Minus 5 - Down With Wilco

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 12 / 2 / 2003

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The Minus 5 is a side project of various musos that was formed by Scott McGaughey of the Young Fresh Fellows, with the aid of R.E.M's Peter Buck and the Posies' Ken Stringfellow ( who also now plays keyboards as well for R.E.M). 'Down with Wilco' also features Wilco, who are no strangers to concept albums having done a few themselves, and who also worked with Billy Bragg on his 'Mermaid Avenue' records. The album is in three parts and was recorded over 9 days in September and December 2001. 'Down with Wilco' is a pleasant affair affair, but it's not a rock 'n' roll thing. That's for sure. It is reminiscent of the latter day Byrds when they got into country rock. To be honest, even with the people involved, it will not really appeal to a larger market. It sounds very much like something that was recorded in the mid 70's, and the sort of thing that started the whole punk rock movement. It does have some good moments on it though. The opening track, 'The Days of Wine and Booze', sounds like classic McCartney, when he could still put out a good tune. There are other tracks that sound like good Beach Boys tunes, and on 'Life Let Him There' Peter Buck plays some great Roger McGuinn-style guitar lines. Not a great album though, and one definitely for fans only

Track Listing:-

1 The Days of Wine and Booze
2 Retrieval of You
3 That's Not the Way That It's Done
4 The Town That Lost It's Groove Supply
5 Daggers Drawn
6 Where Will You Go?
7 Life Left Him There
8 The Family Gardener
9 The Old Plantation
10 What I Don't Believe
11 View From Below
12 I'm Not Bitter
13 Dear Employer (The Reason I Quit)

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