Released 1 November 1993 Genre Punk rock, Britpop Label Deceptive Records | Recorded 1993 Length 2:21 | |
Format CD single, cassette, vinyl | ||
"Stutter" is a song by the Britpop group Elastica and was written by lead singer Justine Frischmann. It was originally released as a single in 1993 and then included on the band's 1995 self-titled debut album. The single, which received positive reviews from critics, charted in the US and Canada.
Contents
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. The lyrics are about "the occasional problem of drunken male impotence."
Release
"Stutter" was Elastica's debut single and was first released in November 1993 for the independent Deceptive label. It sold out within one day. The single was re-released the following year, and according to SoundScan, it had sold over 6,000 copies by May 1995. The song was not worked into radio until later in 1995, after which it charted in the US and Canada.
"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.
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from music critics. Spin wrote that "[The single] Stutter delivers four brilliant pop songs". According to Douglas Walk of CMJ New Music Monthly, "Elastica's best moments are all on its own, especially the astonishing single 'Stutter'".
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". In 2012, NME magazine ranked the song at number 53 in its list of the "100 Best Tracks of the Nineties."
Chart performance
In the US, "Stutter" stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for nine weeks, peaking at #67 on August 26, 1995. It also went to #10 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart on August 12. In Canada, the song peaked at #4 on the Alternative chart on August 14.
Music video
The song's music video, which was directed by David Mould, aired regularly on MTV in 1995. It features shots of the band members walking down crowded streets and performing at concerts.
Track list
CD single
- "Stutter"
- "Rockunroll"
- "2:1"
- "Annie"