The Minus 5 — Killingsworth

The Minus 5 features Peter Buck from R.E.M. on guitar. Without him, you probably would never be reading this review, which is too bad because The Minus 5's music is light and lively, reveling in pure pop goodness and not taking itself too seriously in the process.

Most side projects tend to have experimental or masturbatory leanings, but The Minus Five are far more pure. They focus on ex-Young Fresh Fellow Scott McCaughey's masterful songwriting and Buck's twangy guitar.

Killingsworth has some fine moments, but it really begs the question: why would somebody pick up this album instead of throwing down a copy of R.E.M.'s Life's Rich Pageant?

Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn't, but in any case, Killingsworth is recommended for R.E.M. completists first and fans of good, honest music second.

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