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loujoseph's review
3.0
Overall I liked this, an interesting story, and the layout of the pictures themselves helped a lot. Wished there was a little less about Superchunk- I like them but I would have been more interested in hearing about how other bands other than Neutral Milk Hotel, Magnetic Fields, Versus, Spoon and Arcade Fire ended up on the label- I love some of those bands records too (except Versus, bor-ing) but I'd like to hear some about putting out solid records that didn't sell well at all, like the Rosebuds, Rock*A*Teens, etc. In fact, if there would have been another book just about Superchunk I would also like to hear more about the late period, when it's clear they're not going to be huge, and run out of ideas.. seems like that could be really interesting.
Also basically learned/reminded of what happens to bands who've left Merge, like most who've left small labels, and that Stephin Merrit is full of shit. Yikes.
Also basically learned/reminded of what happens to bands who've left Merge, like most who've left small labels, and that Stephin Merrit is full of shit. Yikes.
chichi27's review
4.0
An oral history of one of my favorite record labels, Merge. My only complaint would be that there is too much focus on Superchunk. Although, I don't know if some of the bands that don't get much coverage just don't have very eventful stories. I also kept hoping that my friend Christina would get mentioned, but it didn't happen.
tonythep's review
4.0
a great inside look at my favorite record label Merge Records, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary this year. includes profiles on Spoon, Neutral Milk Hotel, Lambchop, the Arcade Fire, Butterglory/Matt Suggs, as well as Superchunk.
itsgg's review
4.0
Great read for fans of Merge, Superchunk, and/or the Arcade Fire. The "oral history" narrative style (basically an amalgam of various interviews) was a little annoying at first, but I got used to it.
kickpleat's review
2.0
An oral history about the label and their bands makes for good flipping around to find out the deets on the bands that I love(d) so much (East River Pipe, Neutral Milk Hotel, Arcade Fire, Spoon, Magnetic Fields). For the rest of the stuff, eh, not so much. For serious Merge fans only.
ponycanyon's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so glad that this leaked out onto shelves about a week early (in true indie fashion - snort!)! The book is a love letter to the label that once brought us Butterglory, the 3D's, Angels of Epsistemology, Versus, SUPERCHUNK, the Magnetic Fields and now brings us....uhh....the Arcade Fire and celebrity vehicle "She and Him?" Yes, organized indie rock is truly deader than dead, but those of us that lived through its early-to-mid nineties heyday can get all weepy with this handsomely designed memory book and oral history. It's full of color pictures of original show fliers, tons of pictures (Laura Ballance as a teen goth! Mac Machaughan with dreadlocks! Stephin Merritt in camo undies in someone's kitchen!), concept art, contracts, personal letters and memos on label letterhead, etc. But the real meat here is the actual text. I'm not normally a big fan of "oral history" books because they usually end up being a big, unreadable mess, but the book is really divided into specific chapter/stories about particular bands and eras, and each one of those chapters has a pretty concise group of people chiming in with their .02. It works, when these things usually don't. My other favorite element is that in spite of being a celebration, it's not really a label hagiography - there are plenty of acknowledged mistakes, missteps, some pretty hateful back-and-forth dialogue between former label mates...nothing is whitewashed, and even Chunk - the original "Chunk" drummer of (Super)chunk - was at least given the opportunity to tell his side of the story (alas, he declined). My personal favorite is the last page or two of the Magnetic Fields chapter, as Stephin lobs volley after volley of insults against Mac and Laura and the label in general ("The merge logo is butt-ugly. It's a potato stamp. I made a better one and they didn't want to use it." "Mac and Laura are completely insincere in their embrace of the whole "indie rock" thing and it's just a marketing concept to them. I'm not joking.") and they retort with politeness and "well, we have the greatest album that Stephin has made and will ever make, based on his output since leaving the label." Hot!
cowball's review against another edition
4.0
Read this as quickly as possible as I was writing a paper on it but it was very good and I will probably buy a copy for myself at some point!
boygirlparty's review
5.0
I'm a huge Merge Records fan, and it was exciting to read about the beginnings of this label, how it's grown, and the people behind it (the super talented Laura Ballance and Mac Macaughan from Superchunk) I expected all the stories about touring & meeting bands & everything -- the kind of oral biography most bands partake in these days (ie Fool the World - the pixies; The Dirt - Motley Crue). What I didn't expect was the totally affirming running pep talk about DIY throughout "Our Noise".
Here are Mac and Laura, two people (incidentally exes...something I've always wondered about!) who had a little dream, teamed up with some encouraging people and made it all happen. They ran a shop out of a bedroom (like me!) they recruited their friends to help them frantically assemble (like me!). They never expected their successes, they treat every project financially conservatively but creative conceptually! They work with their friends. They work, they work, they work. Their pencils are nubs. Their collaborators are eccentric. Somehow they made it happen and became the best at what they do! All while doing it themselves.
So much of this book, I found myself wanting to share and read aloud. The story of Merge is great if you love Merge, but it's even better if you believe in following your passions and the power of doing things yourself.
Sidenote: Even I was uncomfortable - as a reader - reading about Touch and Go's involvement in the manufacturing for Merge. Particularly cringe-worthy was the 69 Love Songs / Arcade Fire selling out upon release, but T&G wanting to limit the # of repressings. Those 6 weeks before 69 Love Songs was available must have been torture for everyone involved.
Other sidenote:The Lampchop chapter was a bit slow for me, and I really missed any mention of Guv'ner - one of my favorite Merge acts.
Other sidenote: Stephin Merritt is kind of crankier than I even imagined possible!
Other sidenote: I wish I worked at Merge, and I wish I were friends with Laura & Mac! So inspiring.
Here are Mac and Laura, two people (incidentally exes...something I've always wondered about!) who had a little dream, teamed up with some encouraging people and made it all happen. They ran a shop out of a bedroom (like me!) they recruited their friends to help them frantically assemble (like me!). They never expected their successes, they treat every project financially conservatively but creative conceptually! They work with their friends. They work, they work, they work. Their pencils are nubs. Their collaborators are eccentric. Somehow they made it happen and became the best at what they do! All while doing it themselves.
So much of this book, I found myself wanting to share and read aloud. The story of Merge is great if you love Merge, but it's even better if you believe in following your passions and the power of doing things yourself.
Sidenote: Even I was uncomfortable - as a reader - reading about Touch and Go's involvement in the manufacturing for Merge. Particularly cringe-worthy was the 69 Love Songs / Arcade Fire selling out upon release, but T&G wanting to limit the # of repressings. Those 6 weeks before 69 Love Songs was available must have been torture for everyone involved.
Other sidenote:The Lampchop chapter was a bit slow for me, and I really missed any mention of Guv'ner - one of my favorite Merge acts.
Other sidenote: Stephin Merritt is kind of crankier than I even imagined possible!
Other sidenote: I wish I worked at Merge, and I wish I were friends with Laura & Mac! So inspiring.
njschurk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0