Superchunk is known to be one of the defining bands of the Chapel Hill music scene. They ruled the underground scene in the 1990s, continuously releasing albums consistent with the power of alternative indie rock. They represent a generation, a time when rock bands reigned supreme. Lead singer Mac McCaughan is also known for his ambiguous lyrics (except for 1994’s Foolish-obviously an intra-band romantic breakup album). It is hard to tell if McCaughan is making up lyrics or speaking from experience, so the band has remained neutral regarding outward opinions about specific topics. 

This all changed when 2018’s What a Time to Be Alive was released. The album title indicates what the songs would be about since political opinions have been increasingly important and apparent in recent years. Superchunk had never been a political band before, but this album is an amazing dive into the sub-genre. 

The Trump presidency sparked intense feelings for many people. As the 2024 election is coming near, I find myself going back to this album. In a way, this album is comforting, with the feeling of knowing that I am not alone in how I feel and that it will be okay, no matter what happens. Music, especially anything in the rock genre, evokes such strong feelings and helps to convey what cannot always be said in normal conversation. 

Not only do the lyrics express anger and opinion, but the instruments reflect those lyrics with a strong, full sound. The drums are powerful and quick, with Jon Wurster’s talent shining through. Laura Ballance’s consistent bass helps to lay down the line and set down a base for the electric guitar to be the most prominent feature. The powerful strokes of guitar chords from Mac McCaughan and Jim Wilbur help cement the angry alternative style that the album highlights. 

With that, the album harkens back to Superchunk’s early days in the ‘90s with a pure alternative sound. Most of the songs are fast and made with emotional voices and intense musical flair. Even the backup vocals, especially from A Giant Dog singer Sabrina Ellis on “Break the Glass” showcase raw emotion and convey opinion. McCaughan has an impressive way with words, being able to show and not tell with his lyrics. Every lyric on this album could be evidence in the case of how the band felt then. Themes of darkness and isolation run throughout the album, but there are also feelings of hope and communal longing for a better future. Here are some of my favorite lyrics from the album: 

• “Lost My Brain”

“Making you wonder again and again/If you’re the one that’s insane/So grab a hold and let’s make a chain”

–This lyric sums up well the feeling that many people have had: Are we crazy? Is what we’re fighting for attainable? It also provides hope and a sense of community, showing that people need to lean on each other for support in these crazy times.

• “Break the Glass”

“Nothing looks familiar out there/But everything’s the same/It’s just the center leakin’ out/While all the trees go up in flames”

-This is such a telling image and metaphor of what the world feels like. This country has always had these problems even though they come in waves and shapeshift. The world feels like it’s on fire and ending, but it has always been this way. 

• “Bad Choices”

“I could waste all my breath asking/Lost all my early morning sleep/Wondering what for/I could drain all the batteries/Searching for truth” 

-The endless exhaustion and search for answers is immortalized in this quote. People try for hours, days, months on end to figure out why bad decisions are being made, but at some point it just needs to stop and action needs to be taken. 

• “Erasure”

“A single golden tear for you/Won’t fall as if that’s all we have to leave/To bleed for the blank you want to fill/The heart you want to kill/Won’t die, can’t you see?”

-These beautiful lyrics hold true the fact that love and inclusivity will always win. No matter the world’s evils, people will persist and persevere and fight for what they believe. 

• “All for You”

“I’m not a violent person but/Fight me/Can’t really get any worse so/Oh, fight me”

 -This lyric subtly suggests the exhaustion people feel about butting heads with others of different opinions. The strong political opinions that people possess have caused them to become hostile as a survival tactic. People don’t innately want to fight but are being pitted against each other because of what is happening in America.

• “Black Thread”

“Oh, it’s a stain/And it’s stitched into your heart/And it’s wrapped around your head/So cut the black thread” 

-The imagery in this lyric is so beautiful. It perfectly personifies and tells the story of negativity engulfing people and turning them to the dark side. “Cutting” ties with that feeling of negativity is so necessary for people to live their best life and just do what they can, because everything else is out of control. 

This entire album is a masterpiece and could be applied to any situation. Although the lyrics have a specific goal, they are mostly ambiguous enough that they are still subjective and can mean different things to different people. Mac McCaughan is an underrated lyricist, and this album is a great divergence from Superchunk’s previously neutral content, while still acting as a complementary piece to their other albums.