Suffering Jukebox

This morning's episode features, not one, but two interviews.

First up is Jim Wilbur from Superchunk. Songs In The Key Of Yikes is Superchunk's thirteenth studio album and it was released a few weeks back on Merge Records. You can find out more about Superchunk (and purchase their music) here; https://superchunk.bandcamp.com/

Next is Owen Ashworth, who records music as Advance Base. Late last year Advance Base released their his studio album, Horrible Occurrences, but more recently he has contributed a cover of Jason Molina's Everything Should Try Again to I Will Swim To You: A Tribut To Jason Molina, released last week by Run For Cover Records. Find out more about Advance Base (and purchase their music) here; https://advancebase.bandcamp.com/music and find out more about I Will Swim To You here; https://runforcoverrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-will-swim-to-you-a-tribute-to-jason-molina

Nick's Pick of the Week is Orcutt Shelley Miller's Orcutt Shelley Miller, which was released last Friday, August 29th. You can hear it in all the usual places, or purchase it here; https://orcuttshelleymiller.bandcamp.com/album/orcutt-shelley-miller and my review can be read below.

Orcutt Shelley Miller: Orcutt Shelley Miller (Silver Current Records)

Released 5th September 2025

Orcutt Shelley Miller documents an explosive live set recorded at Los Angeles’ Zebulon Café in April 2024, showcasing the trio’s idiosyncratic talents and unique chemistry. Featuring Bill Orcutt on guitar, Steve Shelley on Drums and Ethan Miller on bass, each member is in possession of a storied history within the genres of the experimental and the avant-garde: Orcutt with Harry Pussy and his numerous solo releases, Shelley with Sonic Youth and Miller with Comets On Fire. 

Despite having a pedigree that is rooted in the strangest recesses of recorded music, Orcutt Shelley Miller is a surprisingly easy listen, certainly not easy-listening by any stretch of the imagination, but not overly demanding. It captures the trio in fine form indeed, playing off each other’s talents to create something that is joyfully cacophonous and beautifully dissonant.

Over the course of five tracks, most of which exceed five minutes, with the longest stretching to almost nine, the trio weave in and out of each other’s paths, challenging and pushing each other to greater and stranger musical heights. Orcutt’s playing —an obvious highlight— cuts through everything like a surgeon’s scalpel, delivering one of his finest but most uncomplicated performances to date. Shelley, too, takes a more simplistic approach, keeping his his head down and his bum up to lock in the groove for the duration of the band’s set. Meanwhile, Miller’s emotive bass playing underscores the proceedings, breathing life and depth into the performance in a way that is oddly and deeply affecting. 

Album opener, A Star Is Born, plays with classic-rock tropes in an interesting and totally non-obvious way, at times it appears to channel some of the few interesting moments that can be found within Mike McCready’s repertoire; but with none of the predictability. An LA Funeral is the album’s ballad, both sad and psychedelic, there are definitely far worse options when it comes to soundtracking one’s final journey. From An LA Funeral to A Long Island Wedding, Orcutt Shelley Miller’s final track is a meandering and multi-faceted affair that starts slowly before exploding suddenly into a final burst of impassioned, turbulent noise.

A powerful and eccentric example of the sum of its parts, Orcutt Shelley Miller will appeal to fans of its individual constituents and their former projects. It may even tickle the fancy of those who are unfamiliar with Orcutt, Shelley and Miller, for despite its experimental nature it is —at its core— a deeply charming record that captures the raw power of the original performance. Orcutt Shelley Miller is evidence that not all experimental music needs to difficult, a lively and enjoyable record that sounds like it was a heck of a lot of fun to make —and one that is even more fun to listen to.

Nick Stephan