Superdrag - In The Valley Of Dying Stars LP

Superdrag Sound Laboratories (2021, Reissue)

Superdrag is a band that I have always liked.  Ever since the first time I heard the song "Sucked Out" from their debut album, I was a fan.  I've always liked that first album the most and I admittedly have not kept up with them over the years.  There are definitely entire Superdrag albums that I've never listened to.  But Their first three albums are the ones I'm most familiar with and I'm pleased to finally have that third release on vinyl.

Somehow, I managed to buy this record on black vinyl, even though there are a multitude of other colors available.  I remember waking up early in the morning the day the preorder went live and seeing a few colored versions, but I didn't order right away/. I got up, did my normal morning chores and by the time I got back to the site, only the black vinyl remained.  Then, later that afternoon, other colors suddenly became available.  

It's not really a big deal, Superdrag is not a band that I go crazy collecting variants for, I really just wanted a copy on vinyl so I could listen to it.   But the collector in me is annoyed that I don't have either the most limited or the coolest looking version.  I'll survive.  Musically, this sounds as good as it did when I first heard it in 2000.  It's the last Superdrag album I really listened to extensively, but it's also my least favorite of the first three.  There are other albums that they have that never were released on vinyl.  If those come out, I'll probably be tempted to pick them up.  Maybe I'm missing out on a lost gem.

Superdrag - In The Valley Of Dying Stars:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lMPscmco7WYcBqzDkrvRFFSMdeip85l8E

Superdrag - Head Trip In Every Key - Clear Vinyl (/1500)

Side One Dummy (2014)

I consider myself fortunate that so many 90's albums that I like are being reissued on vinyl for the first time these last few years.  The mid 90's were that stretch of time where lots of bands ended up on major labels that you wouldn't expect, and then those major labels never produced vinyl versions.  After hearing about how Sony pretty much held the Ultimate Fakebook record hostage from an indie that wanted to release it on vinyl (making that indie attempt a Kickstarter with such a ludicrously high goal; it was never actually going to get funded), it's nice to see that Elektra is playing nice with Side One Dummy so I can have these Superdrag records on vinyl.  Though let's be clear, I wont be satisfied until someone releases the Alligator Gun record 100percentfreak on vinyl.  It's a crime no one has stepped up to the plate.

While I loved Superdrag's debut, Regretfully Yours, I can't say that I really ever spent the same amount of time with Head Trip In Every Key.  My buddy Alan really liked it, but for some reason I just never listened to it all that much.  Hearing it again all these years later is pretty crazy.  It really is a great record.  It's definitely not as instantly catchy as regretfully yours, but that's not to say that this record doesn't have its share of hooks.  Head Trip In Every Key is a progression forward and a more mature sounding album, but Superdrag never gives up on what brought them to the table; big choruses and great guitar work.

The 2 x LP gatefold packaging came out great.  Side One Dummy did a really stellar job bringing this record to vinyl for the first time.  It's limited, but not ridiculously so.  Still, if you have interest in this, you may want to grab it sooner than later.

Superdrag - "I'm Expanding My Mind":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEmqsjdx7Kc

Superdrag - "Do The Vampire":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34u4S04fDYE

Superdrag - Regretfully Yours LP

Superdrag - Regretfully Yours LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Side One Dummy (2013)

It was a crazy scene back in the 90's. If there was a band and that band made music with guitars, there was a better than average chance that at some point, some label would want to release their records. Provided they were any good or had even a small following. Superdrag ended up on Elektra. They managed to give the label a hit single with the song Sucked Out and the 90's rolled on. I remember this sort of thing well, but you sure don't really see it anymore.

Regretfully Yours is such a strong debut record. The band plays glossy, but punchy guitar pop that really stood out back in 1996. They're not too dissimilar from the kind of pop that Fountains Of Wayne were championing, but Superdrag had a bit more oomph and were a rougher around the edges, which was a-OK by me.

This record never came out on vinyl when originally released. Side One Dummy steps up to the plate all these years later and did a great job. They pressed the record on 180g vinyl and everything sounds quite nice.

I also need to take a moment to commend the Side One Dummy mailorder folks. When I received my copy there was a gigantic scratch that cut through the last 2 songs on the album. I took a picture, emailed the label and the next day they sent me an email apologizing and sent me the tracking number for a new copy that was already on its way to me. The 2nd copy was perfect and I just wanted to say thank you to them again. I'm hopeful to be able to give them more money when they release the next few Superdrag records on vinyl as well.

Superdrag - Sucked Out:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhVr5rRRTM0

Superdrag - What If You Don't Fly:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch533Zn55Cg