CD of the Week March 18-March 24, 2001
The Young Fresh Fellows/The Minus 5
Because We Hate You/Let the War Against Music Begin
Mamouth/Malt Records
"From Seattle To You With Love Tonight"
Before Nirvana and before Pearl Jam, the original Seattle band was the Young Fresh Fellows. Led by multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott McCaughey the Fellows weren’t Grunge, but they were different. There sound was and is hard to classify since from cut to cut on a YFF album the feel and style could be completely different. Mostly they made music for the fun of making music. These days they aren’t exactly young anymore, but they are still fresh. Their newest release is little strange because it comes bundled in a two CD package along with the new CD by McCaughey’s other band, the Minus 5. The good news about this odd arrangement is that you get both albums for the price of one, which is quite a good deal especially considering that both albums are pretty good in their own right.
The Young Fresh Fellows disc entitled, Because We Hate You is more rockin’ and little more lo-fi than the more esoteric and experimental Minus 5 disc, Let the War Against Music Begin. Both are full of classic pop songcraft that recalls the Beatles and Beach Boys. While the sound harkens back to these vintage groups, the subject matter is often more obscure than your usual pop song. "Lonely Spartanburg Flowerstall" is a homey little tale about the lead character falling in love with an eccentric flower lady and moving into her stall to sell baseball cards. It is hard to imagine Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson singing about this subject, but it actually works and ends up being an endearing tale.
Most of McCaughey’s sketches about love don’t end up so well. In songs like " I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite" and "For The Love of a Girl" McCaughey’s protagonist is kicked around and a deceived by the opposite sex at every turn.
Other songs are just fun, but still have some meaning like "Good Times Rock & Roll" which chronicles the YFF tour with the Presidents Of the United States. "Fuselage" is a weird, new wave sounding ditty that is about…well, I am not really sure what it is about, but it is strangely moving.
Let the War Against Music Begin" is also a great album and I probably like it even better than Because We Hate You. The Minus Five sort of have a rotating cast of members. The core seems to revolve around McCaughey, Ken Stringfellow, Barrett Martin and R.E.M guitarist, Peter Buck. "Ghosts Tarts of Stockholm is an ethereal study of the Swedish supermodel syndrome while "The Amazing Dolphin Boy" is sort of Neo-Lewis Carroll romp that is similar some of the more bizarre John Lennon songs.
The final song on the album features an absolutely hilarious cameo by Robyn Hitchcock. I don't want to ruin it, but is one of the greatest things Hitchcock has ever done.
Overall, this 2 CD set is well worth the price of admission. These songs are catchy, but still edgy and experimental. Honestly, in a perfect world, many of these songs could be radio hits. Unfortunately, you are not likely to hear either of these bands on the radio soon. All the more reason to seek out this CD set or their live shows.
I leave you with this horoscope which can be found on the inside of the Minus 5’s booklet:
CANCER: (JUNE 22-JULY 22)
Years of enduring the constant, numbing pain of existence will end this week when you discover "whiskey", a magical drink that makes your problems disappear.