Shudder To Think

Check out the review in Pitchfork:
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13473-live-from-home/

This is the sound of us trying to be more likeable, and getting it about half-right (in a real cool way, I think).

O darkly playful machine. This was our first major-label album, the first one we made as a full-time band, and the last one where we were all aiming for the same thing.

These are Dischord-era versions of songs that would be re-recorded and released on Pony Express Record, plus some demos and a coupla oldies recorded live. Rad, as I recall.

We recorded this with hesitation on tour in Germany, and I’m glad we did it.

This, along with Pony Express Record, pretty much represents Shudder in full-bloom. We had our own thing, and this was pretty much it.

Maybe my fave? Total pop record, only we didn’t know how to play slow or quiet, so a ballad like Day Ditty surges. Lies About The Sky still the best live.

Coming into our own on this one. Definitely hear the influence of Surrealism 101 class on lyrics and music. Lysergic hardcore. D.C. still thinking we’re weird, but slowly coming round.

Pretty sure this is only on vinyl. Kigazz stuff from between our first two records.

I cringe at the title, but whatchagonnado? I was 17 (the rest of the band barely older), and it seemed funny at the time. Lyrically; Dr. Seuss-as-angsty-teen, musically somewhere between D.C.

Shudder’s first release. This one holds up, good-weird. There’s a song about a hooker I met in Las Vegas when I was there with my dad for the Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler fight.