Search - The Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus 5 :: Because We Hate You / Let War Against Music Begin

Scott McCaughey's double disc mid-life crisis?

Howlinw | 03/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Scott McCaughey fans are like Jonathan Richman fans: they think their fave's mediocre stuff is more enjoyable than 95% of the music out there. There's a lot to like on both discs of this release, but it pales in comparison to Young Fresh Fellows '80s output. Still, "Ghost Tarts of Stockholm" is better than anything released in last year, and the Fellows do their best Sex Pistols imitation on "Your Truth (Our Lies)" or something like that. Truth be told, this is a must for old Fellows fans but really only a 2+1/2 star album at most. Just make sure you get all the old YFF first: Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest, Topsy Turvy, The Men Who Loved Music and This One's For The Ladies are among the greatest rock and roll records ever made. Better yet, catch these guys on tour (check the Mammoth records site - mammoth.com ? - for details) - I saw them on a triple bill (Young Fresh Fellows/Minus 5/Fastbacks, Mike Mills joined in so most of REM was there, too!) three nights ago and even though most of these musicians are now 40-somethings, they still rock harder and better than ANY band on the planet. "In Dennis's room with the black and white, we know it's gonna' be another long night, they're taking the earthlings for fools, we say: 'Godzilla's been attacked by the killer shrews', and someday, oh someday, it's all to be so easy for me.""

Lost greatness

Howlinw | California, USA | 11/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot believe that this is out of print when so many lousy albums are in print. It is an injustice to the world when two of the best albums I have heard in recent years, packaged together no less, are not available through amazon.com. Well, lucky me, a local indie record shop had this in their used department in mint condition. From the moment I stuck disc one (Minus 5 was what I went to first) in my car stereo I was hooked. This is some classic pop in line with the Beach Boys, the Ramones, and 80s "college rock." Tuneful to the extreme, lots of real soul, and the freedom to goof around that comes of low commercial expectations. The songs are smart, funny, uplifting and insightful. In an alternate reality it would be a big, big hit with everyone. It would be blasting from loudspeakers in the streets. But here we are in 2004 America where no one cares enough even to keep it in print. Evrybody has lost out without even knowing it.



-HW"

Another Great CD from Scott McCaughey

Drew Macevenwick | IA | 11/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Scott McCaughey's two bands have put together a double disc of fun, catchy pop/rock songs.



The Minus 5 Disc ("Let the War Against Music Begin") opens with "Great News Around You," which sounds as if it were taken straight out of the Beach Boy's classic "Pet Sounds." "Got You" is another catchy number with a darker meaning behind what initially seems to be bright lyrics. Other highlights include, "You Don't Mean It", "1000 Years Away" and "One Bar At a Time."



For their turn at bat, the Fellows put out an album's worth of tunes not all that far removed from the Minus 5 disc, but a little more amped up. Some favorites include the insanely catchy cover of Boyce & Hart's "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight," the equally infectious "For the Love of a Girl", the dorky but lovable "My Drumset" and "Good Times Rock N Roll." And if that isn't enough to make you buy the album, they throw in a song devoted to a Krispy Kreme waitress.



Both discs feature a number of songs that could appear comfortably on the other, but both also retain their own spirit and unique feel. What really holds them together is the fact that both feature the powerful song writing of Scott McCaughey. This guy has been making music for many years now, and he knows what he's doing. Some musicians churn out a bunch of great songs early in their career only to burn out and release second rate garbage in their middle to late career. Scott McCaughey isn't one of those musicians. He keeps trying new things, but rest assured anything the man touches turns to gold. If some long-time fans of the Fellows are disappointed by this offering, it is probably due to the fact that it is different than McCaughey's early work. And making different music is a bit of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, it assures that your music won't become boring. But it can also be a bit of a slap in the face to people who've listened to your music for years and want something similar to what attracted them to the music in the first place.



Bearing that in mind, I would recommend this collection to Minus 5 fans over Young Fresh Fellows fans. If you've been listening to some of the other albums McCaughey has made in recent years (particularly 2006's self-titled Minus Five Release), you will enjoy this record because it has a similar 60's pop/rock vibe. If you are expecting the more lo-fi, less elaborately produced sound of the Fellows in the 80s, you may not like what you hear. Of course, most fans of either band has probably already heard this disc so I'm primarily speaking to people just discovering McCaughey and his two bands. And to you I can only say that McCaughey is one of the most under-appreciated musical geniuses of this age.



If you are considering purchasing this, just do it. You can get a used copy for as low as $2.00, and that's for two discs worth of material! Even if you only end up enjoying a few of the more immediate tunes, you can't really go too wrong for that kind of price. Give it a try. You won't regret it.

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