Stutter (Elastica song) explained

Stutter
Cover:Stutter.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Elastica
Album:Elastica
B-Side:Pussycat
Released:November 1, 1993 (UK)
September 20, 1994 (US)
Recorded:June 1993
Length:2:21
Label:Deceptive
Producer:Elastica
Next Title:Line Up
Next Year:1994

"Stutter" is the debut single by the Britpop group Elastica and was written by lead singer Justine Frischmann. It was originally released as a single in the UK in November 1993 and in the US in September 1994.[1] The song was later included on the band's 1995 self-titled debut album. The single, which received positive reviews from critics, charted in the US and Canada.

Background

"Stutter" was written by Elastica's lead singer, Justine Frischmann. The song is a little over two minutes long and contains just two verses and two choruses because Frischmann thought that any more would be unnecessary.[2] The lyrics are about "the occasional problem of drunken male impotence."[3]

Release

"Stutter" was first released in November 1993 for the independent Deceptive label. It was released initially as a 7" only and sold out within one day.[4] Although it was a limited edition of only 1,500 pressings, the single generated enormous media exposure for the band: based solely on the strength of it, Elastica was voted Best New Band in the year's-end Readers Poll in Melody Maker.[5] To avoid overexposure, the song was deliberately not worked into North American radio until later in 1995, after which it charted in both the US and Canada.[6]

"Stutter" was included as the 14th track on Elastica's 1995 self-titled debut album, and it was also included on the 2002 20th Century Masters collection, Best of Brit Pop.[7] [2]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics.[8] Spin wrote that "[The single] Stutter delivers four brilliant pop songs".[9] In a review of the band’s self-titled album, Douglas Wolk of CMJ New Music Monthly wrote: "Elastica's best moments are all on its own, especially the astonishing single 'Stutter.[10]

Writing for Billboard, Larry Flick included "Stutter" in his Critic's Choice list, writing: "It may be a stretch, but this indie quartet is best described as a better-natured Hole. Both acts feature sassy fronting females, impatient melodies, and gritty guitar riffs. The energetic tone here, however, is uplifting-not brooding. Equally interesting is the flip side, 'Pussycat'."[11] In 2012, NME ranked the song at number 53 in its list of the "100 Best Tracks of the Nineties".[12]

Chart performance

The single peaked at No. 80 in the UK in November 1993.[13] In the US, "Stutter" stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for nine weeks, peaking at No. 67 on August 26, 1995. It also went to No. 10 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart on August 12. In Canada, the song peaked at No. 4 on the Alternative chart on August 14.

Music video

The song's music video, which was directed by David Mould, was filmed in San Francisco, California and aired regularly on MTV in 1995.[2] [14] It features the band members playfully meandering from Grant Avenue in Chinatown to the Broadway stretch of strip clubs and other adult businesses.

Track list

UK 7"

  1. "Stutter"
  2. "Pussycat"

US CD single[15]

  1. "Stutter"
  2. "Rockunroll" (Peel Session)
  3. "2:1" (Evening Session)
  4. "Annie" (Peel Session)

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart80
Chart (1995)Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[16] 125
Canadian Alternative Rock[17] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 67

Notes and References

  1. Book: Inc, Nielsen Business Media . Billboard . 1995-05-20 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en.
  2. Bennett, Andy and Stratton, Jon. Britpop and the English Music Tradition (Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2010), pp. 60-61.
  3. Book: Harris, John. Britpop!: Cool Britannia and the Spectacular Demise of English Rock. Da Capo Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2004. 978-0306813672. 95.
  4. Book: Peter. Buckley. The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. London, England. 2003. 978-1843531050. 332.
  5. True . Everett . Everett True . 8 October 1994 . Elastica: From Hype To Eternity . . 17 March 2019 . . subscription .
  6. Carrie. Borzillo. Elastica's DGC Set Connects With Fans. Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Los Angeles, California. 20 May 1995. 42.
  7. Web site: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of Brit Pop - Various Artists. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Los Angeles, California. 7 June 2011.
  8. Book: Strong, Martin Charles. The Great Indie Discography. Grove Atlantic. New York City. 2003. 978-1841953359.
  9. Picks. Spin. SpinMedia. San Francisco, California. April 1995. 146.
  10. Douglas. Malk. Best New Music. CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Holdings Corp.. New York City. April 1995. 13.
  11. Larry. Flick. Single Reviews. Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Los Angeles, California. 24 September 1994. 28 December 2016.
  12. Web site: Tom. Breihan. NME's 100 Best Tracks of the Nineties. NME. TI Media. London, England. 16 May 2012. 31 December 2016.
  13. Web site: 13 November 1993 (from ukmix.org The 76-100 pos. UK-Charts-Thread, page 9). Imgur.com. 30 May 2017.
  14. News: Barry. Walters. Elastica is Bent on U.S. Success. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gannett Company. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 24 August 1995. 18 September 2018.
  15. http://allmusic.com/album/stutter-rockunroll-r206316 "Stutter/Rockunroll - Elastica"
  16. Web site: Elastica ARIA chart history, received from ARIA on 8 March 2024. Imgur.com. 5 June 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the title's peak on the national chart.
  17. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=nfl7btr81s9geh5cgssb99pni7&q1=elastica+stutter&q2=&interval=20 "Results"
  18. "Stutter - Elastica"