The No Ones albums

2023

My Evil Best Friend - 85%

  Scott McCaughey can crank out Power Pop with the best of them, and his newest incarnation of melodic warriors have made yet another classic. "304 Molino Way" is perfect 1970s Raspberries or Big Star or even 60's Byrds, by a group that really knows how to pull it off. Peter Buck of REM fame shines as well with his glowing guitars, while "Song for George" is one of the most beautiful George Harrison homages i Have ever heard.

McCaughey's humor was always been his secret weapon, whether channeling cult favorites in "Blue Cheer Captain" or "Phil Ochs is Dead" with Buck's unmistakable jangle arpeggios, or the hilarious "Band with No Head" which makes perfect sense out of nonsense. "KLIV" might be channeling the old times a bit too much, and is kind of an odd intro to an otherwise super melodic album- then again garage rock has always been part of it. The rhythm section of Swedish musicians is great as well.

Whether playing in Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, or with Robyn Hitchcock, McCaughey really follows his own muse. My Evil Best Friend fits right in with other classic records he has made, the first Minus 5 record or even the continually underrated Young Fresh Fellow's Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest from 1989. I hope he keeps making music like this forever which....it sounds like he will....and anyways the tunes are as good as anything ever on the radio in its heyday- so I know the SONGS will lives far longer than we humans will.

Best Songs: 304 Molino Way, Band With No Head, Phil Ochs is Dead, We Are the Band