CD Reviews - The Replacements Edition

The Replacements
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash; Stink; Hootenanny; and Let it Be (Remastered)

I’m the first to admit that re-issues of old albums are generally nothing more than a cynical way to cash in on a record twice.

There are very few albums that sincerely deserve a re-launch and are actually worth all the extras picked out of some long-forgotten vault, dusted off and slapped onto the re-release. The Replacements first four records, however, are a major exception.

The first couple of records (“Sorry Ma…” and the “Stink” EP) show a sloppier band that is bursting with potential. They tempered a bit of the brattiness with “Hootenanny” and Paul Westerberg started to evolve a bit lyrically. With the release of “Let It Be,” boasting songs like “Unsatisfied” and “Androgynous,” the band solidified itself as one of the best American rock bands. Ever.

The bonus outtakes and demo tracks Rhino added to these records make them worth the re-release. Here’s hoping their later albums get similar treatment. One of life’s big mysteries is how a band as brilliant as The Replacements have remained the darlings of critics everywhere and served as inspirations for an entire generation of punks and garage rockers, but never really managed to garner the mainstream success that far, far weaker bands have managed to snatch.

I Hate Led Zeppelin

Confession Time. I hate Led Zeppelin. That's not true. I don't hate them, I just never bought into all the hype.

I tried. Especially in high school. I even drew the ZoSo symbols from their fourth album on the white rubber part of my black Chuck Taylors in 9th grade. I chalk it up to peer pressure.

Robert Plant has a cool voice; Agreed. Jimmy Page is a solid guitar player; No argument here. John Bonham kicked ass on the drums; No doubt. Individually they are brilliant. But put them all together and you've got a decent band, but not the defining moment in rock.

What most Zeppelin fans won't ever admit (regardless of how often these deep dark thoughts creep into their sweatly little heads) is that the idea of Led Zeppelin, the legend behind the band - everything from the wild groupie sex stories to the rumors of Satan worship - is far, far greater than the band's actually musical contribution.

I know I'm going to get challenged on this one. Name a song that you can't possible live without. Stairway to Heaven? Whole Lotta Love? Rock and Roll? I'll take a Replacement's song any day of the week.