Portastatic is an American indie rock

Indie rock

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...

 band founded in the early 1990s by Mac McCaughan

Mac McCaughan

Mac McCaughan is a founding member of the rock band Superchunk, and co-founder of Merge Records along with Laura Ballance. He also heads the band Portastatic, which began as a lo-fi side project and has blossomed into his main musical project...

. Portastatic began as a solo project for McCaughan, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Superchunk

Superchunk

Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, consisting of singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s...

. Since then it has evolved into a full-fledged band, which sometimes includes Superchunk guitarist Jim Wilbur and McCaughan's brother Matthew.

Tom Scharpling

Tom Scharpling

Tom Scharpling is an American radio host, comedian, television writer, producer and music video director. He is best known for hosting the weekly freeform radio call-in comedy program The Best Show on WFMU and for acting as a writer/executive producer for the TV show Monk.Scharpling is also noted...

 of 18 Wheeler fanzine (and later a popular DJ on WFMU

WFMU

WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...

) was so impressed by McCaughan's solo material that he cajoled him into releasing it under the fanzine's own imprint; so came 1993's "Starter" 7". Since then, under the Portastatic moniker, McCaughan has recorded several records drawing on a number of genres, including traditional indie rock, lo-fi, soundtrack and Brazilian music.

The name "Portastatic" is derived from the TASCAM Portastudio

Portastudio

The TASCAM Portastudio was the world's first four track recorder based on a standard compact audio cassette tape.When the original Portastudio 144 made its debut in 1979 it was a revolutionary creative tool...

 home recording device. Due to the quality of the recordings, Mac McCaughan added "static" to "porta" to form "Portastatic."

Official Albums

1994 - I Hope Your Heart Is Not Brittle

I Hope Your Heart Is Not Brittle

I Hope Your Heart Is Not Brittle is Portastatic's first studio album. It was released on Merge Records in 1993.It was also released in Japan with additional bonus tracks...

 (CD/LP) [Merge]

1995 - Slow Note From a Sinking Ship

Slow Note From a Sinking Ship

Slow Note From A Sinking Ship is Portastatic's second studio album. It was released on Merge Records on June 20, 1995.The album was recorded at Duck Kee Studios by Jerry Kee, except Skinny Glasses Girl, The Angels of Sleep, Spooky, Running Water and Isn't That The Way, which were recorded by Mac...

 (CD/LP) [Merge]

1997 - The Nature of Sap

The Nature of Sap

The Nature of Sap is Portastatic's third studio album. It was released on Merge Records on March 11, 1997.The album was recorded at Duck Kee Studios in Mebane, North Carolina during the Summer of 1996, except tracks 4, 7-9, and 11 which were recorded on 4-track cassette on "Old NC 86."- Track...

 (CD/LP) [Merge]

2003 - Summer of the Shark

Summer of the Shark (album)

Summer of the Shark is Portastatic's forth studio album. It was released on Merge Records 0n April 8, 2003. The album was recorded at the "home" of Mac McCaughan in North Carolina except for "Hey Salty" which was recorded by Jerry Kee at Duck Kee Studio in Mebane, North Carolina...

 (CD) [Merge]

2005 - Bright Ideas

Bright Ideas

Bright Ideas is Portastatic's fifth studio album. It was released on Merge Records On August 23, 2005 The album was the first Portastatic album that was completely recorded in a modern studio. Previous albums were either partially or completely recorded on a Portastudio 4-track recorder...

 (CD) [Merge]

2006 - Be Still Please

Be Still Please

Be Still Please is Portastatic's sixth studio album. It was released on Merge Records On October 10, 2006. The album was recorded at Pox Studios with Zeno Gill, with additional recording at Room 8 in Carrboro, North Carolina...

 (CD) [Merge]

Demo Albums

2005 - Ideas for Bright Ideas (CD) [The Portastatic Label]

2006 - Some Small Things You Can't Defend

Some Small Things You Can't Defend

Some Small Things You Can't Defend is an album of demo songs by the band Portastatic. It was released on The Portastatic Label in 2006.The album includes four songs that did not make the album. Two of them were later released on the compilation album, Some Small History. These songs are noted...

 (CD) [The Portastatic Label]

Soundtracks

2001 - Looking For Leonard (CD) [Merge]

2006 - Who Loves the Sun

Who Loves the Sun

Who Loves the Sun is a 2006 Canadian comedy/drama/romance film directed and written by Matt Bissonnette.- Plot :Will Morrison and Daniel Bloom were the best of friends. They grew up together, went to the same schools, liked the same records, loved the same girls. Daniel was Will’s best man at his...

 (CD) [Merge]

Singles and EP'S

1993 - Starter (7") [18 Wheeler]

1994 - Naked Pilseners

Naked Pilseners

Naked Pilsners is a 7" Single and CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Matador Records label in 1994. This release contains two original songs and a cover of the song "Josephine" by The Magnetic Fields.- Track listing :7" Single:...

 (7"/CD EP) [Matador]

1994 - Hello CD of the Month

Portastatic Hello EP

Hello CD of the Month EP: February 1994 is a CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Hello label in 1994. The Hello CD of the Month Club was a subscription-only record company that operated from 1993-1996 by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants and Marjorie Galen...

 (CD EP) [Hello]

1994 - San Andreas Couch

San Andreas Couch

San Andreas Couch is a 7" Single by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Esther Records label in 1994. All three tracks included in this release would later be re-released on Some Small History....

 (7") [Ester]

1995 - Scrapbook X's

Scrapbook X's

Scrapbook X's is a 7" Single by the band Portastatic. It was released on the 18 Wheeler Records label in 1995. "Scrapbook X's" is exclusive to this release. "Sandals with White Socks" and "Guessing" would later be released on Some Small History....

 (7") [18 Wheeler]

1995 - Scrapbook EP

Scrapbook EP

Scrapbook EP is a Double 7" and CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Merge Records label in 1995. "St. Elmo's Fire" is a Brian Eno cover. "Why Pinch Yourself" and "A Bear That Chokes" were previously released on Hello CD of the Month EP.- Track listing :Double 7": Side A:# "St...

 (Double 7"/CD EP) [Merge]

1996 - Spying on the Spys

Spying On The Spys

Spying on the Spys is a 7" Single by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Merge Records label in 1996. "Spying on the Spys" is a home recorded 4-track version that differs from the version on the The Nature of Sap LP. It was later released on the Some Small History compilation."Do You Want...

 (7") [Merge]

1997 - Trash Heap - Split 7" w/ Ida

Trash Heap Portastatic Ida Split 7"

The Portastatic/Ida Split 7" is a split 7" Single by the bands Portastatic and Ida. It was released on the Trash Heap label in 1997. The record was included for 'free' with the Winter 1997 Trash Heap #6 fanzine...

 (Split 7") [Trash Heap]

1997 - Portastatic/The Landing Split 7"

Portastatic/The Landing Split 7"

The Portastatic/The Landing Split 7" is a split 7" Single by the bands Portastatic and The Landing. It was released on the Sarang Bang Records label in 1997...

 (Split 7") [Sarang Bang]

1997 - Portastatic/The Ladybug Transistor/Land of the Loops Split 7"

Portastatic/The Ladybug Transistor/Land of the Loops Split 7"

The Portastatic/The Ladybug Transistor/Land of the Loops Split 7" is a split 7" Single by the bands Portastatic, The Ladybug Transistor and Land of the Loops. It was released on the After Hours Records label in 1997...

 (Split 7") [After Hours]

2000 - De Mel, De Melão

De Mel, De Melão

De Mel, De Melão is CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Merge Records label in 2000. All five songs on the EP are covers of Brazilian musical artists from the Tropicalia and Música Popular Brasileira movements...

 (CD EP) [Merge]

2001 - The Perfect Little Door

The Perfect Little Door

The Perfect Little Door is CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Merge Records label in 2001. According to the Merge Records website the EP "is a collaboration between Mac McCaughan and Ken Vandermark plus Tim Mulvenna ."The EP includes five songs including one entirely new...

 (Featuring Ken Vandermark

Ken Vandermark

Ken Vandermark is an American jazz composer and saxophone and clarinet player.A fixture on the Chicago-area music scene since the 1990s, Vandermark has earned wide critical praise for his playing and his multilayered compositions, which typically balance intricate orchestration with passionate...

)(CD EP) [Merge]

2003 - Autumn Was a Lark

Autumn Was a Lark

Autumn Was a Lark is CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Merge Records label in 2003. The EP was recorded at Pox Studios in Durham, North Carolina after the touring version of Portastatic got off tour from the Summer of the Shark tour...

 (CD EP) [Merge]

2005 - Looking For A Power Supply

Looking For A Power Supply

Looking For A Power Supply is CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Houston Party Records in 2005. It was recorded at "home" and Room 8 in Carrboro, North Carolina...

 (CD EP) [Houston Party]

2005 - I Wanna Know Girls (Digital EP) [iTunes/Merge]

2006 - Sour Shores (Digital EP) [Merge]

2009 - Make It Sound In Tune (Digital EP) [Merge]

Compilation Appearances

1994 - Ow!, Quit It! Volume 2 (7") [Volvolo]

1994 - A Day in the Park (CD/LP) [The Now Sound]

1994 - Rows of Teeth (CD) [Merge]

1995 - Speed Kills #7 (10") [Speed Kills]

1996 - Extra Walt! (Double 7") [Walt]

1998 - Blatant Doom Trip (CD) [Simple Solution]

1998 - The Garden Place: Songs by Our Friends (CD) [Yep Rock]

1998 - Chunklet #14 (CD) [Chunklet]

1999 - Oh, Merge (CD) [Merge]

2000 - Come on Beautiful - The Songs of American Music Club (CD) [Big Night]

2001 - Snowstorm - A Tribute To Galaxie 500 (CD) [Elefant]

2002 - Survive and Advance Vol. 1 (CD) [Merge]

2002 - Survive and Advance Vol. 2 (CD) [Merge]

2003 - Survive and Advance Vol. 3 (CD) [Merge]

2003 - Compulation Vol. 1: Songs From North Carolina (CD) [Pox World Empire]

2004 - Old Enough 2 Know Better - 15 Years of Merge Records (CD) [Merge]

2006 - Songs for Sixty Five Roses (CD) [Songs for Sixty Five Roses]

2008 - Love Goes On - a Tribute to Grant McLennan (CD) [Rare Victory]

2009 - TOM: A Best Show on WFMU Tribute to RAM (CD) [WFMU]

2009 - Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox (CD) [Merge]