Has anyone read this? It looks at the mid-80s explosion in Minneapolis, from the Suburban Commandos to Husker Du, Replacements & Soul Asylum. I thought it was pretty damned interesting and would merit an entire book, if only of dumbass replacements stories. Anyway, totally worth picking up. Husker Du was on the cover, though it wouldn't surprise me if there was a 'Mats cover as well.

apparently, Prince went to these guys' gigs somewhat regularly. weird.

also, Bob Mould is like the scariest guy ever. it makes sense he scripted pro wrestling.

and Chris Mars' painting of the replacements in the back is uber-creepy (dead Bob Stinson, Westerberg grabbin' for dollars. etc...

That sounds pretty badass, thanks for the tip.

<-----still waiting on this shit to show up in my mailbox

Shouldn't subscribers get it before it hits the stands? bullshit.

<----has only gotten 1 issue since Derris gave him subscription for birthday. In March.

I was just thinking to mention this to you Derris.

I actually emailed them about this - the problem was with the sampler CD ( newsstand copies don't have the CD ) . So the subscriber issues got mailed late.

If you have questions about stuff like this, email them. They're really good about getting back to you. I got a response in like, 15 minutes.


I thought the MPLS stuff was really well done...& as a Replacements fan of 20 + years, there was even 1 story in there ( the Plasmatics one ) I'd never heard before.

they probably heard you talkin all that hit about philly...

Mention his name and he shall appear.

My new issue of Magnet was waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home yesterday along with the new SI which they actually managed to deliver on time this week (Yay USPS).

Havent read the Mnpls article yet but it looks interesting. Four new magazines in 2 days, gotta get caught up this wknd.

OOps

how did you gather that bob mould was scarry? just curious

at oone point in the issue he tells an interviewer "i'm huge now, i could put you through a wall", coupled with grant hart and pretty much everyone else saying he was the most domineering, confrontational man ever. which i suppose i never really considered.

I leafed through this, and decided I may go back and read it at B&N, but I ain't buyin it, but it did spawn this thought, which may deserve its own thread, complete with poll:

More overrated in terms of actual good music and influence: Minneapolis 80s or Seattle 90s?

Discuss.

I can't name a rekkid by any bands associated with either of these scenes that would make my top 50, and would be hard pressed for a top 100 entry.

Minneapolis, mainly on the influence tip. Though the grunge sound fizzed out early, I think that Seattle scene drew attention to the entire Northwest region in the second half of the decade (Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, 764-Hero, Juno). You may not give a toss about these bands, but I certainly do.

Good question Gar. My immediate reaction would be Minneapolis. The Replacements, Husker Du, Soul Asylum, The Suburbs, Prince and the Revolution, Morris Day and the Time, Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (hugely influential in the "pop-funk" sound in 80's, Janet Jackson, etc.).

The rock bands are the prototypes that, along with REM and the Pixies, would be the blueprint for "alternative" bands in the 90's. (Also, your complete dismissal of these Minneapolis bands drives me nuts gar)

On the flip side, whether you like it or not Nirvana was the band that launched a million copy cat bands. Pearl Jam also (Creed anyone?)
I can't think of any band that cites Soundgarden as an influence.

I guess Seattle had a more far reaching influence due to it's commercial success as far as rock bands go in the short term but I think the records that came out of the Minneapolis scene will stand the test of time better.

Also, the influence of Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Prince can't be underestimated.

I say Minneapolis was and will be more influential in the future.

Forgot about these. Good call.

Points for the NorthWest.

...as I forgot about the pop-soul side of Minneapolis; I was just comparing rock scenes. Also a good call.

Jeezus, man, why does everything have to get tagged as overrated? That Minneapolis scene was outstanding - fun and a little dangerous in the mid '80s, which, if you'll remember, was a time when people thought they were cutting edge by wearing spandex and headbands and big hair. The "big" (need the ironic quote marks - because none of those Min. bands, excepting Prince, sold any units) bands are well documented and have already been mentioned in this thread, but they weren't all Minneapolis had to offer. Consider:

The Suburbs
Curtiss A.
The Pistons
The Crackers
The Magnolias
The Hypstrz
The Mighty Mofos
Beat Rodeo

Probably forgetting a whole bunch of 'em, too. And ditto Seattle. While the masses lapped up the grunge trend some of Seattle's best were forgotten and/or neglected:

The Squirrels
Young Fresh Fellows
The Fastbacks
Flop
The Posies
Sweetwater
Gruntruck
The Walkabouts
The Supersuckers
Gas Huffer
damnthere'stoomanytolist.

Both great scenes and great eras in music.

Thanks for that list of bands (aside from the Supersuckers) that I have never heard of. Your monger tapes know no bounds...

As to why everything gets tagged as overrated, I hear many of these bands from Seattle and Minny tagged as great and seminal, and I just don't hear it.

Oh yeah, and aside from 3-4 tracks, even the 'Mats are meh for me...

That's just crazy talk.

I love Tim and Hootenanny, but everything else is just okay in my book. Let it Be has moments but I don't think it's near the album Tim is. Tim is one of my favorite albums ever.

Consider the source....

I think it may be one of those things, for me, at least, where you needed some persective, but outside that time frame, i'm just not gonna grasp it.

Derris and Bloor have tried to no avail on some of these bands for me...

Let's all remember Candlebox for a moment.

However this thread has inspired me to go on a early Replacements jag right now. I haven't heard Hootenany in a long time. That'll be some good Friday listening.

It was in my mailbox this morning. I haven't had time to read it but I look forward to that article.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the bonus DVD with the episode of Stella. Not so much because the show is funny (it was kinda dumb too, but I'll give it a chance), but because I'm glad to see that there are companies finally using new methods, like DVDs and the 'net, to get their content noticed. I never would have heard of that show without this disc, and now I might become a regular viewer.

Yep, read it and had read it before in "Our Band Could Be Your Life". It was a good piece, as was the article on M.Ward.