Search - Portastatic :: Some Small History

Some Small History
Portastatic
Some Small History
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (21) - Disc #2

A double-disc of rarities, collecting B-sides, compilation tracks, EPs, fanzine vinyl, and previously unreleased material recorded between 1990 and 2007.

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Portastatic
Title: Some Small History
Members Wishing: 4
Total Copies: 0
Label: Merge Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2008
Re-Release Date: 9/9/2008
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Indie & Lo-Fi, Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 673855033327

Synopsis

Product Description
A double-disc of rarities, collecting B-sides, compilation tracks, EPs, fanzine vinyl, and previously unreleased material recorded between 1990 and 2007.

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CD Reviews

Great, inexpensive catch-all of stray songs
Stargrazer | deep in the heart of Michigan | 10/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you, like me, have a compulsive need to accumulate Mac McCaughan's entire recorded output, then this odds-n-sods compilation is a godsend. Portastatic's last two albums ("Bright Ideas" and "Be Still Please") were (hyperbole and fan-boy gushing aside) high water marks for the band, which has transformed from a Superchunk "side project" to an entity of its own with a rather intricate and lengthy discography.



A cursory glance at the tracklist shows many tracks that are on compilations and singles that you may already have if you are a completist (like me), however, many of these are actually different versions(!) from Mac's 4-track vault. This is true especially in the case of older songs like "A Cunning Latch," "Skinny Glasses Girl," "Trajectory," and "Had" -- which all make appearances in unfamiliar versions. So this double discer is pretty much a win-win for fans.



As far as sequencing goes, maybe disc 2 should have been disc 1 and vice versa? It's a small quibble, but the songs on disc 1 are from a little deeper in the vaults and the songs on disc 2 a little poppier/more produced. But let's face it, this isn't a record to convert new fans, it's for established Portastatic junkies. Bon appetit!



p.s. this is a limited release of 3,000 copies, in case you were on the fence."
Excellent compilation of b-sides and rarities
Jason Brobeck | Coraopolis, PA United States | 01/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this double-disc set. I'm a Portastatic fan in general, and it's great to hear a lot of unreleased material that wasn't previously available. Featuring lots of songs new to my ears, some alternative versions of some of their best songs, and some very well done covers (I happen to specifically love their version of When Love Breaks Down), these discs haven't left my cd player in over a month. I seem to never get tired of listening to it. While I definitely don't think this is the best starting point for someone new to the band, once you become familiar with them, this is a must-have collection. And with about 40 songs over 2 discs, it offers an incredible amount of quality material. Probably my best purchase of the year as far as music is concerned."