the Greensboro based Detox label.

Makeout Bench: I must admit that I have never heard this song in its entirety. We get requests for it every five or six shows. What was this from? I don't have the CD in front of me. An instrumental, no?

Baxter: Recorded at the Drive-In in Winston-Salem, NC. We also cut a slower version of "New Low" and "Night Of Chill Blue" at this session. This song, I'm sorry to say has never been a favorite of mine. I like the lyrics (kind of a dentist-fantasy song-hey Mac! I think you invented a new genre!) but I just never developed an appreciation for it like I have other songs. The kids seem to like it so what do I know?

Connecticut: Just missed being included on "Foolish". That's Mr. Wilbur you hear layin' down that lead vocal. Jim has always loved his home state and he decided to right its new anthemn. It seems that the fine people of CT are quite happy with their current one…"Connecticut, Your Supple Shoulders Shield Us From Most Evils". That's Laura and Jim and Mac doing the background vox. I was banished to the control room where Brian Paulson and I talked about Smores.

Lying In State: A Verlaines song that was also recorded during the "Hit Self-Destruct" session. We really struggled to get the ending right. It's still hard to tell if we did or not.

Throwing Things (acoustic): Same session as above.

I'll be Your Sister: A Motorhead song. Not sure what this was from either. Chuck layin' down the groove on this one ("Makeout Bench" too).

Night Of Chill Blue: Chills cover. We learned this one a couple months after I joined. Played live off and on 'til '93 or so. Recorded with Mitch Easter March of '92.

Forged It: I still think this song is called "Return Trip", for that is what it was known as up 'til the 11th hour. B-side of "First Part". I remember trying to approach this one as Bill Stevenson might.

Home At Dawn: Another "Foolish" outtake. I don't think this was ever performed live. This might have been another song that we learned minutes before recording. I like the idea of this song quite a bit. Included with issue #6 of Scott Rutherford's 'Speed Kills' fanzine.

Precision Auto pt 2: The Mark Robinson mega-mix. I dig it.