The Replacements

The 'Mats first classic album balances ramshackle, juvenile punkiness with Paul Westerberg's quickly blossoming songwriting talents. "I Will Dare," "Androgynous" and "Unsatisfied" all became fan favorites by turning fragile, private emotions into outward expressions of confusion and need. And they'd get even better than this!

This is a brilliant rock & roll album: as loose as it is deliberate, as pretty as it is hard rocking
and as pissed off at all the right things ("Seen Your Video," "Androgynous") as it is hilarious
("Gary's Got a Boner"). Paul Westerberg – the Replacements' lead singer, songwriter and
principal guitarist on Let It Be – writes about funny little things, like "Tommy Gets His Tonsils
Out," then fills the songs with anger, frustration and excitement. His voice is gre... More >

Those still looking for the perfect garage may misconstrue this band's belated access to melody as proof they've surrendered their principles. Me, I'm delighted they've matured beyond their strange discovery of country music. Bands like this don't have roots, or principles either,they just have stuff they like. Which in this case includes androgyny (no antitrendie reaction here) and Kiss (forgotten protopunks). Things they don't like include tonsillectomies and answering machines, both of which they make something of. (Grade - A+)