Super Whatevr
don't you wanna be glad?


2.5
average

Review

by NBA USER (86 Reviews)
February 10th, 2020 | 13 replies


Release Date: 2020 | Tracklist

Review Summary: evolving into everyone else...

As the last chord faded on the album closer “melancholyism” (ironically a very sweet song), I immediately looked up some pictures and music videos of Super Whatevr, completely convinced there had to be some sort of shake-up in the lineup to explain such a drastic shift in the project’s sound. Sure enough, lead singer Skylar McKee decided it was time to rebrand his brainchild, excusing the entire band and venturing forth as a duo with new drummer Chase Vernon. Skylar’s oeuvre is still very much intact, as his brutally honest musings on love, relationships, and his state of mind are about the only thing he carried over from the well-received Never Nothing. And while these musings weren’t exactly shrouded in obtuse metaphorical wordplay, don’t you wanna be glad sees McKee tear up any semblance of subtlety in his lyrics and express himself unfiltered and tongue-in-cheek. In place of the soaring melodies and groove-laden guitars, Super Whatevr presents us in don’t you wanna be glad…. an emo-synthpop album.

Super Whatevr was originally conceived as an outlet for the McKee’s poetry so it’s no surprise that he took his project in this direction. don’t you wanna be glad isn’t an engaging musical piece, it’s actually very simplistic. But what it does do is serve as a vehicle for the poetry. McKee’s lyrics have clear parallels in its candidness to groups like Weatherbox, You, Me, and Everyone We Know, and Say Anything but have a palpable sincerity to them that lift the project above simple maudlin whining. McKee describes himself as a loner and in don’t you wanna be glad he explores the effects of his crumbled relationships and the stresses of creating as an introvert. Many of the songs come from a place of personal pain, but McKee’s upbeat delivery emanates a feeling of hope, that these experiences are transitory and will give way to good times.

The issue with don’t you wanna be glad is every facet of it can easily be traced to a contemporary existing construct. From the initial musical shift, to the tone, to the subject matter, don’t you wanna be glad is such a product of the 2020 Twittersphere that at the end of the day it’s utterly forgettable. There will be those that can relate to the messages, there will be those who can bop to the music, but McKee’s new look Super Whatevr at the end of the day is devoid of any interesting personality. As earnest as don’t you wanna be glad may be, it packs no punch, and even if it did it couldn’t land, as the group is being whisked away on the coattails of the dozens of bands doing the same damn thing.



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user ratings (8)
2.4
average


Comments:Add a Comment 
Calc
February 10th 2020


17463 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

https://superwhatevr.bandcamp.com/album/dont-you-wanna-be-glad



BETTER b-b-b BETTER

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
February 10th 2020


18262 Comments


not going to lie, I wish you reviewed more

Atari
Staff Reviewer
February 10th 2020


28009 Comments


Oh man, I was looking forward to this :/

Calc
February 10th 2020


17463 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I wish I did too nocte, I can't get into a rhythm with it since I can really only bang one out every once in a while. and atari you should try this for the lyrics, especially if you like the way the bands I mention write. but yeah this was not for me.

McTime50
February 10th 2020


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

while Never Nothing is still better, this does indeed bop

Atari
Staff Reviewer
February 11th 2020


28009 Comments


so yeah this is way too Owl City-core at times... it's a shame since I really enjoyed their EP and debut full length

Calc
February 11th 2020


17463 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

that's a great comparison haha

Atari
Staff Reviewer
February 11th 2020


28009 Comments


lol I pretty much forgot about Owl City until I heard this and several tracks almost instantly reminded me of them..

Sanders
February 11th 2020


2416 Comments


This is a pile of shite compared to Never Nothing

Calc
February 12th 2020


17463 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

^^^

Conmaniac
February 14th 2020


27704 Comments


Damn rip I liked Good Luck..

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
May 22nd 2021


4053 Comments


Was only ever aware of Never Nothing, which is great, so hearing the new single was... a shock. Legitimately one of the worst songs I've heard this year. :c

Atari
Staff Reviewer
May 22nd 2021


28009 Comments


Ya not sure what the hell happened. Their first EP and Never Nothing showed lots of potential and then their music took a nosedive



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