Introduction
Your Noise—My Noise!!! by Ryan Adams
Chapter One
Death Chick and the Caveman: 1987 to 1989
Chapter Two
Wet Behind the Ears: 1989 to 1991
Chapter Three
Where’s Your Patience, Dear?: Matt Suggs, Butterglory, and White Whale
Chapter Four
The Popular Music: 1991 to 1993
Chapter Five
Signals That Sound in the Dark: Neutral Milk Hotel
Chapter Six
The First Part: 1994
Chapter Seven
The Book of Love: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields
Chapter Eight
The Question Is How Fast: 1995
Chapter Nine
The Underdog: Spoon
Chapter Ten
Tiny Bombs: 1996 to 1999
Chapter Eleven
The Decline of Country and Western Civilization: Lambchop
Chapter Twelve
Shutting Up: 2000 to 2009
Chapter Thirteen
Us Kids Know: The Arcade Fire
Chapter Fourteen
What Goes In Quiet Comes Out Loud: How Merge Got It Right
Appendix
Merge Records Discography: 1989 to 2009
Go to www.mergerecords.com/ournoisesampler to listen to songs from Merge artists past and present.