New Releases: The Minus 5

Scott McCaughey remains the busiest man in rock & roll--hell, he's been a part of more recording projects since suffering a debilitating stroke a few years back than most artists manage in a lifetime.

Alongside his original band, The Young Fresh Fellows--and can I just reiterate that last year's long-awaited remix of their 1984 debut remains in constant rotation on the Jittery White Guy stereo?--his main enterprise is The Minus 5. This time around, the semi-stable cast of characters includes R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Fellows bandmate Kurt Bloch, and drummer Linda Pitmon (who stays at least as busy with a million different bands as McCaughey himself), with some guest visits from Bangle Debbi Peterson, Drive-By Trucker Patterson Hood, and Wilco offspring Spencer Tweedy. With production by Ed Stasium, who achieved god status for me for his work on the other astounding 80s indie rock remix, the Replacements' Tim.

As with all Minus 5 albums, Oar On, Penelope! is chock full of playful indie pop, ranging from boisterous retro-60s garage rock to more melodic midtempo pop. McCaughey's endless charm and engaging lyrics haven't aged a bit--did it really take us this long to get a song titled "We Shall Not Be Released"?--and I tend towards the more exuberant tracks (i.e. the particularly Fellows-like "Burgundy Suit,"  
bouncy opening cut "Words & Birds"), but it's a good time throughout.

Buy it on Bandcamp.

"Words & Birds":

"We Shall Not Be Released":

"Burgundy Suit":

"Blow In My Bag":