North Carolina
Annuals
All-Time Best Band: Superchunk
All-Time Best Solo Artist: George Clinton
Best New Band: Annuals
We’re pretty sure it’s impossible not to have fun while listening to Superchunk. Even though watching their videos makes the “me” behind this royal “we” feel kind of old, the songs all hold up like the pillars of proto-post-pop-punk they are. Forever ensconced as the band who built the still-expanding Merge empire, these patron saints of Carolinan indie won’t be remembered so much for this or that song as they will endure as a reminder of better days past — sort of like tinnitus. | We were pretty sure that George Clinton was from some freaky, sexy galaxy, but the emperor of P-Funk is actually from Kannapolis. Dr. Funkenstein is years removed from commanding the Mothership, but funk is forever. (Want proof? Sniff his couch.) | Oh, and being fans of sunshiney front-porch pop, we’re falling pretty hard for Annuals over here — which is a little weird, because they’re sort of young, plus there’s six of them. (We might need to simmer down a bit until we’re sure they’re legal.)
Video: Superchunk
Video: George Clinton
Listen: Superchunk, "Hyper Enough"
Listen: George Clinton, "Atomic Dog"
Listen: Annuals, "Sore"
