You’re with Stupid: kranky, Chicago, and the Reinvention of Indie Music

In this in-depth account, Adams tells the origin story of kranky, a formative indie record label he cofounded in Chicago in the early 1990s. Though enamored with the sounds emanating from cities like Minneapolis, Seattle, and Olympia, Wash., Adams felt Chicago had something those places “couldn’t match.” In the days before internet marketing, bands got their names out via college radio, fanzines, and cassette tapes, and Adams threw himself into the grassroots marketing mix at Cargo Distribution. In 1993, kranky was born, signing bands such as the ”expansive, grainy, and decidedly cinematic” Labradford. While the opening rush of the memoir is more magnetic than the slog through the details of the biz, overall what unfolds is a story of passion and perseverance with a soundtrack that echoes from the pages. More record deals are signed (Low in 1997; Stars of the Lid in 1998) and others lost (this plays on repeat). Snarky stickers boost the brand, including one with the motto, “You’re with Stupid.” Dedicated fans of ’90s alt rock will find inspiration and lessons, though for a newbie the details will feel dense. As Adams admits, kranky never “thrived,” but has an ongoing legacy. Despite some uneven pacing, the result’s a jangly tour of the Chicago scene. (Nov.)