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“Our Noise – The Story Of Merge Records”
by Beverly Paterson in Literary / Publication Reviews, Reviews
Our Noise – The Story Of Merge Records” by John Cook with Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance (Algonquin Paperbacks)
Founded in 1989, Merge Records went onto become one of the most respected, stable and successful independent labels in the crowded and competitive field of such operations. Manned by Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina imprint is still going strong today, and what’s even more amazing is that they’ve continually stuck to their initial principals. While so many indie labels either bite the dust or get picked up by major record companies, sell their souls in the process and end up with nothing, the good people at Merge remain loyal to their vision.Punching in at nearly three hundred hefty pages in length, “Our Noise – The Story Of Merge Records” contains candid interviews with the musicians, producers and engineers who’ve worked with Mac and Laura. As well, Mac and Laura, who play in the long-running Superchunk, provide their input. Home to artists like Butterglory, The Magnetic Fields, Squirrel Nut Zippers, East River Pipe, Lambchop, Neutral Milk Hotel, Spoon, The Arcade Fire, Conor Oberst, Richard Buckner and of course Superchunk, “the indie label that got big and stayed small” (to quote the sub-title of this book) may have started out “punk,” but as time went on they expanded their horizons and thrive on diversity.
Tales of juggling school, jobs and relationships while trying to keep Merge afloat lead to some mighty interesting and educational reading. The “alternative rock” feeding frenzy of the early nineties (hello Nirvana!) is also fascinating, and obviously knocked at Mac and Laura’s door. The advent of the compact disc, downloading and file sharing is further discussed in detail, as the topics reflect on how these changes affect Merge. Stories of life on the road and memories of certain gigs are additionally covered. To top it all off, “Our Noise – The Story Of Merge Records” is stuffed with personal photos and correspondence, complemented by the label’s complete discography.
“Whatever the future holds for the music business, Mac and Laura aren’t too occupied with trying to figure it out. Merge didn’t get where it is by planning for the future or concocting growth strategies, or trying to get out ahead of its competitors. It simply tried to find music that Mac and Laura loved, and sell it to people who also love it,” says John Cook. Now that’s the right attitude! “Our Noise – The Story Of Merge Records” serves as a treasure trove of revelations, making it required reading for rock fans far and wide.
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