You can listen to the track here
By Mark Woodlief | The Oregonian
Seattle's Scott McCaughey deserves a cool title. We don't knight musicians in this country, so Sir Scott isn't gonna fly. But Mr. Rock and Roll sounds apt for a fab frontman and rocker who's led Northwest bands such as Young Fresh Fellows since 1983. In the early 1990s, McCaughey also played his way into a cool gig as a touring member of R.E.M.
In 1993 he formed the Minus Five, a rock collective with a rotating roster of players, convincing R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck to put down his Rickenbacker and pick up the bass in the band. Endorsement enough of the Minus 5 right there, one could argue.
But more important is McCaughey's impeccable songwriting acumen. He's a 1960s and '70s rock expert who can summon a Kinks or ? and the Mysterians or Mott the Hoople riff at a moment's notice. McCaughey just plain gets it: He knows it's only rock and roll, but he darn well likes it. It's supposed to sound fun, not overthought. Rock and roll shouldn't be entirely black-hearted, but colorful; it should (pardon the expression) strike a chord.
Originally recorded in 2000 and then updated late last year, the 12-track CD "Minus 5 in Rock" finds McCaughey striking chords with a core lineup of Northwest all-star players including John Ramberg, Buck and R.E.M. drummer Bill Rieflin, plus such guests as Chris Ballew, John Wesley Harding, Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Young Fresh Fellow Kurt Bloch.
Bottom line: great, no-frills rock tunes. Populated by wry nods to friends in other music scenes ("The Night Chicago Died Again"), irresistible power ballads ("Dr. Evil: Doctor of Evil") and romantic rockers ("Over the Sea"), the album is intoxicating. Mr. Rock and Roll comes through again.
A Record release party for "This One's For The Fellows" will be May 07, 2004 at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle, WA. A lineup of musical guests to rival the 1927 Yankees* will be announced on the Seattle Mariners opening day, April 06, 2004.
*1927 Yankees, aka "Murderer's Row":
"Popularly regarded as the greatest baseball team ever assembled, the 1927 New York Yankees team was referred to as "Murderer's Row." The heavy hitting lineup included Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Dugan, and Pat Collins. The Yankees reached the World Series after winning the American League pennant by 19 games and won the championship by sweeping Pittsburgh four games to none."
02. Love is a Beautiful Thing - The Silos
03. How Much About Lastnight Do You Remember - Eric Kassel
04. Mamie Dunn Employee of the Month/Good Times Rock & Roll - Robyn Hitchcock
05. No One Really Knows What She Does To Me - The Maroons w/Stephen Malkmus
06. Lost Track of Time - Carla Torgerson & Amy Stolzenbach
07. Get Outta My Cave - Comb*Over
08. Still There's Hope - Visqueen
09. This One's for the Ladies - The Figgs
10. Celebration - John Ramberg & Christy McWilson
11. Unimaginable Zero Summer - Johnny Sangster
12. Deep, Down & In-Between - The Mendoza Line
13. Hillbilly Drummer Girl - I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House
14. Take My Brain Away/Teenage Dogs in Trouble - Emily Bishton & Conrad Uno
15. Rotation - The Black Panties
16. Telephone Tree - Louden Swain
17. I Lose Control - Marshall Artist
18. 99 Girls - The Groovie Ghoulies
19. I Hate Everything - Charlie Chesterman
20. Don't You Wonder How it Ends - The Makers
bonus hidden track
21. Teenage Dogs in Trouble - The Mono Men w/Scott McCaughey