Undertow (song)

"Undertow"
Single by Warpaint
from the album The Fool
A-side "Undertow"/"Warpaint"
Released September 21, 2010
Format Digital download, 7"
Recorded 2010 at Curves Studio and The Boat Studio in Los Angeles, California
Genre Indie rock, art rock
Length 05:53
Label Rough Trade
Writer(s) Warpaint
Producer(s) Tom Biller
Warpaint singles chronology
"Undertow"
(2010)		 "Shadows"
(2011)
Cover for the Record Store Day 7" release.

"Undertow" is a song by the American indie rock band Warpaint. It is the third track and lead single from the band's debut studio album The Fool, and was released on September 21, 2010 on Rough Trade Records. Described by the band as an homage to the Nirvana song "Polly", "Undertow" received favorable acclaim and placed in the United Kingdom's Independent Singles and Independent Breakers charts upon its release. A limited edition double A-side single was released as part of Record Store Day 2012.

Describing the origins of the song, bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg said "Undertow" developed from a bassline she and guitarist Theresa Wayman were working on. According to Lindberg, "[Wayman] just started singing the lyrics to 'Polly' over that song … instead of making that a cover … we said, 'well, write your own words to the song'." Lindberg added that if "you listen to the songs back-to-back they sound nothing alike" but referred to "Undertow" as "a bit of an homage to Kurt [Cobain] and Nirvana."[1] A music video for "Undertow" was directed by Lindberg's sister and former Warpaint drummer Shannyn Sossamon.[2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Warpaint.

Digital download[3]
  1. "Undertow" – 5:53
Record Store Day 7"[4]
  1. "Undertow" – 5:53
  2. "Warpaint" – 5:54

Personnel

All personnel credits adapted from The Fool‍ '​s album notes.[5]

Warpaint
Technical personnel

Chart positions

Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Independent Singles Chart[6] 30
UK Independent Singles Breakers Chart[7] 10

References

  1. ↑ Nissim, Mayer (November 17, 2010). "Warpaint admit Nirvana influence on single – Music News". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  2. ↑ Singh, Amrit (October 11, 2010). "Warpaint – "Undertow" Video". Stereogum. Spin Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Music – Undertow – Single by Warpaint". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Pictures of Record Store Day: 50 essential releases – Photos". NME. IPC Media. April 12, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  5. ↑ The Fool (Album notes). Warpaint. Rough Trade Records. 2010. RTRADCD580.
  6. ↑ "2010-11-06 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "2010-11-06 Top 40 Independent Singles Breakers Archive". Official Charts Company. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 29, 2013.

External links