Supersuckers – Suck It

Supersuckers
Suck It
Acetate Records
★★★★

Since their inception, brilliantly composed albums like The Smoke of Hell and La Manu Cornuda have been immortalized in the halls of underground rock and roll. It would have seemed that their fireball existence would have exploded much like the rock and roll they identify with. They took bold steps in a time when rock and roll was not all that popular but was able to co-exist with the Seattle bands of the time. Unrelentless, powerful, and making shots of adrenaline seem lame, the Supersuckers have pushed rock and roll past the point of limitations and seared their name into history. 30 years later, they continue to make powerful rock albums.

Suck It is another crossroads for the band. They have taken this rollercoaster ride and come to a point where they not only have to look back but also forward out of defiance from the human condition. On “The HIstory of Rock and Roll,” the band shows a rift in the rock and roll timeline—”And nobody gives a shit, at least not like they should,” growls Eddie Spaghetti—while bridging the gap between classicists and themselves, who, after 12 albums, could be nudging their way into that category. This comes at a time when many classic rock bands are embarking on retirement tours. Mimicking Angus Young’s taunting breathing from “TNT,” giving props to The Dwarves, along with name dropping a slew of other bands along the way, Eddie continues to sing, “I don’t give a shit, at least not like I could.”

Supersuckers – The History of Rock and Roll Official Video

The band is getting older. They don’t form blisters as much as they once did. A battle with throat cancer and survivor of a horrible car accident, the leader of the pack vocally grovels more on this release. It sounds good on the country-tinged songs—”Worst Thing Ever” and “Cold Wet Wind.” They push these twangy songs out like balladry. From the garage to the saloon, Spaghetti has every right to boast. He has the artillery to back him up.

The band does feel their oats on “What’s Up With This MF Thing.” They fire the music full steam with power chords and a collision of punk and rock with a fierce turbulence. And “Till I Die” is a rock and roll joy ride only the Supersuckers can express. It seems like a perfect bon voyage for this album proving that these corpses don’t cry. Yet, they rip out a few more before giving a salute to all the beer drinkers out there, that is, in Supersuckers honky tonk rock and roll fashion.

At 30 years, many did not expect the Supersuckers to be ripping out some of America’s best rock and roll, but here they are ripping out some of America’s best rock and roll.