Superchunk: Songs In The Key Of Yikes [Album Review]

Superchunk
Songs In The Key Of Yikes
Merge Records [2025]

“Thirty-five years in, they’re still asking the right questions-and shouting the answers back.”

Album Overview: Superchunk formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, back in 1989 and quickly became a cornerstone of indie rock—not just through their own music but also with the creation of Merge Records. Known for their punchy songs and DIY drive, the band—Mac McCaughan, Laura Ballance, Jim Wilbur, and now drummer Laura King—has managed to span decades without losing their spark. Songs in the Key of Yikes stares down an unsettled world with tracks that wrestle with heaviness while still chasing light. Themes of uncertainty, mortality, and resilience surface throughout, but the band frames them in ways that feel urgent, cathartic, and strangely uplifting. This is veteran Superchunk at full force, delivering exactly the kind of fire longtime fans have come to love.

Musical Style: The record bursts with bright riffs, breakneck tempos, and shout-along choruses—all laced with darker lyrical undercurrents. Sharp-edged one moment and buoyant the next, the songs balance garage-punk immediacy with layered textures and guest vocal turns. It’s gritty and anthemic at once, built for sweaty clubs and festival stages alike.

Evolution of Sound: Early Superchunk records thrived on noisy, scrappy indie-punk, but over the years they’ve widened the sound to include reflective ballads and polished production. Songs in the Key of Yikes continues that growth, taking the urgency of What a Time to Be Alive (2018) and fusing it with the melodic richness of Majesty Shredding (2010). With Laura King powering the kit and guests like Rosali Middleman and members of Quivers adding fresh voices, the band sounds as energized as ever—without losing an ounce of their core identity.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into Guided by Voices’ current rock, The Thermals’ politicized pop-punk, or The Breeders’ sugar-and-noise blend, you’ll find plenty here. There’s also a kinship with Protomartyr’s brooding tension, Cloud Nothings’ relentless drive, and newer names like Ratboys, Illuminati Hotties, and Empath—bands carrying the same spirit of turning chaos into catharsis.

Pivotal Tracks: “Is It Making You Feel Something” sets the tone with a mission-statement question, blending skepticism with the sheer thrill of creation. There’s a killer mid-track moment where Mac’s near-whisper blossoms into one of the record’s biggest choruses. “No Hope” flips despair into a rallying cry, while “Bruised Lung” is classic ’Chunk—crunchy riffs, a sticky hook, and sing-along harmonies. “Care Less” finds humor in denial, wrapped in buzzing guitars, and “Stuck in a Dream” delivers a jolt of euphoria between heavier hitters like “Everybody Dies” and “Train on Fire.” Taken together, these songs embody the album’s tug-of-war between despair and release.

Lyrical Strength: Mac McCaughan’s writing still thrives on vulnerability and wit, pairing bleak observations with sly humor and flashes of solidarity. Mortality, exhaustion, and disillusion all creep into the lyrics, but he always leaves the door open to connection. Lines like “and here we are singing” hit harder than ever, turning struggle into affirmation—proof that simply sharing the song can be a lifeline.

Final Groove: Songs in the Key of Yikes isn’t a reinvention, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s the sound of a band that knows its strengths and still plays with urgency, proving they can channel decades of experience into something both timely and vital. The record wrestles with uncertainty while refusing to sink under its weight, leaving us with an album that feels like both a rally and a release. Superchunk may not have all the answers, but as long as they keep asking the right questions, there’s every reason to keep listening.

SUPERCHUNK REVIEW HISTORY
Wild Loneliness (2022) / What A Time To Be Alive (2018) / I Hate Music (2013)

SUPERCHUNK LINKS
Bandcamp | Merge Records