The Minus 5 — Down With Wilco

It’s been eight years since the Young Fresh Fellows’ Scott McCaughey joined forces with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck to form The Minus 5. Throughout the years, The Minus 5 have a liquid membership, with McCaughey and Buck holding the centre. On Down With Wilco, their fifth album, they are joined by The Posies’ Ken Stringfellow and all the current members of Wilco, arguably forming a clever pop supergroup. Not always known for cheery lyrics, Down With Wilco is no exception (titles like "Days Of Wine And Booze" and "Life Left Him There" speak volumes about the content), but the music is just so damn upbeat that it seems like the happiest collection of songs around. The happy/sad juxtaposition: it’s a winning combination.