AUGUST 16, 2021
Written By Juno Tipton
NEW YORK DUO SUPER AMERICAN IS SET TO AMAZE WITH NEW SINGLE "FREE BIRD" AND UPCOMING ALBUM "SUP"
PHOTO BY BENJAMIN LIEBER
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Matt Cox and Patrick Feeley of Super American are ready for takeoff with their newest single and upcoming album opener “Free Bird.” Even if you haven’t listened to the Buffalo NY duo before you may recognize them from recent tour announcements from Hot Mulligan, Prince Daddy and the Hyena, and Sincere Engineer, a tour which is dangerously close to fully selling out.
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Like a warning of sprinkling rain before a storm, Free Bird opens with a scattering of high notes on the piano and entwined guitar reverb. Just seconds after, the drums kick in, the guitar instantly follows in a descending chord progression, and the combination has the pulsing insistence of a torrential summer rainstorm. Instrumental takes a temporary backseat with the heartbeat of a kick drum and a subtle shredding guitar when the opening lyrics come in, but quickly come back to center stage again with the chorus.
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“You can’t believe in nothing if you’re caked in mud for something,” really knocked me off my feet. We’re surrounded by so many reasons to feel hopeless and miserable, but as long as we keep our hands dirty and stay involved with causes that matter to us, we haven’t given up. “We’re sewn inside each other,” only adds to that idea. We’re all linked in some way, and we have more influence together than we do alone. It’s also easier to lose hope and momentum when you feel alone. The second verse builds on these thoughts in the chorus with the line, “it takes a neighbor on your side / just to feel human inside.”
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The camaraderie of this pair is palpable in the smallest bits of this song, you can really hear how much they complement each other and the breakneck energy and effort they put into every detail. Even if you pulled up to a show without knowing a single lyric, I bet you would be singing along to this song and angry pointing before it was over. Not one self-proclaimed pop punk fan could tell me they wouldn’t after hearing the lyrics, “bury me clean / set me on fire / leave me to die / I’ll be alright / I’ll be alright / I’ll be alright.”
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“free bird” also has an eye-catching music video directed by Benjamin Lieber, whose gorgeous portfolio features the likes of Seaway, Trophy Eyes, Boston Manor and many more. 90s and 00s arcade rats will undoubtedly appreciate the throwback to the Crusin’ USA arcade game in the visual effects by “fret wizard'' Matt West of Neck Deep.
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I’m sincerely looking forward to listening to the rest of the sophomore full-length album when it comes out October 22, especially if it feels like shotgunning a monster, like listening to “free bird” for the first time did. I even made sure to bookmark the Wax Bodega website because that “SUP” splatter variant pre-order is seriously calling my name. Trust me when I say, Super American is set to amaze, and you’ll want to stay tuned to hear what comes next.
