Superconductor - Hit Songs For Girls

Before the New Pornographers were ever around, Carl Newman sang in a band called Superconductor. Almost around the same period of time he was also fronting his other band Zumpano. Superconductor released a couple albums and an EP all through Boner/Tupelo. It’s pretty interesting to listen to this material when compared to what else Newman has gone on to do. Superconductor was for awhile a 9 member band featuring six guitarists (cut down to four on their last album), two bassists, and one drummer. Yeah, I’ve never really understood it, but hey, they are there and it was actually pretty good for an album or so.

Superconductor’s first album Hit Songs for Girls is in my opinion the bands high point. I imagine some would argue that their second album Bastardsong is the more accomplished and thus the better album; however it always loses me midway through and I’m not one for the whole “rock opera” thing. Not to say it isn’t good, it’s just not for me. With Hit Songs for Girls the band did a pretty admirable job weaving a mixture of styles I wouldn’t normally count on working so well together. The album, as to be expected with this many members, is a sonic and chaotic chunk of rock that ties together indie-pop, post-punk, sludge, and even a bit of country as hinted on the song “E-Z Bake Oven”. In the end it’s one big noisy affair that melds together incredibly well. Newman’s vocals aren’t really a big focal point on the album, as often they lay buried underneath the wall of distortion being pumped out by the number of guitarists and are fairly indecipherable anyway. Definitely give the tunes below a listen for an interesting take on indie-rock that may even please some of the noise-rock enthusiasts.

Superconductor – For Kelly Freas [MP3]
Superconductor – Shaved Temple [MP3]
Superconductor – E-Z Bake Oven [MP3]

Hit Songs for Girls is still available through Amazon both used and new, along with their other album Bastardsong. As always, pick it up if you like what you hear! Enjoy!