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I originally purchased this on CD and (not that I’m an audiophile) was so dissatisfied with the remastering (or lack thereof) that I tracked down a copy on vinyl. While the CD version is tinny and flat, the vinyl version is warm, deep, and organic. Ahhh, analog…

To stifle the pitchforks and rotten tomatoes, I’ll tell you why this isn’t a perfect album first. Simply put, songs like “Lay It Down Clown” are outrageously fun and “Dose Of Thunder” is pleasing to listen to but they are obvious filler that go absolutely nowhere and are low points for the generally stellar songwriting. Overall, the mood of this record is much more laid back with toned down solos, this being the last record to feature Bob Stinson on lead guitar before being kicked out of the group. Uhhh, and the artwork is God-awful…okay, I’m just joking about that, but seriously, I would give this a 9.5 if I could.

The band goes through many styles on this record, from the rockabilly of “Waitress In The Sky” to the pop of “Kiss Me On The Bus.” Tommy Stinson has fantastic bass tone and plays very emotionally while the two guitar players are a very abrasive contrast. However, they do know when to warm their tone and play soulfully on songs like “Swingin Party.” Also, for what it’s worth, original Ramones drummer Tommy Erdelyi produced this record and Big Star crooner and Paul Westerberg’s idol Alex Chilton makes a vocal appearance on “Left Of The Dial.” I’ll high five to that.

So, this band rocks and the melodies and vocals are great and all, but the obvious standout is the strength in the songwriting. If I could, I’d simply cut and paste the lyrics and let them do the talking for this review. Sometimes the lyrics are childishly simple and honest like on “Kiss Me On The Bus:"

Kiss me on the bus
If you knew how I felt now
You wouldn't act so adult now
Hurry, hurry, here comes my stop
And other times they are deeply personal as in “Bastards of Young:”
The ones who love us best are the ones we'll lay to rest
And visit their graves on holidays at best
The ones who love us least are the ones we'll die to please
If it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand them
We are the sons of no one, bastards of young
You also get a killer closing acoustic ballad. Bonus! I am obviously too uninformed and young to cover a record of this magnitude, importance, and influence but if this review causes a few people who otherwise would have never given the record a glimpse to take a moment to read the lyrics and listen then I think it’s all good.

The CD version gets an 8.
The vinyl version gets a 9.



People who liked this also liked:
The Clash - London CallingJawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge TherapyDescendents - Milo Goes To CollegeRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Fugazi - 13 SongsThe Replacements - Let It BeAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitJawbreaker - Dear YouAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl Rose



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    Posted by lushj on 2004-12-29 16:11:58
    My Score:

    Okay, since I've been able to make it from "Los Angeles" all the way to a lot of "See How We Are," maybe I'll try the last couple Replacements records again.

    Re: cd's coolness and vinyl's hotness, it has nothing to do with what BSD suggests. The idea is that records, being an analog format (i.e. non-digital) have an analog sound IF the original record was recorded on analog tape. Digital recording is, at its base, 1s and 0s. Audiophiles say that you can hear a warmer, organic quality on upper end turntables when compared with digital versions of the same recording. The main reason is that the recording process uses a lot more than just 1s and 0s, being, well, non-digital. A lot more half-tones and nonuniform wavelengths/sounds/noise patterns(?) are used- though at this point my explanation stops since I don't know what terms are appropriate to use.

    Having never owned a high end turntable, I can't tell you whether or not this is true. I think it's clearest on classical pieces, although I can imagine most rock and roll also demonstrating this alleged analog advantage.

    Most recent records have been mixed and/or recorded digitally, so this isn't as relevant to newer releases.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 at 2:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Is it only me that like this bands entire discography.
    Okey,the first records as funny and trashy as they were maybe weren´t as good as their middle period as with Let it be,Tim and Hootenanny (when they had independent-god status)...and for their last three records on Sire records they weren´t either their best but they sure ain´t bad ( if you give it another listen!).

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 at 1:41 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Perhaps the vinyl is "warm" because you can control the levels... They usually don't put two totally separate mixes on CD's and LP's...

    -BSD

    Posted by lushj on 2004-12-28 15:47:48
    My Score:

    "Dose of Thunder" is bombastic and rockin, kind of like their great cover of "Black Diamond" on "Let It Be."

    Okay, here's my top 3 Mats in order (slow day at work):

    1. "Tim"
    2. "Let It Be"
    3. "Hootenany"

    Buy those, and if you're into the thrash and the punk, go for "Stink" and "Sorry Ma". If you're into the singer/songwriter pretentious stuff and want to name drop, go for their later records like "Pleased to Fuck Up Our Legacy With a 3rd Rate Record" and "Don't Tell A Soul, Maybe No One Will Notice This Steaming Pile of Crap"...

    Posted by lushj on 2004-12-28 15:42:17
    My Score:

    This is one of their best... right before the fall. "Let It Be" and most of "Hootenany" also slay most other bands.

    I love "Kiss me on the bus" "Waitress in the Sky" "Bastards of Young"- maybe it's me being a (coincidentally) 34 year old who's listened to this for waaaaay too long, but I don't think there's one track of filler here.

    Just played "Waitress In The Sky" on my KALX radio show yesterday, as a matter of fact. http://kalx.berkeley.edu. or live in the SF Bay Area at 90.7FM.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 6:36 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    yeah...go get 'em sport.

    WNB
    -jd

    Posted by Cos on 2004-12-28 03:28:52
    My Score:

    This is one of those albums where you just click the title for the review and you get a screen that says "Get this album, shithead." Oh sweet jebus its good. I even like "Dose of Thunder" but I'll concede that "Lay It Down Clown" is pretty bad.

    One more thing, Kenjamin--don't sell yourself short because of your youth. You like an album. Say so. If some 34 year-old comes on here and talks shit, tell him to eat your ass. Opinions don't have an age minimum.

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 27, 2004 at 4:24 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I prefer both "Let it be" and "Pleased to meet me" before this one but Waitress in the sky and the last three songs are real good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 27, 2004 at 10:17 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    great album, but does in really need to get reviewed in 2004? all you have to say is 'buy this album emo dorks.' and maybe they will pull away from their journal or stop crying in to their pillow to buy it. it's great album, doesn't have their best song on it, however I'll hear arguements for 'Here Comes a Regular' being their best. You'll realize why when you turn 21 kiddie's.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 8:42 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    One of the greatest & most underrated bands of all time. Paul Westerberg is an amazing songwriter. "Little Mascara", "Left Of the Dial" & "Here Comes a Regular" are The Mats at their best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 1:34 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    the replacements were drunk and didnt give a fuck, they rocked harder than pansies like good charlotte and yellowcard

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 at 10:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i prefer "stink"
    -boldredletters

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    someone wants scene points

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 at 8:52 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'm having Here Comes A Regular played at my funeral. Seriously. It's in my will.

    -TOMB

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 25, 2004 at 5:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I thought they were boring when I first heard them, but then it hit me so hard. This is one of my favorite albums, probably would make my top ten. I agree that "lay it down clown" and "dose of thunder" are low points, every other song is great though. My favorite is "I'll Buy" Paul Westerberg's vocals are amazing and the hook is infectious.

    Posted by _Sexy_Pants_ on 2004-12-24 19:11:00
    My Score:

    It seems like only yesterday that I was stating how much I hate this album though. I guess I'll give it another shot one day when bored with my cd collection and too poor to buy something else. And when it's a Tuesday. And i'm wearing sandals.

    Posted by shindo on 2004-12-24 16:19:20
    My Score:

    I love this album.

    -adam

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 24, 2004 at 2:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this is the only replacements album i own. i like it.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2004-12-24 14:08:25
    My Score:

    This album took me awhile to get into, but I absolutly love it now.

    And the production is exactly the same as 'Too Tough To Die' from the Ramones. I wish Tommy would produce more albums.

    Posted by OverDefined on 2004-12-24 12:45:53
    My Score:

    Great final paragraph. It's kind of sad how everyone is now inclined to cover their asses.
    (blow jaab)

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