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Melody Maker

by Supercrush

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $5 USD  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Folks from outside of the USA can save on shipping by ordering from the following labels:

    CANADA (vinyl, CD, cassette) from Debt Offensive Records

    JAPAN (CD) from Flake Records

    EUROPE (vinyl) from Erste Theke Tonträger

    Beautiful full color heavy stock UV gloss cover, full color printed inner sleeve, and your choice of translucent green or black vinyl. All orders come with a sticker and the first 100 include a glossy promo postcard.

    Supercrush are back to administer another dose of impossibly infectious guitar pop with their new EP, Melody Maker. The Seattle-based group–led by guitarist/vocalist Mark Palm along with bassist Phil Jones and drummer Allen Trainer–named their latest batch of songs after a simple student model electric guitar and a weekly rock mag of yesteryear. It’s a winking tribute to the rock n roll continuum that the band so lovingly embraces, but also a fitting nod to the band members themselves and the amount of genuine songcraft that goes into making music that sounds so effortlessly catchy.

    Recorded during the same sessions as Supercrush’s 2020 debut album, SODO Pop, the five songs on Melody Maker are far from throwaway leftovers. Engineered by Jones and longtime collaborator Jackson Long and then mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato, the music on Melody Maker highlights Supercrush’s split personality: equal parts soft sentimentality and loud rock bravado. “When I started doing Supercrush it was a return to my earliest musical interests,” says Palm. “I got into catchy melodic stuff and grunge bands before I even got into punk and extreme music. There was a big alt rock thing happening in eastern Canada when I was growing up, with bands like Sloan and the Doughboys getting played on MuchMusic all the time, so I was exposed to all of that. In my mind any band that’s melodic and guitar-based is fair game to be an influence on Supercrush–from The Beatles, to My Bloody Valentine, to Boston.”

    Includes unlimited streaming of Melody Maker via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 7 days

      $18 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Folks from outside of the USA can save on shipping by ordering from the following labels:

    CANADA (vinyl, CD, cassette) from Debt Offensive Records

    JAPAN (CD) from Flake Records

    EUROPE (vinyl coming soon) from Erste Theke Tonträger

    This is the Melody Maker CD released by Flake Records in Japan. We've imported some copies for the North American compact disc enthusiasts. Includes beautiful full color 8 page booklet.

    Supercrush are back to administer another dose of impossibly infectious guitar pop with their new EP, Melody Maker. The Seattle-based group–led by guitarist/vocalist Mark Palm along with bassist Phil Jones and drummer Allen Trainer–named their latest batch of songs after a simple student model electric guitar and a weekly rock mag of yesteryear. It’s a winking tribute to the rock n roll continuum that the band so lovingly embraces, but also a fitting nod to the band members themselves and the amount of genuine songcraft that goes into making music that sounds so effortlessly catchy.

    Recorded during the same sessions as Supercrush’s 2020 debut album, SODO Pop, the five songs on Melody Maker are far from throwaway leftovers. Engineered by Jones and longtime collaborator Jackson Long and then mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato, the music on Melody Maker highlights Supercrush’s split personality: equal parts soft sentimentality and loud rock bravado. “When I started doing Supercrush it was a return to my earliest musical interests,” says Palm. “I got into catchy melodic stuff and grunge bands before I even got into punk and extreme music. There was a big alt rock thing happening in eastern Canada when I was growing up, with bands like Sloan and the Doughboys getting played on MuchMusic all the time, so I was exposed to all of that. In my mind any band that’s melodic and guitar-based is fair game to be an influence on Supercrush–from The Beatles, to My Bloody Valentine, to Boston.”

    Includes unlimited streaming of Melody Maker via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 7 days

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Cassette + Digital Album

    Folks from outside of the USA can save on shipping by ordering from the following labels:

    CANADA (vinyl, CD, cassette) from Debt Offensive Records

    JAPAN (CD) from Flake Records

    EUROPE (vinyl coming soon) from Erste Theke Tonträger

    Beautiful full color fold out booklet and printed shells.

    Supercrush are back to administer another dose of impossibly infectious guitar pop with their new EP, Melody Maker. The Seattle-based group–led by guitarist/vocalist Mark Palm along with bassist Phil Jones and drummer Allen Trainer–named their latest batch of songs after a simple student model electric guitar and a weekly rock mag of yesteryear. It’s a winking tribute to the rock n roll continuum that the band so lovingly embraces, but also a fitting nod to the band members themselves and the amount of genuine songcraft that goes into making music that sounds so effortlessly catchy.

    Recorded during the same sessions as Supercrush’s 2020 debut album, SODO Pop, the five songs on Melody Maker are far from throwaway leftovers. Engineered by Jones and longtime collaborator Jackson Long and then mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato, the music on Melody Maker highlights Supercrush’s split personality: equal parts soft sentimentality and loud rock bravado. “When I started doing Supercrush it was a return to my earliest musical interests,” says Palm. “I got into catchy melodic stuff and grunge bands before I even got into punk and extreme music. There was a big alt rock thing happening in eastern Canada when I was growing up, with bands like Sloan and the Doughboys getting played on MuchMusic all the time, so I was exposed to all of that. In my mind any band that’s melodic and guitar-based is fair game to be an influence on Supercrush–from The Beatles, to My Bloody Valentine, to Boston.”

    Includes unlimited streaming of Melody Maker via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 7 days

      $9 USD or more 

     

1.
With teeth so straight and white you’ve got a perfect smile It’s so much prettier than mine I bet your parents bought you braces as a child I wanna see it all the time And all the clothes you wear, they’ve got your trademark style It’s so much thriftier than mine The thought of taking them off really drives me wild I wanna see you all the time You’re on my mind all of the time You’re driving me insane You’re on my mind all of the time Each day you’re further away Further estranged and astray You’re on my mind all of the time You’re driving me insane You’re on my mind all of the time With teeth so straight and white you’ve got a perfect smile
2.
Hey Christine You’re a mess, but i must confess you’ve got ahold of me My friends are sick and tired of hearing me complain Hey Christine I’ve got some patience left if you’ve got time for me They’re giving me advice they know i’ll never take: “Let her go” They’re giving me advice they know i’ll never take: “Let her go” That’s what all my friends tell me when i need a hand But they don’t understand No, they don’t understand They don’t understand the way she feels “Let her go” That’s what all my friends tell me when i need a hand But they don’t understand No, they don’t understand the way she feels
3.
Melody Maker 02:04
Melody maker lives inside his own head Genius creator can’t seem to get ahead It’s too late to turn back now You can’t change You can’t change Melody maker toils in obscurity Childish behavior disguised as eccentricity You’re no idiot savant You’re an idiot Yes you are In your mind you’re a big star You can’t lose They just don’t know who you are all the fools They’re all fools It’s too late to turn back now
4.
Trophy 03:14
Don’t you want a little something more than to be a total crashing bore? Don’t you want a little something more to do? Don’t you want a little something else than to be a trophy on the shelf? Don’t you want a little something else for you? There’s something in your eyes that’s like watching some paint as it dries There’s something in your speech that is putting my brain asleep All the personality of a fading TV screen showing re-runs I’ve already seen Don’t you feel a little bit alone in the little world inside your phone? Don’t you feel a little bit alone this way? Don’t you feel a little bit debased by the status that you always chase? Don’t you feel a little bit debased today? There’s something in your eyes that’s like watching some paint as it dries There’s something in your speech that is putting my brain asleep All the personality of a fading TV screen showing re-runs I’ve already seen Don’t you want a little something more than to be a total crashing bore? Don’t you want a little something else than to be a trophy on the shelf? Don’t you want a little something more than to be a total crashing bore? Don’t you want a little something more for you?
5.
Helium High 05:19
Traffic is standing still The day has begun Ivory towers above bleached by the sun Floating in motions of ease Helium high A miniature world below under the sky Porous piñata peers down as dry as a sponge Dusted and burning out under the sun Ignorant insects ignore Chasing the same fate The hollywood sign up above made of papier-mâché and letters cut from styrofoam plates With fishing line to hold them in place Waves of creation fold in An ocean of cars moving in synchronized streams under the stars Pale yellow prisms peer down obscured by the haze Dim constellations above made of reflective tape and christmas lights suspended in space With bits of twine to hold them in place We’re all going somewhere But will we know when we get there? Feverish dreams in the heat scripting our thoughts Lip-synched and overdubbed on a production lot We’re all going somewhere But will we know when we get there?

about

Supercrush are back to administer another dose of impossibly infectious guitar pop with their new EP, Melody Maker. The Seattle-based group–led by guitarist/vocalist Mark Palm along with bassist Phil Jones and drummer Allen Trainer–named their latest batch of songs after a simple student model electric guitar and a weekly rock mag of yesteryear. It’s a winking tribute to the rock n roll continuum that the band so lovingly embraces, but also a fitting nod to the band members themselves and the amount of genuine songcraft that goes into making music that sounds so effortlessly catchy.

Recorded during the same sessions as Supercrush’s 2020 debut album, SODO Pop, the five songs on Melody Maker are far from throwaway leftovers. “We recorded all of the songs at the same time as the LP and then had to decide where everything was going to end up,” Palm explains. “It was a pretty challenging process, but I think these songs ended up making sense together.” Engineered by Jones and longtime collaborator Jackson Long and then mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato (Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies, Sebadoh, Wild Pink), the music on Melody Maker highlights Supercrush’s split personality: equal parts soft sentimentality and loud rock bravado. “When I started doing Supercrush, it was sort of a return to my earliest musical interests,” says Palm. “I got into catchy stuff and grunge bands before I even got into punk and aggressive music. There was a big indie and alt rock thing happening in eastern Canada when I was growing up, with bands like Sloan and the Doughboys getting played on MuchMusic all the time, so I was exposed to all of that. In my mind any band that’s melodic and guitar-based is fair game to be an influence on Supercrush–from The Beatles, to My Bloody Valentine, to Boston.”

The EP begins with “Perfect Smile,” a perfect introduction to that blend of influences and the band’s ability to contrast fuzzed-out ‘90s alternative bombast with earnest lyrics and a palpable sense of longing. It’s an effervescent opener that sounds effortless, belying Palm’s attention to detail and meticulous songwriting. “On the one hand the band is definitely fun and there’s a lighthearted aspect to it, but it’s not a joke or a lark,” he says. “I take songwriting really seriously. I think one of the things I love about power pop is that it’s not high-falutin. It can express something deep and soulful but there’s a certain blue collar aspect to it. You don’t have to sit around and wait for some otherworldly inspiration, you can just get to work with the raw materials of songcraft.”

Palm’s skill with that craft is on full display in the EP’s title track, a supremely catchy two minute nugget of ear candy that deftly incorporates staccato guitars, doo-wop-esque bass lines, hand claps, and three part vocal harmonies, with a healthy dose of self deprecation. The lyrics describe a childish and self absorbed narcissist who exists as a star within their own mind, the public at large too foolish to recognize their genius. “I just make music because I like it, but I recognize that there’s a certain arrogance in devoting your life to the pursuit of songwriting,” Palm explains with a laugh. “It kind of implies you think your creation is so worthwhile and valuable, and there’s a humor to juxtaposing that with the almost total indifference of the music consumer. There’s something funny about treating what you’re doing as important, even though it’s not especially successful.”

Supercrush’s desire to take the songwriting seriously, but not themselves, is evident on “Trophy,” an experiment in heavy rotation one-hit wonder radio hit-making that started as a songwriting exercise and became an inadvertent EP standout. The song playfully celebrates the artistry of the commercial earworm, with the band daring themselves to take it one key change, one hand clap too far–but always landing on the right side of catchiness. “There’s a craft to this kind of music, once you learn the trade you can start building on it,” Palm says. “To me it’s so fun to find something unique within the tight framework of pop songwriting. You almost have to be extra creative to express yourself within the limitations of such a rigid genre.”

It’s that drive to keep pushing themselves that elevates Supercrush far beyond the realm of pastiche and into territory that’s catchy but also compelling. As Melody Maker ends with the towering, five and half minute, shoegaze-inflected closer, “Helium High,” it’s clear that this is a bonafide rock n roll outfit, one that’s putting in the work it takes to make big guitars and big hooks sound so instantly satisfying. Luckily, all the listener has to do is turn it up.

credits

released June 3, 2022

Mark Palm - guitars, vocals, auxiliary percussion, piano
Phil Jones - bass guitar
Allen Trainer - drums
Greg Ehrlich - organ (track 2)
Jay Kardong - pedal steel (track 3)

Mark Palm plays acoustic guitars built by Charles A. Hoffman

Recorded at London Bridge, Hear Me Shimmer, and Robert Lang studios in 2018 and 2019

Engineered by Phil Jones and Jackson Long
Additional engineering by Chris Rahm
Mixed at Sonelab by Justin Pizzoferrato
Mastered at Saff Mastering by Carl Saff
All songs written by Mark Palm and Supercrush
All lyrics written by Mark Palm
Photography by Caroline Walker Evans and Che Hise-Gattone
Design and layout by Mark Palm
Graphic assistance by Carl Mcbeath

Produced by Mark palm and Phil Jones

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about

Supercrush Seattle, Washington

Although best known for playing in a long lineage of hardcore, punk, and metal groups, Mark Palm’s focus has always been song-craft and pop sensibility. After beginning to explore softer sounds in the late aughts as a member of San Francisco shoegazers Modern Charms, Palm adopted the Supercrush moniker as a vehicle for his pursuit of powerpop preeminence. ... more

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