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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The gray area between Superchunk and Portastatic, October 31, 2005
Portastatic has always been an interesting side project, prolifically releasing albums and EPs full of 4-tracked bedroom recordings, experimental gems, oddball covers and quirky production explorations. The last few years has seen Mac's "band" picking up steam, offering consistently more streamlined CDs like 2003's rewarding "Summer of the Shark" and the "De Mel, De Melao" EP of tropicalia covers.
Portastatic has become a bonafide band while Superchunk takes a break (bassist Laura Ballance is a mom now!), with 'Chunk guitarist Jim Wilbur assuming bass duties and Mac's brother Matt ensconced in the drum seat. The result is that -- predictably -- they sound like a band rather than a collection of lovingly self-produced songs.
"Bright Ideas" flows with a bigger sound and groove from start to finish, with the possible exception of the title track which references Mac's recent lo-fi history. There's even a little -- is that Southern Rock? -- in the arrangements and solos, allowing Mr. McCaughan to exercise his Badfinger, Springsteen, and Dylan ghosts. The songs are a little more expansive musically, but every bit as tightly written as we've come to expect.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Portastatic's second great pop rock album - fans will definitely love it, January 4, 2006
Portastatic is the new project by ex-Superchunk member Mac MacCaughan. Though I haven't heard any other Portastatic albums and although this is their seventh (wow) studio album, I think I can be knowledgable in saying that this is a great good album. The album starts off well with several great tunes like the title track "Bright Ideas", "Through With People" and "I Wanna Know Girls". The rest of the album isn't as easy to get into, but they'll definitely grow on you. It's kind of cheesy at times, but not so much so that it'll turn you off. The singing is similar to Superchunk although Mac seems like he's whispering with a raspy voice most of the time. Lyrically the songs are pretty memorable if not eventually forgettable. They're relatively simple and easy to sing along with. The production is very good as well as the musicianship. I'm giving this "5" stars because every track here is very good, and the first three songs are great. Not everyone will like it but I think Superchunk and indie/pop rock fans will really enjoy it Highly recommended!
Highlights include:
"Bright Ideas"
"Through With People"
"I Wanna Know Girls"
"Truckstop Cassettes"
everything else is slightly less than good (so still worthy of listens)
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Do You Like Your Reese's Superchunky?, July 17, 2008
What in the name of Mac McCaughan is going on here? Mac, if you remember had this little band called Superchunk, started Merge records, and oh yeah graduated from Columbia. Does he get your vote for world's most interesting guy? Well mine neither, but at least he is in the top 50.
So now Mac has gone all Portastatic on us and you just may wonder what the outcome is? Well, it's kind of the land of 'tween. Not 'tween like music appealing to the 'tween'ers, but this land in between rock, pop, and indie. The music is appealing, and whereas before Portastatic was just McClaughlan's research and development songwriting outlet to Superchunk, now its his main vehicle -- a real band this go-around.
From the super poppy, kind of 80's Alarm come The BoDeans vibe there is the extra catchy and slightly chunky tune, "I wanna know girls." Mac sings, "I wanna know girls who want to know men / I'm already stuck inside the head of one of them / I'm so loosely defined / I wanna draw your outline / On a fresh yard of snow / The burning leaf held by the stem." Oh, and its a little on the poetic side. Evidently Mac loves girls and has one in particular he considers his one true honey. A song dedicated to the practice of monogamy but the ongoing internal monologue of a hold-out serial lady socializer. I'm still searching for the downside in this song as it is very listenable.
The CD's title track, "Bright Idea," is all Beck low-key smooth groove sorta World Party-ish come Smash Mouth poppy. Mac's voice is a little more dusky and the beat cool saunters along until you are caught up in a permanent head bob. Make sure you aren't driving in heavy traffic when listening to this for the first few listens 'till you get used to the head nodding mind you.
I'd say this here Portastatic, "Bright Idea," is a recommended listen. You aren't going to get overblown angst, agressive edge here. What you will get is a reminder that Mac and his Superchunkers were at the cutting edge of college radio alternative music in the late 80's/early 90's and an elder indie statesman can still play and channel the current of cool, even though you my friend, if like me, missed out of Superchunk the first go-round, because you were listening to The Pixies, Throwing Muses, and The Replacements back in the day. So now your cool days have passed you largely by...and you try to reconnect to something that makes you feel remotely cool or even just the little bit of a twinge of current coolness, like listening to Radiohead, hanging out in Starbucks, or jamming the Portastatic in rush hour traffice with you windows rolled down, sunglasses on and sucking in that carbon-monoxide as the planet slowly rebels outside. Well just take a listen to the static of portastic and all is OK, all is OK. ...mmw
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