If Young Fresh Fellow, R.E.M. sideman and Minus Five mastermind Scott McCaughey didn't know exactly what he was doing with the world's longest-running side project/joke, it might come across as a worthless vanity act. It isn't. The loosely proficient assembled players (R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Wilco, the Posies' Ken Stringfellow and Rebecca Gates of Spinanes) combined with McCaughey's indefatigable gift for inanity ("Lyrical Stance") and wonky melody (the de facto title track, "Days of Wine and Booze") showcase his insider, super-rocker status and make you wonder, is everyone enjoying the challenge of recreating Kinks-style village greenery ("Hotel Senator" with Wilco) and smiley art-rock ("Formerly Hail Centurion" and "The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply") or are they just wanking on this seven-song collection of outtakes and remakes? Who cares! Minus Five make music for music's sake; that it's turned out to be McCaughey's most enduring contribution to his own vast catalog is probably as big of a surprise to him as it is to anyone. (DENISE SULLIVAN)