Top 10 Records of 2006 - Number Nine

Every year I like to include at least one record that nobody has heard of (I don't really mean nobody, but you know what I mean).

This year's choice is The Gun Album from Minus Five, featuring one of the top ten songs of the year, With A Gun.

There are a lot more great songs on this record. Aw Shit Man, My Life As A Creep, Cemetery Row (sung by Colin Meloy of Decemberists), and Cigarettes Coffee And Booze are all standouts.

The Minus 5 is the name of the people who play music with Scott McCaughey of The Young Fresh Fellows.  This time around he's got Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, and Glenn Kotche from Wilco, Peter Buck from REM, and Colin Meloy from The Decemberists.

I have kept coming back to this record throughout the year while others go to the back burner. And so that's why it's in my top 10.

Comments

[Dave Hyndman]

Fred:

Question about your use of outbound links to Amazon: I, like you, am a big fan of eMusic. It's DRM-free approach to music sales is the right one and their catalogue is spot-on, at least for folks like us. I always think a company like eMusic deserves help and support for taking the right approach. So my suggestion would be for you to link to eMusic when they have the material and Amazon when they don't.

To be clear, this is just a suggestion. I suspect you generate affiliate money from Amazon and I know that you donate that money to charity. If that goal trumps boosting eMusic that's totally understandable.

Looking forward to the rest of the list.

Thanks, DAVE

[Ian Delaney]

Christ Alive - what a line up! Would buy it for that alone.

BTW - you missed 12 Songs by Neil Diamond on your 'old timers' list. If you haven't heard it, then do. It's electrifying.

[Steve]

Hey Fred -- FYI, Peter Buck is a permanent member of the Minus 5. Always has been. Not sure why all the magazines, etc. insist on calling him a guest. For years they referred to the Minus 5 as Buck's "side project", but now he's just a guest? Odd.

Anyway, great band, great album. Although "Down With Wilco" was even better.

[Mike Sabat]

As the other comments have said, this is a great line up. You are right, I have never heard of them. Thanks for turning me on to this band.

Patiently awaiting for more reviews.