I’ve previously been effusive about Say Sue Me, a band from Busan, South Korea, and I stitched together this ICA back in October 2019. As I said at the time, I shied away from the ICA including any of the four newest songs the band had then just issued on two 7” singles and I encouraged readers to go and make a purchase from the appropriate bandcamp page.
I’m hopeful that some of you did just that, and perhaps, after this latest posting, more will do so going forward as the band, like so many others, have endured a tough 2020 with COVID preventing the realisation of plans for more tours in Europe and the USA, including a further appearance at the prestigious and important SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
Say Sue Me have been announced, along with another of TVV’s Asian-based favourites, Otoboke Beaver, as participating in what will be SXSW Online 2021, which is going ahead from 16-20 March. It’s not quite the same as being there in person, but hopefully they will make a significant splash.
Here’s the two sides of the single from September 2019.
mp3: Say Sue Me – Your Book
mp3: Say Sue Me – Good People
It’s a continuation of the band’s gradual shift away from the surf rock of the earliest days to a more refined indie pop/rock sound. The a-side is a bit mid-paced and reminds me in many places of The Cardigans in the pomp of their mega-fame period. It’s a decent effort but I’m more enchanted by the b-side as it’s one which would inspire me to throw shapes on the indie-disco dance floor.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Love Say Sue Me. I haver a daughter heavily into K-Pop and I’ve been trying to get her to listen to SSM. Sadly, probably because they don’t do heavily choreographed synchronised dance moves, or maybe because the boys don’t look nearly feminine enough, she’s yet to take up my recommendation…
Having learned of Say Sue Me from these very pages I have been fortunate enough to have been gifted their entire back catalogue which I am slowly, and most enjoyably, working my way through.
I haven’t formed a specific option, yet, but in general SSM is definitely what I would consider my latest ‘find’.
It’s very much like the feeling I had when hearing bands such a Pains of Being Pure at Heart or Veronica Falls for the first time – there’s familiarity – with a twist.
When passers by catch sight of a strange man walking through the park, headphones on and the largest smile glued to his face – that’s the Say Sue Me effect in action.