Thursday, May 13 2010
The Return and Demystification of Jeff Mangum
Indie-rock's most revered recluse makes a rare appearance in New York City and in so doing, manages to overcome his own myth, one song at a time.
Friday, March 5 2010
Various Artists: Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox
Jeff Mangum, Yo La Tengo, Will Oldham, Stephin Merritt, the Mountain Goats, the late Jay Reatard, and dozens more pay tribute to one of the best songwriters no one has ever heard of -- and what a joy it is to listen to.
Friday, September 11 2009
Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, the Indie Label That Got Big and Stayed Small by John Cook
Despite some generous editorializing, Our Noise is as engaging (and human) a music industry tale as you're ever going to read.
Tuesday, March 3 2009
“It’s a Gut Feeling About the Music”: An Interview with Mac McCaughan
After founding the influential Merge Records, the inimitable Superchunk, and the prolific solo project known as Portastatic, Mac McCaughan is finally ready to look back at his career, his bands, and those wonderful four-track recordings that he thought he lost 'lo those many years ago.
Wednesday, September 17 2008
Portastatic: Some Small History
McCaughan has given us a glimpse into his archives not to show us a set of products, but to show us a process, and to see Portastatic grow from a 4-track solo side project into an essential indie rock band.
Friday, October 13 2006
Just Making Records: An Interview with Portastatic
Mac McCaughan creates string charts and listens to tropicalia while running Merge Records, and he doesn't mind if you haven't listened to Superchunk.
Tuesday, October 10 2006
Portastatic: Be Still Please
Another excellent addition to the Portastatic catalogue, this time expanding Mac McCaughan's orchestral pop leanings.
Monday, September 12 2005
Portastatic: Bright Ideas
Besides being a friendlier sonic cousin of Indoor Living, Bright Ideas is not unlike Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department, Robert Pollard's 1999 solo album, in that it plays to an indie elder statesman's strengths and may get core fans all frenzied again.
Friday, November 21 2003
Portastatic: Autumn Was a Lark
After the title track steals the show, the rest of the record feels flat and lifeless. One wonders if McCaughan is biding his time waiting to be reunited with his Superchunk friends.
