Mac McCaughan - Box Batteries 7'' (Merge, 2015)

Mac McCaughan
Box Batteries 7''
Merge
2015

Rating: 7 dead roots out of 10

I was certain I both owned and had reviewed this Mac McCaughan seven inch when it first came out on 2015, but here we are now. 

This version of "Box Batteries" is different than the version found on his full-length from the same year "Non-Believers."  Not drastically different mind you - really, this one just feels like the production is a little more lo-fi, lending it almost an old school Guided By Voices vibe. 

The b-side "Whatever Light" is fine - your typical straight forward, mid-tempo Mac / Portastatic / Superchunk song.  It would have fit in fine on one of the late nineties or early oughts Superchunk albums (aka "Indoor Living," "Come Pick Me Up," or "Here's To Shutting Up.")

Portastatic - Naked Pilseners 7'' (Matador, 1994)

Portastatic
Naked Pilseners 7''
Matador
1994

Rating: 7 furry criers out of 10

The second seven inch from Portastatic.  Why was this on Matador and not Merge?  Who knows.  Well, Mac probably knows, based on his Instagram that dude never forgets anything.  The title track here is also on the debut Portastatic full-length "I Hope Your Heart Is Not Brittle."  Both b-sides only seem to appear here - "Feel Better" and the highlight of the wax, "Josephine," a Magnetic Fields cover.  Mac really likes covering Magnetic Fields, and why shouldn't he, Stephen Merritt writes fantastic songs.    

Mac McCaughan - Non-Believers (Merge, 2015)

Mac McCaughan
Non-Believers
Merge
2015

Rating: 7.5 fresh limes out of 10

Portastatic seemed like it was already basically the solo act of Superchunk's Mac McCaughan, a place for him to record and release his poppier songs.  Apparently for reasons I'm not aware of and too lazy to try and look up, he needed to distance himself from that outlet as well, releasing his first ever solo record "Non-Believers" under his own name.  Not that I'm complaining obviously - I'm a huge fan of everything the man puts to tape, and this album is no different.  Except for some guest appearances by label-mates Michael Benjamin Lerner (Telekinesis), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak), and Annie Hayden Spent), everything on this album was written and recorded by Mac himself.  Despite the name change, this feels and sounds A LOT like a Portastatic record, not that there's anything wrong with that - I'm certainly digging it, one of my favorite records of the year.  

A possible side note - these songs take on a much more rockin' vibe live, as Mac has recruited the punk band Flesh Wounds to be his backing musicians when playing gigs most of the time.  It's definitely worth seeing them perform and gives the songs a whole new life - it wouldn't be terrible idea for Merge to record the Flesh Wound versions of these tracks and release them as well...it would almost be like an entirely new Mac McCaughan record. 

Portastatic - Starter 7'' (18 Wheeler, 1993)

Portastatic
Starter 7''
18 Wheeler
1993

Rating: 7 meth pipes out of 10

As near as I can tell this is the first thing Mac of Superchunk ever released as Portastatic.  It mostly sounds like his previous work with Bricks at this point, only he's totally by himself (outside of Jim Wilbur, also of Superchunk, adding some guitar to the last song "Dragging a Crow") - lots of jangly acoustic guitar and reverb on the vocals (and everything else).  All good, enjoyable songs, but the highlight would have to be the cover of the Undertones' classic "Teenage Kicks."

Portastatic - Spying On The Spys 7'' (Merge, 1996)

Portastatic
Spying On The Spys 7''
Merge
1996

Rating: 7 large gazebos out of 10

In case you don't know Portastatic is the solo endeavor of Mac McCaughan of Superchunk. Since Mac's voice is so distinctive, these songs end up just sounding like stripped down/acoustic/slightly off kilter Superchunk songs.  The title track is also available on the full-length "The Nature of Sap" that came out in 1997.  The other side has an exclusive track, "Do You Want To Buy a Bridge?", which is a pretty typical mid-tempo number that would fit in well with the rest of the pop music Portastatic was making in those days.  Nothing amazing, but good.  Actually, that's a pretty fair description of Portastatic as a whole.