Superchunk - Songs In The Key Of Yikes

Superchunk’s latest LP laughs in the face of the void and then shreds over it. Songs in the Key of Yikes is both a rallying cry and a knowing wink, pairing darker-than-ever subject matter with some of the band’s most triumphant, high-energy hooks.

From the anthemic lift of “Is It Making You Feel Something” to the crushing beauty of “No Hope” (where the refrain flips from despair to defiance mid-song), this is Superchunk proving that catharsis can be loud, fast, and oddly euphoric. The pogo-ready “Stuck in a Dream” bursts like an oasis between heavier cuts like “Everybody Dies” and “Train on Fire,” while “Care Less” delivers a sly, garage-rock smirk in the face of chaos.

Laura King makes her first appearance as a full-time member, joined by guests Rosali Middleman, Bella Quinlan, Holly Thomas (Quivers), and touring bassist Betsy Wright, adding depth and texture to the band’s sharp-edged melodies. Engineered by Paul Voran and Eli Webb, then mixed by Mike Montgomery, the record’s sound is as immediate as its themes, every guitar bite, drum crash, and vocal line hits with intention.

Superchunk doesn’t claim to have the answers to art’s role in troubled times, but Songs in the Key of Yikes is proof that joy, rage, and solidarity can live in the same three-minute blast. It’s visceral, it’s timeless, and yes - it’s catchy as hell. Spin it, jump around, and yell along until it feels a little better.