Mac McCaughan has worn many musical faces. Twenty five years ago, he helped start the band Superchunk and the independent music label Merge Records. He has also recorded under the name Portastatic.
Now he has finally released his first solo album, Non-Believers. It is an introspective look at youthfulness and life's relationship with light and darkness. All of this is molded with an impressive blend of synthesizers and electric guitar.
But when he first started on the record, McCaughan said he was not sure what he was going to call it.
"If you haven’t noticed by all the terrible band names out there I think all the band names are taken," McCaughan said with a laugh. "So I just put it out under my own name and just knew that most people wouldn't pronounce McCaughan correctly or spell it right but that's just the chance I have to take."
Aside from McCaughan's name on the cover, the album also features keyboard, drum machines and other instruments McCaughan usually doesn't use when recording with Superchunk, which he said was a refreshing change.
"Picking up a keyboard or an instrument that you don't play as well often leads to a song or at least leads you to do something differently with your brain than you’re used to doing," he said.
McCaughan plays at the Cat's Cradle Back Room Saturday, May 23 for the Non-Believers album release show.
