REPLACEMENTS
Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash
Stink
Hootenanny
Let It Be (Twintone/Restless)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Axl Rose's whipping bass boy used to be in a pretty good band. Remember The Replacements? Their heckle fights with the audience, internal brawls, falling over drunk on stage? Just like yesterday. Youth, rebellion, talent - there may not have been a more defining rock and roll band. Four ferocious albums then the inevitable spiral downward into major label la-la-land. But hey, we still have those four albums, and now yer scratched up vinyl copies can take a breather cuz that golldarned CD technology is here to save the day. Funny how good the early stuff sounds today. Is there anything more exhilarating than the opening strains of "Takin A Ride" from the debut album? The Mats were funny, rough, raw, and trouble; it was bloody electrifying. Paul Westerberg's brilliance was cleverly masked by a juiced up band searching for the ultimate high. Each and every record shows Westerberg developing into a major talent, balancing the ready to burn punk spirit of the band with beautiful ballads: "Johnny's Gonna Die" from Sorry Ma..., "Go" from Stink, "Willpower" from Hootenanny and "Androgynous" from Let It Be. The reissues of your wayward, carefree youth - absolutely essential.

© 2002 - John Sekerka