Click to watch

"I Wanna Know Girls" from "Bright Ideas" by Portastatic

Mac McCaughan is probably best known as the leader of Superchunk. Portastatic began as his solo side project but, with Superchunk bassist Laura Balance on maternity leave, has evolved into a full-fledged touring band with Superchunk guitarist Jim Wilbur on bass and McCaughan’s brother Matt on drums. As Superchunk has mellowed on later recordings and both of McCaughan’s bands have expanded their sonic palettes, the line dividing them has become less and less distinct. On Bright Ideas, Portastatic’s new album, the differences between the two is nearly nonexistent. Riffs that could have easily been on Superchunk’s 1995 record Here’s Where The Strings Come In propel songs like “White Wave” and “The Soft Rewind," and both prove that McCaughan has lost none of his intensity or skill when it comes to writing infectious power-pop with ragged punk edges. The tunes “Through With People” and “I Wanna Know Girls” are clean, ringing-pop gems akin to The Connells, while “Little Fern” chugs along amiably with a touch of country. Elsewhere, “Truckstop Cassettes” bears the influence of the same Brazilian music for which McCaughan revealed his love on his EP release from 2000, de mel, de melao. The subtle, pulsing percussion and smoldering guitar of the title track illustrate that McCaughan knows something about conveying atmosphere. Bright Ideas further proves that the consistency of Mac McCaughan’s sound should never be mistaken for lack of talent or inspiration.