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The Minus 5

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heretic:
ok, i searched all over for a thread on this, and i don't think there is one yet, so...
i just got a promo copy of The Minus 5's new self-titled album (the gun album) and, seeing as i'd never heard of the minus 5 and they seem like a pretty cool concept in theory, i wrote review for my student paper.
well, here's that review if you want to read it, or just lemme know what you all think.

wiki article


--- Quote from: I ---On first listen, The Minus 5's self-titled album is absolutely nothing special. In fact, it was almost impressive in it's mediocrity. Scott McCaughey of the Fresh Young Fellows leads the consortium of indie rockers through an album that ranges from beach rock to a decidedly country feel. The Gun Album, as it is known, blazes by after a paltry 42 minutes, leaving the listener unfulfilled. Most albums take the listener through a story, a journey, or at least an enjoyable listening experience; this seems to strive for the exact opposite. Not one of the tracks is bad, but all together they make is nearly impossible to enjoy any of them. It's very hard to appreciate a track when the one that directly follows it is basically the same thing. Now, this is a difficult assertion to make, because this reviewer does not allege that all the songs sound the same, but rather, that they all feel the same. Every song conjures thoughts of a simple life, a country life, where things moves slowly, where the sixties never ended.
    The Minus 5 is a project McCaughey formed when he realized he had buckets of material he would never use with the Fresh Young Fellows. There are 18 artists listed as contributors on this, their seventh album, including Wilco and Colin Meloy of The Decemberists. You would never know that there are nearly twenty people on this album, though, because the instrumentation doesn't change drastically. The majority of the album just seems like filler, neither impressive nor offensive, a waste of an idea with such potential.
    Even if the album all blends together, after the fifth or sixth listen it does start to get catchy. Colin Meloy is always enjoyable, and brings his influence to the strongest track on the album, Twilight Distillery, an upbeat, fun indie rock tune. After all is said and done, this album is basically an indie-rock spin on 1960's rock and country, seeming to evoke everyone from The Beatles to Willie Nelson. This is certainly not bad music, it is simply unremarkable and inessential for any music collection. It's been done before, better.

Bottom Line: Really only worth buying for the novelty of a band with no set membership. There is really not much to say about this. Ho-hum.
--- End quote ---

Bastardous Bassist:
There are bands that are actually good that have no set membership.  Death changed the lineup every album except for the singer/guitarist (who is now dead, unfortunatley).  There's also Probot, which definitely has some great moments.  Ayreon is another one, but they produce concept albums.  Demons & Wizards is much more like Death.  I could go on, but maybe I'm missing what's so cool about The Minus 5, aside from the fact that they play indie instead of metal.

Kai:
OH MAN. Me and my friend were talking about Probot. Not the band though, the little propane robot statues Peggy Hill in King the the Hill sculpted one episode. I'm assuming that's where they got it.


Les Claypool's Holy Mackerel had no really set lineup, and his Fancy Band/Frog Brigade tends to trade them all up alot.

Bastardous Bassist:
Well, probot might also be a reference to Star Wars and these little devils:

Kai:
OH MAN I FORGOT ABOUT THOSE THINGS



I have to watch Star Wars again.


PEGGY: Let me think. Propane... America... the future. I've got it! A Probot!
HANK: A what?
PEGGY: A Probot, Hank. A robot made entirely of propane tanks, welcoming people to the future. A future of Arlen pride, and hard work, and clean-burning barbecues.

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