FICTIVE FRIDAYS : #26

SUPERLATIVES

How does it feel when the government of the country you grew up in, and were always proud of, is hijacked by a powerful kleptocracy of crooks, idiots, racists, criminals, sexual predators, and scumbags? In a word: horrifying. And how does it feel when, by overwhelming public consensus, the evil minority is comprehensively thrashed in a general election showing that the population will no longer stand for the corruption, intolerance, and incompetence? In a word: SUPER!

Here are some songs reflecting that perspective:

Supernova – Liz Phair

From 1994’s Whip-Smart, which is actually much better than Exile in Guyville, although that one seems to get all the admiration.

Supersad – Suki Waterhouse

Still trying to convince folks that I don’t only listen to music from 1979, Here’s a track from Hammersmith’s own model/actress/musician, released in 2024.

Superstar – Beach House

Another more recent number from the dream pop duo out of Baltimore. From their latest LP, 2022’s Once Twice Melody.

Supercut – Lorde

I was under the impression that Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor was a one-hit wonder with ‘Royals’ but apparently not. From the Kiwi’s second LP, Melodrama.

Superblast! – Lush

Shoegaze stuff still holds up pretty well. This track from 1992 still sounds fresh, as does the entire album, Spooky. Probably more than the band’s half-hearted excursion into Britpop anyway.

Superbloom – Kacey Musgraves

A sweet song from the crossover Queen, helped along by soul merchant Leon Bridges. A “superbloom” is when millions of wildflowers bloom simultaneously due to lucky weather conditions. The picture up top shows Goldie enjoying a once in a lifetime superbloom of California poppies in the Anza-Borrego state park north of San Diego back in 2017. That’s pretty much how we felt after the election results came in.

Superstition – The Kills

Stripped-down and wearing a frown, the duo of American VV Mosshart and Englishman Hotel Hince have been at it for 25 years. This track’s from their 2003 debut, Keep On Your Mean Side. Mosshart moonlights sometimes with members of White Stripes, Raconteurs, and QOTSA in The Dead Weather.

Supersonic – Oasis

Those of you paying attention will have noticed that the first half of this set features women singing, which for no good reason is somewhat atypical in my posts. So I lined them all up together to get things going. Now let’s revert to the echt macho Gallagher brothers, from the classic Definitely Maybe.

Superman – R.E.M.

Not the biggest fan of Mike Mills‘ singing and even less appreciative of Michael Stipe periodically barking in the background, but I still like this cover of a song by the forgotten Clique. From the band’s best album, Life’s Rich Pageant, which turned 40 this year!

Superposition – Young the Giant

It’s the grammatically-challenged quintet from Irvine, CA. I don’t know too much about these guys even though they’ve been a going concern in my backyard for over 20 years. From the fourth of their seven LPs, Mirror Master, released in 2018.

Superglue – ROLE MODEL

Here’s Tucker Harrington Pillsbury, who likes his stage moniker in all caps. From 2024’s Kansas Anymore, his sophomore effort.

Supersymmetry – Arcade Fire

Let’s close with an epic from the Montreal institution. It doesn’t have anything to do with particle physics, which I don’t pretend to understand anyway, but it’s a glorious listen.

Bonus track: That’s Really Super, Supergirl – XTC

This song from the wonderful Skylarking album came on the radio when I was driving around. It put me in an even better mood than I was already in after the votes were counted. But when I started compiling songs with ‘Super’ in the title the list was enormous. So, this post is limited to songs with simple one-word titles; ‘Super[something].’ Trivia: Dave Gregory‘s solo was played on the famous “Fool” Gibson SG, originally painted for Eric Clapton back in the Cream days. It found its way to Todd Rundgren (who produced XTC‘s album) and he played it again at Sam’s first concert – Ringo and his All Starr Band back in 1999.