“I Wanna Know Girls”
from the album Bright Ideas
2005
iTunes
Download a free MP3 of “I Wanna Know Girls” from the Portastatic website
[right-click/save-as]
Mac McCaughan may be best known for his work with Superchunk, but Portastatic has become far bigger than a side project, spanning 11 years and spawning eight albums. Like previous efforts, Bright Ideas is a reliable destination for tuneful indie rock. There is a straight-ahead sensibility to many of the songs; the arrangements employ myriad mainstream rock reference points: big guitar solos, chugging riffs, warbling falsetto backing vocals, and soaring string parts (supplied by guest violinist Genevieve Gagon).
Bright Ideas has an air of excitement and energy about it, and contains some of McCaughan’s strongest songwriting to date. His collaborators also distinguish themselves; drummer Matthew McCaughan, bassist Jim Wilbur, and several guest musicians provide stirring performances.
The title track is a brash, snarling anthem to bravery in the face of adversity. “I Wanna Know Girls” and “Through with People” both combine insightful lyrics with tuneful hooks. “Full of Stars,” abetted by contributions from Gagon and pianist Jason Borger, is an affecting ballad. Cascading guitars and a spot-on vocal chorus imbue “The Soft Rewind” with an appealing verve. The vibrant music making displayed here suggests that Portastatic may have 11 more years’ worth of songs to share.