I consider myself a pretty big music fan (at least compared to my close acquaintances) but realize there are some GAPING holes in my collection. Bands everyone talks about or seems to know a lot about that I either haven't heard or don't own any albums by. I'm going to try to fill in some of these holes with the help of eMusic and used CD bins. As I pick up albums by these artists, I will post a thread that will hopefully trigger decent discussion.

First off is The Replacements. All I really know about them is that they're from Minnesota and Paul Westerberg was their lead singer. I downloaded Let It Be this week and am really enjoying it. So far my favorite tracks are "I Will Dare" and "Unsatisfied" but there really aren't any weak tracks save for maybe "Gary's Got a Boner."

What has struck me most, however, is how much I can hear Nirvana in some of these songs. I've read about their influence on Nirvana but always figured they were only mentioned because they were a punk band from the 80s. Musically, at least, there are a lot of similarities.

I know Tim is also considered a classic and I'll probably pick it up at some point. I'd like to hear some Obner opinions on their other albums, though.

I think there's something special about being in the right place and the right time and the right age to discover groups like Husker Du, Replacements and Minutemen, but any age is fine to appreciate good tunes. A different perspective so many years after, but still worthwhile.

You aren't going to pick me up without buying me beers first.

-hey andyfest-

i just got this-->
replacements, the- 2006 - dont you know who i think i was (the best of)

want me to ysi it for you? anyone else want it?

Track List:

01. Takin' A Ride 02:24
02. Shiftless When Idle 02:19
03. Kids Don't Follow 02:51
04. Color Me Impressed 02:28
05. Within Your Reach 04:25
06. I Will Dare 03:20
07. Answering Machine 03:40
08. Unsatisfied 04:03
09. Here Comes A Regular 04:49
10. Kiss Me On The Bus 02:55
11. Bastards Of Young 03:38
12. Left Of The Dial 03:44
13. Alex Chilton 03:14
14. Skyway 02:06
15. Can't Hardly Wait 03:05
16. Achin' To Be 03:41
17. I'll Be You 03:30
18. Merry Go Round 03:40
19. Message To The Boys 03:27
20. Pool & Dive 02:07

Release Notes:

Led by ace singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg, ragged
Minneapolis rockers The Replacements are arguably
the most iconic band of the 1980s underground. Over
the course of seven studio albums and some pretty
outta-hand live shows, they charted an evolution
from sloppy, booze-fueled garage rock to some of the
most emotionally engaging booze-fueled garage rock
in a generation.

This single-disc set is the first-ever collection to
represent both the band's Twin/Tone and Sire/Reprise
eras. It gathers signature 20 tracks, including two
brand new songs recorded in Minneapolis over
Christmas 2005: "Message To The Boys" and "Pool &
Dive."

Well, Let It Be is a top-ten all time Listmania-type record (at least thats where it is on mine). Its the first one I discovered, and the one I keep coming back to. Personally, I dont make a very strong Mats/Nirvana connection, except for the fact that most every 'indie' rock band of the early 90's owes a little bit to the replacements, and they in turn owe a lot to husker du, the ramones, the dolls and kiss.

1. Let It Be
2. Tim
3. Pleased To Meet me
4. All Shook Down

(the rest) Dont Tell A Soul, Hootenanny, Sorry Ma

Plenty of people interchange 1 and 2...I dont think you can go wrong with either.

Great fucking band. You don't get to be an absolute drunken train wreck and tour the world if you don't have good tunes to back up the decadence.

They had em in spades and the fact that they were open drunks makes me like em even more.

I discovered them through "Pleased to Meet Me" so I'll always have an affinity for that record but you absolutely have to get Tim also.

"Hold My Life", "Here Comes a Regular", "Left of the Dial", "Swingin Party" are all classics.

Everthing pre-Let it Be are mostly ramshackle affairs but some would say that's part of their charm.

Wish I could've seem em live back in their hey day.

Let it Be is my favorite...though I like Stink which is racous and fun.

Probably my 2nd all-time favorite 'Mats song is pre-Let It Be
"Color Me Impressed"

("Left Of the Dial" being #1)

emusic!

I would say that the three essential Replacements albums are Let It Be, Tim, and Pleased To Meet Me. Those are the three I would get first, then get the "rest", either into the sloppier albums (Sorry Ma, Hootenanny) or into the more polished, slower albums (Don't Tell A Soul, All Shook Down). The rest are much more hit and miss, but all have some fine moments (such as the outstanding "Color Me Impressed," as Todd pointed out).

All Shook Down is vastly underrated.
Aside form "My Little Problem" the whole damn album is ace.

Most die-hards would consider "All Shook Down" Westerberg's first solo album, though. It's a good record, but the entire Mats ( or what was left of them at that point ) are only on 1 track together.

Since ( at this point ) none of the Replacements CD releases are nothing to get excited about, yer probably just best off downloading the albums 2 to a CDR or somethin'.

Question for anyone who's bought the new "best of" - I've heard the stuff on there's remastered & sounds waaaaay better than the old CD versions. Is that true?

I'd like to get this.

thx

Timis, I have most of their catalogue, but I'd like a YSI to check out the two new songs even though the word on them is not particularly strong.

Pleased to Meet Me is my favorite, and also entry point. I got a few of those gaping holes in my collection, too. Maybe I'll admit to them later.

I was obsessed with them for a short period of time and then they started to get really old. Maybe I just got burned out on them. I can see them being a godsend for a 17-year old kid (which I basically am) but for some reason I just can't imagine being over the age of 20 and enjoying them.

yeah, andyfest, you big loser asshole moron.

Bastard. Of Young.

You're over 40, correct?

Let us know once you reach that ripe old age of 20 if you still enjoy them. Shit, at that point it might even be nostalgic for you as you look back on the salad days from the dusk of your life.

I think the greater issue with somebody first getting into the Replacements is the fact that half the bands on "Adult Alternative", middle-of-the-road, mainstram radio took the influence of Westerberg & Co. and watered it down. Kinda takes some of the power out of the original at this point, which is too bad. Because those were (and still are) some pretty awesome songs.

When Johnny Reznick worships at the altar of Paul, it kinda waters down the original experience from back when.

and your mommy still washes your crap stained underwear, right?

That is exactly who I was thinking of.
How did you know?