Think of all the truly awesome things that Merge Records has accomplished in its 20-year existence. Not only has the label—founded in the late ’80s by Superchunk members Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan—released countless 7″ singles, LPs, and at least one boxed-set by myriad worthy artists, but they’ve pulled off a few truly improbable feats. Merge basically invented the tolerable use of brass in indie-rock. Before Neutral Milk Hotel, the best you could get was June of 44’s Fred Erskine playing balloon-on-scalp-style free jazz trumpet. The label also put out countless Lambchop records, even though Europeans were the only people who listened to them.

But most remarkably, Merge has grown into a widely successful record label in the most humble and respectable way possible—keeping their business personable, modest, and honest. Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, an oral history assembled by John Cook alongside Ballance and McCaughan, tells the label’s story through countless photographs, fliers, and extensive interviews. Washington City Paper recently spoke with McCaughan, who will be reading selections from the book tonight at Crooked Beat.

Q&A after the jump:
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If Children, the debut album by Baltimore-based duo Wye Oak, is a record to drink tea to. The band’s soft-edged shoegaze textures and wistful melodies make the perfect soundtrack for spending the entirety of a chilly fall day at home laying around in pajamas, burning scented candles, and reading books.

I can’t help but wonder if that’s sort of a mixed blessing for Wye Oak. After all, if your music inspires your audience to vegetate, who will come out to your show? So, for their sake, maybe pack up a few pillows, some blankets, and take the read-in down to the Black Cat tonight to see the band perform.

Wye Oak, O’Death @ Black Cat
1811 14th St. NW
9 PM $10