ALBUM REVIEW: Super Snõõper – Snõõper
Maybe it’s just because our attention spans are getting shorter, but who doesn’t love a short album nowadays? In Nashville outfit SNÕÕPER‘s case, their debut album is just over 20 minutes long. Obviously, being a punk band means this sort of thing comes with the territory, but Super Snõõper nonetheless makes for a super fast-paced album that only a band like SNÕÕPER could do.
Despite the overall short runtime, SNÕÕPER are extremely clever and allow the songs to breathe and create their own space. Bed Bugs is only 34 seconds, but it doesn’t sound rushed at all. The songs that are all over a minute long are rather fun. For example, opener Stretching stops and starts different songs, so it ends up feeling like several tracks in one. We can’t help but laugh at the genius of it; you can’t complain that you are not getting your money’s worth.
For those worried that this means the album is a convoluted mess, fear not; the consistency of the vocals help act as a guide throughout the record, and there are clever interludes that link the songs together and help with the flow, like how the soundbite at the end of the song Fitness talking about working out leads into the next song Powerball. The tracks stand out on their own too; there is enough differences between them to tell one from another. For example, Xerox is a guitar-driven and fast-paced punk song, whereas Fruit Fly which follows is a mid-tempo track.
Whilst the album is a spectacular piece of music, it is not perfect. Somehow it does drag on a little in the second half, especially as there are unfortunately a couple of songs in a row that do sound a bit too similar to each other. Furthermore, the last song is almost five-and-a-half minutes long. Whilst it does flesh out the closing song, it is quite repetitive and starts to drag on for a bit. Admittedly it gives the band time to show off some extra talents, such as the funky guitar solo at the end, but it could probably have been a minute or so shorter as it doesn’t bring much to the album.
Overall, Super Snõõper is a unique record. SNÕÕPER‘s ability to craft exciting and unique songs in a short runtime is an astounding talent, and while the sheen starts to wear off by the end of the album, it is still early days for the band, and therefore they still have plenty of time to hone their craft further. Ultimately, most of this album is a fast-paced, fun and engaging listen and it proves that SNÕÕPER are definitely a name to watch.
Rating: 8/10
Super Snõõper is out now via Third Man Records.
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