Scott McCaughey begins “Out There on the Maroon” with the words, “I had six White Russians tonight and two of them were people.” With his twisted lyrics and eclectic collaborations, the Minus 5 might be the darkest pop band around.
On the seventh full length from the Minus 5, this time McCaughey – often referred to as the fifth member of R.E.M – has enlisted members of Wilco, Decemberists, Colin Meloy, John Wesley Harding and longtime collaborator Peter Buck, though McCaughy is clearly the lead. The Wilco dudes give the catchy “With A Gun” a radio spark, but their talents are hidden well beneath McCaughey’s showy front end. “Aw Shit Man” hits a dirty punk wall, and “Rifle Called Goodbye” explores more familiar Beatles sounding Minus 5 material. It’s when Meloy lends lead vocals to “Cemetery Row” that the album attains a saving grace with its fresh voice.
As a collective, it’s all summed up by “Cigarettes Coffee and Booze” and “Twilight Distillery,” two substance flavored tracks that toy with rockabilly, country and jangly pop. Sure, we’ve heard this all before with The Minus 5, but it’s the guests that keep you coming back. “The Gun Album” is no exception.
