Brent DeBoer, Dave Mudie, and Bob Harrow deliver a thrilling punch of Mudhoney fuzz and punk energy, making 'Super American Eagle' a standout gem in Melbourne's music scene.
Considering Super American Eagle is made up of Brent DeBoer of The Dandy Warhols, Dave Mudie from the Courtney Barnett band and Bob Harrow of Immigrant Union, they could have easily established themselves amongst the ‘super-group’ crowd with the release of their self-titled debut album.
Instead, the veteran rockers are doing things legitimately. Just like any Melbourne/Naarm-based up-and-comer, they’re launching the album with a show at the Old Bar.
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It’s quite an admirable move. All three musicians have worked hard over the past few decades to establish solid reputations within the music world, so why wouldn’t they market their new project to pre-established fans of their previous groups? Because, with Super American Eagle, they don’t need to. The group’s debut is a strong enough album to establish fans in its own right. Super American Eagle is thrilling. Think Mudhoney fuzz, Hot Lunch groove and Truckfighters grunt, mixed with the punk energy of C.O.F.F.I.N and Stiff Richards. It’s absolute bedlam.
From the first chords of ‘Yes’, you’ll find yourself headbanging with a rhythmic ferocity that could easily strain your neck muscles. The track, delivered alongside a super-taught, pocket-hugging groove, it’s an opener that grabs your attention effortlessly. ‘Shit’s A Thing’ maintains the energy with its sloppy punk two-step rhythms, bleeding guitar solos and breakneck percussion, reminiscent of a modern and raw Deep Purple.
However, Super American Eagle isn’t just about high-octane balls-to-the-wall punk-rock energy. Sure, ‘Youf Uck’ is precisely that, but in other moments, ‘Gone’ delivers a day-trippin’ fuzz excursion into the ether, playing with psychedelic dissonance and drawn-out walls of droning distortion. ‘Trampling’ detours into a world of Supergrass-inspired power-pop that sees the group exploring acoustic guitars and hook-driven melodies. Meanwhile, ‘Mark of the Beast’ leans into sludgy, psych riffs, impressively slowing down the tempo while amping up the heaviness.
The standout moment for Super American Eagle arrives with the closer, ‘Mac.’ An eight-minute trip that delves even more hypnotics as the trio balances soaring guitar solos and driving basslines with harrowing vocal murmurs and psychedelic hums of didgeridoo. It serves as a perfect culmination to quite a striking debut.
Sure, Super American Eagle may well be the most seasoned up-and-comers the Melbourne/Naarm music scene has encountered in some time. However, that hasn’t stopped them from offering up an album that marks a complete change of pace for all three musicians and the Melbourne music scene as a whole.
Super American Eagle isn’t just an album that surprises; it’s an invigorating take on punk-rock that’ll undoubtedly set the modern rock world alight.
Super American Eagle LP is out now in ltd edition black and white split colour, black 12″ and digitally through Cheersquad Records & Tapes.
