Joining us for this Indie Rock Hit Parade special is an astoundingly prolific musician who’s been a longtime friend of the show (and XPN as a whole). Scott McCaughey is known for his work with The Minus 5, R.E.M., The Baseball Project, Filthy Friends, and countless others. But for many, their introduction to McCaughey’s playful and punky approach to pop came 40 years ago with the release of The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest, the debut LP by the Young Fresh Fellows. To celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary, McCaughey went back to the original tapes to craft a fresh remaster. The album, along with a rare cassette-only recording, arrives in a new reissue that’s out now via Omnivore Recordings.
In this conversation, McCaughey describes Seattle’s nascent DIY scene in the early ’80s, how he forged a lasting professional partnership with producer Conrad Uno, and shares the story behind the original album’s found-sound interludes. We’ll also hear some of the freshly remastered tracks, get a preview of the Young Fresh Fellows’ upcoming tour, and their plans to record a new album.
Once the YFF dates wrap up, McCaughey rejoins his Baseball Project bandmates for a Midwest tour, and McCaughey shares his impressions and predictions for this year’s MLB season.