In 1989, Ralph Lee “Mac” McCaughan and Laura Ballance stood at the edge of the Southern college town of Chapel Hill, holding a handful of cassette tapes and a stubborn belief that indie music deserved its own home. Merge Records was born from that stubbornness—and from the raw, restless energy that would soon fuel their band, Superchunk. Over the next 25 years, Mac and Laura’s label would grow into a trusted sanctuary for artists who valued craft over spectacle, building a catalogue that captures the restless heartbeat of Durham and beyond. From Mount Moriah’s layered folk to the anthems of Arcade Fire, Merge Records became a quiet force, nurturing music that resists the churn of the moment while honoring the independent spirit at the heart of every good song.
Merge Records carved out its place in music history with Arcade Fire’s Funeral and the raw indie spirit of Superchunk, but it’s what the label is doing now that proves its pulse is as strong as ever. In 2025, Merge remains a steadfast champion for artists who prioritize craft over spectacle, building a catalog that resonates with the restless energy of discovery.
One of the label’s newest acts, Case Oats, is set to release their debut album, Last Missouri Exit, on August 22, 2025. Their latest single, “In a Bungalow,” captures the quiet ache and promise of Midwestern roads, blending shimmering guitar lines with vocals that pull you in close. It’s the kind of song that feels both rooted and wide open, echoing the best of Merge’s legacy while hinting at the stories still to come.
Founded by Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance in 1989, Merge Records, based in North Carolina, quickly grew to become one of America’s essential indie labels. From supporting their fertile local indie rock scene to launching international stars, for 25 years, Merge has carved out uncompromising success by staying true to its independent roots. Google Play is proud to celebrate 25 years of Merge Records with this exclusive documentary and series of covers of Merge classics by Merge acts including Superchunk, the Mountain Goats, Telekinesis, and more.
Merge Records: 25 Years in 24 Minutes
Merge Records News
Case Oats share new single “In a Bungalow”
Today, Case Oats share “In a Bungalow,” the latest single from their debut album Last Missouri Exit, out August 22. Listen to the track wherever you stream music, and get a free Case Oats pinback button when you pre-order Last Missouri Exit on CD or LP (or the discounted bundle) from the Merge store!
A hinge between childhood and adulthood, Last Missouri Exit’s pangs of homesickness overlap with the thrill of breaking for the horizon. “In a Bungalow” regards that overlap in golden-hour light, a song whose keen longing for home—its sweet springs, slow days, troubled friends and all—is only possible because Casey Gomez Walker left it in the first place.
Gomez Walker on “In a Bungalow”:
This song is kind of a taunt set to a sweet melody. An indignant taunt. I’m wondering why people I grew up with haven’t moved on from childhood drama. I’m asking why they haven’t gotten past that stuff. But in the end, I’m no better. I want to be back in a bar with them, regressing, indulging in the sweet pain of being left behind and wronged.
Last Missouri Exit is an album that longs to be listened to while one watches the sun set from their porch swing, but its wistful, idyllic take on the Midwest isn’t nostalgia for the past—it’s what Case Oats conjured in the basement that one summer on an ad-hoc rig, a document of a band that grew together around these songs at a newfound peak of their collaborative powers. What they’ve made is warm and inviting, an album that reveals itself on first spin and grows deeper with each listen.
Case Oats will play a number of album release shows in New York, Toronto, and Chicago this summer in addition to two festivals: Out of Space in Evanston and Americana Music Festival in Nashville. In October, the band will support Superchunk on their North American tour. Tickets are on sale now.
Case Oats on tour:
Jul 24–27 Evanston, IL – Out of Space
Aug 19 New York, NY – Nightclub 101%
Aug 20 Toronto, ON – The Drake%
Aug 22 Chicago, IL – The Hideout%
Sep 17–25 Nashville, TN – Americana Music Festival
Oct 13 Denver, CO – The Gothic Theatre*
Oct 14 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge*
Oct 15 Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club Ballroom*
Oct 17 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern*
Oct 18 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
Oct 19 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
Oct 21 San Francisco, CA – The Independent*
Oct 23 Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom*
% Album Release Show
* w/ Superchunk
