http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44143&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rssAs if he doesn't have enough to do, Mac McCaughan of Superchunk and Merge Records fame has been putting out solo records under the name Portastatic since 1993. While Portastatic seems to give Mac the freedom to experiment with some more sedate sounds and arrangements that don't fit Superchunk's caffeinated aggression, every consecutive Superchunk record is invariably influenced by Portastatic's explorations. Piano, synths, and horns made their way on to Superchunk's 1999 LP <I>Come Pick Me Up</I> after Mac toyed around with them on the 1997 Portastatic LP <I>The Nature of Sap</I> first. Yet throughout, he's got the same knack for peeling back his own flesh to show you the pain and angst in his naked soul, and the same way with both a tender phrase and a barbed rejoinder. If Superchunk represents the fight with your girlfriend, Portastatic sounds more like the end of the night -- winding down afterward with your head on your hand on the bar, bitter as hell and still in love, tearing the labels off your beers and wishing you'd said the right thing. Or at least that life didn't suck so hard. The funny thing is, and this is gonna sound corny, but maybe life isn't so bad if Portastatic's playing and you know some other shmoe has suffered well past closing time, too.Indie/Alternativeen720Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:52:35 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44143&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss As if he doesn't have enough to do, Mac McCaughan of Superchunk and Merge Records fame has been putting out solo records under the name Portastatic since 1993. While Portastatic seems to give Mac the freedom to experiment with some more sedate sounds and arrangements that don't fit Superchunk's caffeinated aggression, every consecutive Superchunk record is invariably influenced by Portastatic's explorations. Piano, synths, and horns made their way on to Superchunk's 1999 LP <I>Come Pick Me Up</I> after Mac toyed around with them on the 1997 Portastatic LP <I>The Nature of Sap</I> first. Yet throughout, he's got the same knack for peeling back his own flesh to show you the pain and angst in his naked soul, and the same way with both a tender phrase and a barbed rejoinder. If Superchunk represents the fight with your girlfriend, Portastatic sounds more like the end of the night -- winding down afterward with your head on your hand on the bar, bitter as hell and still in love, tearing the labels off your beers and wishing you'd said the right thing. Or at least that life didn't suck so hard. The funny thing is, and this is gonna sound corny, but maybe life isn't so bad if Portastatic's playing and you know some other shmoe has suffered well past closing time, too. http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.22972466&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.22972466 alb.22972466 Portastatic art.44143 14.99 Some Small History alb.22972466 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/1/3/6/1396319_170x170.jpg 2008-09-09 00:00:00.0 2008-09-09 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.22972466&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.22972466&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11430048&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.11430048 alb.11430048 Portastatic art.44143 6.99 Be Still Please alb.11430048 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/0/7/897037_170x170.jpg 2006-10-10 00:00:00.0 2006-10-10 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11430048&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11430048&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11571491&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.11571491 alb.11571491 Portastatic art.44143 2.99 Sour Shores alb.11571491 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/0/8/7/897809_170x170.jpg 2006-09-12 00:00:00.0 2006-09-12 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11571491&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.11571491&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10334232&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 6 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.10334232 alb.10334232 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 Original Film Score For Who Loves The Sun alb.10334232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/3/0/7/1017036_170x170.jpg 2006-06-06 00:00:00.0 2006-06-06 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10334232&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10334232&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7536835&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Fri, 5 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7536835 alb.7536835 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 Bright Ideas alb.7536835 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/5/0/0/730056_170x170.jpg 2005-08-05 00:00:00.0 2005-08-05 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7536835&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7536835&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13580200&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 7 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.13580200 alb.13580200 Portastatic art.44143 0.0 Looking For A Power Supply alb.13580200 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/9/8/3/983892_170x170.jpg 2005-06-07 00:00:00.0 2005-06-07 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13580200&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13580200&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.273835&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 8 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.273835 alb.273835 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 The Summer Of The Shark alb.273835 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/5/7/6/836754_170x170.jpg 2003-04-08 00:00:00.0 2003-04-08 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.273835&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.273835&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6884846&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Fri, 31 Jan 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.6884846 alb.6884846 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 Autumn Was A Lark alb.6884846 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/1/2/0/680219_170x170.jpg 2003-01-31 00:00:00.0 2003-01-31 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6884846&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6884846&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10318174&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 23 Oct 2001 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.10318174 alb.10318174 Portastatic art.44143 4.99 Perfect Little Door alb.10318174 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/9/1/851943_170x170.jpg 2001-10-23 00:00:00.0 2001-10-23 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10318174&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10318174&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.226066&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 22 May 2001 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.226066 alb.226066 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 Looking For Leonard alb.226066 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/2/2/542286_170x170.jpg 2001-05-22 00:00:00.0 2001-05-22 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.226066&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.226066&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.280214&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 9 May 2000 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.280214 alb.280214 Portastatic art.44143 3.99 De Mel, De Melao alb.280214 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/5/7/6/836751_170x170.jpg 2000-05-09 00:00:00.0 2000-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.280214&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.280214&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219186&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 11 Mar 1997 00:00:00 -0800 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.219186 alb.219186 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 The Nature Of Sap alb.219186 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/9/2/5/185293_170x170.jpg 1997-03-11 00:00:00.0 1997-03-11 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219186&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219186&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219187&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 20 Jun 1995 00:00:00 -0700 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.219187 alb.219187 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 Slow Note From A Sinking Ship alb.219187 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/1/6/526139_170x170.jpg 1995-06-20 00:00:00.0 1995-06-20 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219187&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219187&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219185&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Mon, 6 Mar 1995 00:00:00 -0800 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.219185 alb.219185 Portastatic art.44143 3.99 Scrapbook alb.219185 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/8/2/5/185289_170x170.jpg 1995-03-06 00:00:00.0 1995-03-06 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219185&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219185&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219184&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.219184 alb.219184 Portastatic art.44143 0.0 Naked Pilsners alb.219184 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/4/2/8/278249_170x170.jpg null 1994-02-15 00:00:00.0 false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219184&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219184&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219183&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Mon, 14 Feb 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Portastatic Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.219183 alb.219183 Portastatic art.44143 7.99 I Hope Your Heart Is Not Brittle alb.219183 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/4/2/8/278248_170x170.jpg 1994-02-14 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219183&variant=play&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.219183&variant=data&rws=%2Fportastatic%2Fdiscography.rss