Stutter (Elastica song)

"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.[3] 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.

"Stutter"
Single by Elastica
from the album Elastica
B-side"Pussycat"
ReleasedNovember 1, 1993 (UK)
September 20, 1994 (US)
RecordedJune 1993
Genre
Length2:21
LabelDeceptive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Elastica
Elastica singles chronology
"Stutter"
(1993)		 "Line Up"
(1994)
Audio sample
  • file
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Background

"Stutter" was written by Elastica's lead singer, Justine Frischmann.[4] 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.[5] The lyrics are about "the occasional problem of drunken male impotence."[6]

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[4][9][10]

"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.[11][5]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics.[12] Spin wrote that "[The single] Stutter delivers four brilliant pop songs".[13] 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'".[14]

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'."[15] In 2012, NME ranked the song at number 53 in its list of the "100 Best Tracks of the Nineties".[16]

Chart performance

The single peaked at No. 80 in the UK in November 1993.[17] 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.[4] In Canada, the song peaked at No. 4 on the Alternative chart on August 14.[10]

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.[5][18] 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[19]

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

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[17] 80
Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 67
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[20] 10
Canadian Alternative Rock[10] 4

References
  1. Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Paste. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Elastica | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  3. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1995-05-20). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. "Stutter - Elastica". billboard.com. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  5. Bennett, Andy and Stratton, Jon. Britpop and the English Music Tradition (Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2010), pp. 60-61.
  6. Harris, John (2004). Britpop!: Cool Britannia and the Spectacular Demise of English Rock. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0306813672.
  7. Buckley, Peter, ed. (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. London, England: Rough Guides. p. 332. ISBN 978-1843531050.
  8. True, Everett (8 October 1994). "Elastica: From Hype To Eternity". Melody Maker. Retrieved 17 March 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
  9. Borzillo, Carrie (20 May 1995). "Elastica's DGC Set Connects With Fans". Billboard. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. p. 42.
  10. "Results". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  11. "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of Brit Pop - Various Artists". Allmusic. Los Angeles, California: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  12. Strong, Martin Charles (2003). The Great Indie Discography. New York City: Grove Atlantic. ISBN 978-1841953359.
  13. "Picks". Spin. San Francisco, California: SpinMedia. April 1995. p. 146.
  14. Malk, Douglas (April 1995). "Best New Music". CMJ New Music Monthly. New York City: CMJ Holdings Corp. p. 13.
  15. Flick, Larry (24 September 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  16. Breihan, Tom (16 May 2012). "NME's 100 Best Tracks of the Nineties". NME. London, England: TI Media. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  17. "13 November 1993 (from ukmix.org The 76-100 pos. UK-Charts-Thread, page 9)". Imgur.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  18. Walters, Barry (24 August 1995). "Elastica is Bent on U.S. Success". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Gannett Company. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  19. "Stutter/Rockunroll - Elastica". allmusic.com. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  20. "Elastica Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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