While it is tempting to call vocalist Michael Stipe a hermit, I am not sure that’s accurate. He has stayed busy and checking out his Wikipedia bio shows all the music that he has recorded and places where he has popped up. While there seems to be a solo album on the horizon (reported to be released in 2025) to this point, it seems his most visible project surprisingly is co-writing and producing the 2008 Fischerspooner reunion disc Sir.
Which leaves guitarist Peter Buck in somewhat the same role Johnny Marr was in post-Smiths. A mix of different projects- some commercial, some obscure - but surprisingly prolific
Buck’s most notable projects might be his two albums with Luke Haines of the Auteurs and playing in the supergroup The Baseball Project with Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate, Mike Mills of REM, Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows and Lynda Pitmon of Zuzus Petals.
The Baseball Project has four albums and I am a big fan.
The good news in the current age is that it’s a lot easier to find some of the more obscure records too, and according to Buck’s Wikipedia entry, he has quite a few of those too.
Let’s start with five solo albums from 2012-2017 before he partnered up with Haines ( and self-effacingly advertised on his BandCamp). There’s 2018s Arthur Buck, an album with American songwriter Joseph Arthur. Then Filthy Friends- two albums- one in 2017 and 2019- another supergroup fronted by Corin Tucker of Sleater- Kinney and Buck (backed by McCaughey, Pitmon and Fastbacks guitarist and indie producer Kurt Bloch)
Then there’s the Minus Five- a going concern since 1993 which records regularly- with McCaughey, Buck and a rotation of some of the biggest names in indie rock like Wynn and Colin Meloy of the Decemberists in the current lineup and Jeff Tweedy, Ben Gibbard and Ken Stringfellow in previous iterations).
Buck fans may also be aware of Tuatara- which dates back to 1996 and most recently released a studio album in 2014. An instrumental group that defies genres, once again the lineup sounds like a who’s who of indie rock with Buck, McCaughey, Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), Justin Harwood (The Chills, Luna) and guests like saxophonist Skerik (Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam).
At least I have heard of most of these groups. I am not familiar with Tired Pony- another supergroup - in this case - a project for Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol backed by Buck, MacCaughey, Iain Archer, producer Jackknife Lee and Richard Colburnn of Belle & Sebastian
This is just scratching the surface of Buck’s work. I didn’t talk about any of his defunct 1980s and 1990s projects and I haven’t gotten to his production work, the bands that he is part of who haven’t recorded albums, prolific work as a sideman, or his collaborations with Mark Eitzel and Billy Bragg.
In any case, that is a lot to cover to get to yet another group Buck is active with.
The No Ones seems an appropriate name for a band that is full of stars but are just here for a good time. The band debuted in 2017 with Buck on guitar, McCaughey on vocals and the two members of Norwegian indie pop band I Was A King. Their debut album 2020s The Great Lost No Ones Album (which was recorded in 2017 and delayed, though I also think it’s somewhat of the bands jumper peaking through)
It doesn’t surprise me that a musician has so many projects (though certainly Buck has to have more than most), I think I am more surprised that he seems to keep them active.
There’s plenty of other musicians who start side bands and abandon them after one album.
But Buck isn’t like that and the No One’s made a second album released in 2023, My Evil Best Friend.
My Evil Best Friend really might be one of those great “lost” pop records. A lot of reviewers picked up on the fact it’s a bit thematic in that it’s a homage from McCaughey to his heroes. Phil Ochs, David Bowie, Jenny Lewis, and George Harrison all pop up in the lyrics which according to the band’s promotional material is primarily Scott’s work.
Given the band’s background, it’s no surprise the album has tons of big name guests - Debi Peterson (Bangles), Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven)
The first No Ones album is a fine pop album but that second one is something special.
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