The Minus 5: Killingsworth
The Minus 5: Killingsworth
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By James Christie. |  |
Friday, 03, Jul 2009 03:13
Cooking Vinyl, out July 6th.
In a nutshell...
Right music, wrong decade.
What's it all about?
Underground legend Scott McCaughey returns with his band of merry men for yet another album outing. The 14-track extravaganza is sure to be a hit with avid followers of the band, but it's unlikely to win them any new fans.
Who's it by?
The Minus 5 are somewhat of an acquired taste, mainly picking up their fan base from R.E.M, who both McCaughey and band mate Peter Buck are involved with. The guys have performed with Robyn Hitchcock of late and his eccentricity seems to have seeped through into this latest record.
As an example....
"I will die a Christian solider, if I ever die at all." - I Would Rather Sacrifice You
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
This record is far from mainstream enough to grace the Grammys - but stranger things have happened.
What the others say
"The Minus 5 remain relatively obscure, which is astonishing when you consider that past line-ups have included members of Sonic Youth and Wilco, as well as E, Patti Smith, Ben Gibbard and 'pretty much everyone else'." - The Skinny
"There is definitely some filler on the record. It Won't Do You Any Good and Big Beat Up Moon don't add much of anything to the album and drag it out just beyond the point of complete enjoyability." - Snob's Music
So is it any good?
There are some records which are middle of the road for reasons you can't put your finger on - and this is one of them. The Minus 5 are good at what they do; they're seasoned performers who understand music, a breath of fresh air when you consider some of the drivel in the charts at the moment. Still, there is something missing from Killingsworth.
The purity of this album is refreshing, not a single synthesiser or digital enhancement in earshot. Songs have resonances of early R.E.M tracks, but without the intrigue and sense of excitement which set them apart in the early days. The Minus 5 are far from a mainstream band, which is evident in this album.
Listening to Killingsworth is like being involved in a series of in-jokes; the band have cleverly constructed songs which leave the listener thinking and going back for a second listen. I Would Rather Sacrifice You is one such example, complete with subtle digs at the Christian mentality and an ounce of satire. Other more obscure tracks, such as Gash in the Cocoon and Ambulance Dancehall are likewise as baffling, leading one to question whether they intend to be taken seriously at all.
Vintage Violet is one of the better tracks on this record, providing a welcome break in the flow halfway through the album. Songs like this make it difficult to discard Killingsworth completely, suggesting the compilation may need a few more chances to prove itself.
Each track has a consistent, steady melody, which, when coupled with the not-so-simple lyrics, gives The Minus 5 a stage of their own to fill. The fact is that music has moved on since they started out in 1993 and this is unlikely to pick them up any more followers along the way. This album will float providing the existing fans stay true to their cause.
Nothing on this album is likely to grace the top of the Billboard Top 100 or the Top 40. But maybe that's not a bad thing.
7/10
Emma Furze