Minus 5 – Oar On, Penelope

Scott McCaughey has had an amazing career starting way back in 1984 with power poppers Young Fresh Fellows. They released somewhere around 15 albums between ’84 and 2020, the highlight being Because We Hate You, released simultaneously as a double album split with Minus 5’s 4rth album. So it’s somewhat telling that one of the tracks on The Minus 5’s latest, Oar On Penelope, is entitled “I Don’t Want to Hate Anyone”. Stroke recovery can change one’s perspective.

Star Power to Spare

It’s a super catchy track, perfectly in step with much of McCaughey’s work. The album’s first single, “Words & Birds”, is classic power pop and equally as engaging. From there, the “band” (consisting of McCaughey, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), Debbi Peterson (The Bangles), Kurt Bloch (The Fastbacks), Linda Pitmon (Baseball Project, Filthy Friends), and Spencer Tweedy), throw us a few change-ups.  

The psych-garage like “Let The Rope Hold, Cassie Lee” is just such a case. The Fleshtones immediately come to mind when I hear it. The swirling organ is perfect. If psychedelia is your thing, you’ll dig “Sharktooth” as well. The uptempo “Burgundy Suit” is a sugary blast, uh-la-la’s an all. And “We Shall Not Be Released” starts with an inverted Beatles-The Jam riff, later lapsing into a jangly, memorable pop nugget with a killer guitar solo.

Get Minus 5’s Latest Here

There’s a lot to like on The Minus 5’s latest, Oar On, Penelope. You can get your copy at their bandcamp page (CD), Amazon Music (digital) or Apple Music (digital).