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Be Still Please
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Be Still Please Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: Laura Cantrell, Peter Holsapple, and Annie Hayden guest on Mac McCaughan's second Portastatic album of 2006.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. AllMusic
    90
    Be Still Please is another hidden treasure from one of the truly important bands, and persons, in pop music today.
  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    Be Still Please is the best work of McCaughan’s career.
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    90
    Oddly familiar but strikingly different.
  4. Under The Radar
    70
    The extra focus on lyrics does seem to water down Portastatic’s traditionally instantaneous infectious hooks, sacrificing some style for substance and making the album a little more of a slow grower as opposed compared to those past. [#15]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. 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.
  6. PopMatters
    70
    Throughout Be Still Please, no matter how much it conforms to overarching indie stereotypes, McCaughan draws fresh delights at every turn.
  7. Prefix Magazine
    60
    Be Still Please occasionally falls victim to over-orchestration. But McCaughan proves too much of an indie-rock veteran and pro to let that sink the entire album.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. 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.
  2. 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 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
  4. 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 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.… Expand
  5. 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). 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.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best Album of 2006

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