AMG Review of Fabulous 8-Track Sound of Superdrag

Nitsuh Abebe
All Music Guide

Before vaulting to a major label and polishing up their pop sound for punchy singles like "Sucked Out," Superdrag was a much more interesting band. The Fabulous 8-Track Sound of Superdrag demonstrates this: it's a collection of Beatlesque pop gems buried in fuzz, with more than enough intelligent content to appeal to those indie fans who find the slickness of Superdrag's major-label releases unpalatable. The band's mainstream fans might have difficulties getting past the indie orientation of the recordings on Fabulous 8-Track Sound -- it's a shame if they do, because the quality of the record's songwriting tends to surpass that of major releases like Regretfully Yours. The hooks might not be spotlighted as much, and the recording might not have the big rock polish of the band's later work, but there's an unassuming subtlety to this release that's hugely appealing.