Be Still Please
by Portastatic
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Oct 10, 2006
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. JohnsonA
    Nov 9, 2006
    8
    Somewhere in between Bright Ideas and Summer of the Shark. The songs seem more fully realized than ever before. The suggestion of "a more polished production to be less indie sounding" is funny to me, because this is about the most polished production they have had. And it if this was any more polished, I'd probably really dislike it. All in all, Mac seems to be playing to his poppy, Somewhere in between Bright Ideas and Summer of the Shark. The songs seem more fully realized than ever before. The suggestion of "a more polished production to be less indie sounding" is funny to me, because this is about the most polished production they have had. And it if this was any more polished, I'd probably really dislike it. All in all, Mac seems to be playing to his poppy, charming strengths… Expand
  2. ReubenF
    Dec 18, 2006
    7
    Portastatic originally began as a side project for Superchunk's Mac McCaughan (which now includes other Superchunk member Jim Wilbur). Superchunk had a grungy sound and were most known for their song 'Slack Motherf..ker' (1990). Portastatic is very different, being a more sincere, mature and creative expression.
  3. mikes.
    Oct 14, 2006
    7
    Reminiscent of old beulah albums, it seems that Portastatic has yet taken another step forward into more pop territory. Portastatic has really evolved, the only thing they need is a more polished production to be less indie sounding.
  4. mt
    Dec 12, 2006
    8
    i never would've thought portastatic would've grown so much in vitality ten years after the last classic superchunk record.

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Amazon.com
    70
    Unable to pen and record a clunker amidst his handsome ballads and cascading rockers, McCaughan coalesces sugar-coated melodies with personal, often uproarious lyrics that can make his 40-something voice sound half its age.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    70
    Throughout Be Still Please, no matter how much it conforms to overarching indie stereotypes, McCaughan draws fresh delights at every turn.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    90
    Be Still Please is another hidden treasure from one of the truly important bands, and persons, in pop music today.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »