Musicheads ask: What's your favorite Replacements song, and why? We also talk about recent Minnesota music.

Favorite 'Mats tune is..... Bastards of Young..... cause I understand exactly what they are saying and coming from on it....

Nice choice Eric P. Thanks for checking in. It's always fun talkin 'bout the Replacements.

There are so many I don't know where to start. I guess to pick one I will say "Fuck my School" from Sorry Ma Forgot to take out the Trash, June 24, 1982. 3 chords or so 40 words, 1 minute 26 seconds of the Minneapolis Punk Rock sound that has become world famous. The Birth of a Dream or a Vision. The real honest thought, a pure thought. I love that song. Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum is also on that record. Before the Song "Kids don't Follow", Audio of the Mpls Police breaking up a Replacements Gig, If you listen close you can hear an audience member curse off the Cops. The Audience member is none other than Dave Pirner, of Soul Asylum.

One of my favorite stories from High School. I went to SouthWest Minneapolis High School. Graduated in 1984. Any way Dave Pirner's Sister went there, and Tommy Stinson was in 8th grade there when I was in 10th. West and Southwest merged in 82. I sort of knew them. I knew who they were, and what bands they were in. said Hi in the halls etc.. any way. One day at lunch, in 1983, someone played Fuck School, on the Luchroom sound system. It was customary for students to bring records from home for the listening pleasure of every one in the Lunchroom. The audio quality of the record player was so poor that the teachers did not understand the words. all 2 minutes played, and all the Students knew what it was and who it was. It was a great laugh. I still think of Little Tommy Stinson every time I hear Guns n Roses. He is the Bassist for The new Guns and Roses. I saw him at the Triple Rock a few years ago, and said Hi. I hope the Replacements get back together. Paul Westerberg is like a 3 legged dog without the rest of the band.

It's hard to pick one, but "Little Mascara" is probably the under-appreciated gem among the entire catalog. I like how Westerberg can take the act of crying and describe it simply as "losing a little mascara." And while the song is busy rocking away, Paul is singing about some pretty weighty emotions that I think many people can connect with.

I have to respectfully disagree with Tim M. about the Replacements needing to get back together. I tend to view such reunions as nostalgia trips trying to recapture a mood or spirit that would be impossible to replicate. Besides, Bob Stinson is dead and Chris Mars has no desire to play drums again. Anybody they hire to fill their shoes would not be suitable, ummm, replacements. Instead of hoping for a reunion, I would rather keep my eyes open for the "next" Replacements...maybe not a band that re-creates the sound, but at least recreates the same energy and spirit. I just hope I'm intelligent enough to discover that band before they too break up!

Yep. I Agree, a nostalgia act is not great. point taken. I just was rambling a bit. It brought back some good memories. Cloud Cult packed full the first Ave main room a few weeks ago. I want to hear a new band that really Rocks. I know it's only Rock and Roll but I like it.

I LOVE that STINK EP too. That indeed is Dave Pirner yelling out an expletive at the front of, "Kids Don't Follow." I always dug the anthem-like qualities and the early flash of brilliance Mr. Westerberg showed on the song, "Go," which is also on that EP.

Mark J, I agree you. Little Mascara is an underappreciated gem. I also mostly agree with you regarding a possible reunion. They usually don't measure up. Though I have seen some pretty GREAT ones. The Suburbs earl 90's reunion for several nights at 1st Avenue was awsome, as was a Buzzcocks reunion show several years back. But, both of those reunions featured the origonal line-ups.

Frick, "If Only You Were Lonely" is a runner-up for me as well. Fond tipsy memories of hearing that on the CC Club jukebox!

other Minnesota musicians I like
Jon Vezner, who's written, among other things, Grammy winning song Where've You Been,
and Sally Barris, who's written, among other things, Reluctant Daughter, hit for Martina McBride

Yep. I was at one of those 1994 Suburbs reunion shows at First Avenue. They rocked as hard if not harder than when I saw them in Loring Park in 1982. A Replacements Reunion could be very cool. I bought the CD, Don't you know who I think I was? , Best of The Replacements, 2006. It has 2 songs recorded in 2006 by the Full Reunited
Replacements, Message to the Boys, and Pool & Dive. They Sound Great in the Studio, They could do it. I wonder if they would play First Ave, or Roy Wilkins?

"Androgynous" is my favorite. I love the bar room sounding piano. And- it's fun to sing along with.

Great, great show this week!!

Can any city in the nation claim such awesome releases, all at once?!?!?
Props to Chris Roberts for his show on Sunday too, doing justice to the history of this scene. The music is the reason I came here in '92. I was already a huge Replacements fan and "Achin' To Be" will always rank as a special fave amoung many. It seems to suggest an understanding of the 'pain of artistic expression' like no other song I can pinpoint.

I agree about the possible reunion, although I'm not sure why Slim Dunlap is never mentioned in relation to that? There's a long and interesting article in this months Spin talking to both Paul and Tommy about that very issue.

Being originally from Memphis, one of my favorites would have to be "Alex Chilton".

Some of my favorite Minnesota Musicians:
Dean Magraw (our best guitarist imo)
Between Two Skies (verrry much looking fwd to their debut album!)
Greg Herriges
Nomia
Bubblemath
Run at the Dog/Jenny Case/A Series of Clips and Beeps
A Whisper in the Noise
Zebulon Pike
Epicurean
Jenny Dalton
Della Anne Gleason
B!
Cloud Cult
Cue the Doves (RIP)
Courtney Yasmineh
Peter Himmelman

"I Will Dare." But the first one I ever heard was "Alex Chilton," when I was 13. So that one has a special place in my heart.

Nice choice Jacquie M! That might be the first song by the Replacements that actually made you wanna dance!

Like yours as well, A Guy. If it wasn't for the Replacements I still probably would'nt have heard of Alex Chilton or his old band Big Star.

Thanks for the props Mark. We are blessed to part of such a vibrant music community!

If you want to check out a new local band that has some of the same raucous energy as the 'Mat's, I'd recommend Cortez the Killer. Good stuff.

"Unsatisfied". Not even close.

I Got the May, 2008 Spin Magazine, for the Replacements Article at Borders in Ridgdale. While I was there I got an Outside mag, and a Relix. Thanks for the info Mark.

I know that Metal and Hardcore Punk isn't a big thing with the Current crowd... but I have to give a shout out to Impaler and Ripsnorter if not great acts they have at least kept on playing and putting solid shows..

Two songs rank as my favorites from the Replacements. Answering Machine - who can resist the anguished "how do I say I love you to an answering machine? how do I say I miss you to an answering machine?" and the very Placemats "I hate your answering machine!"

And what about Unsatisfied? "Look me in the eyes and tell me that I'm satisfied?" Is there any one song line that better that vague feeling of teenage frustration?

I have to concur with Jacquie M. Not only is "I Will Dare" my favorite 'mats song it's one one of my favorite songs of all time! And yeah! I remember going to house parties in the mid eighties and dancing my ass when the dj would throw this one on - hell, I still dance my ass off whenever I hear it. I love that the New Standards chose to cover it.

After watching the film "7 Nights in the Entry" I fell in love with the Replacements performance of "God Damn Job." Filmed live at the 7th Street Entry in 1981, it is a quintessential rock and roll moment. They are all so young and full of energy (Tommy Stinson was 14 at the time). You can see Paul Westerberg finding his voice as he unleashes the song's simple, primal message. Bob Stinson's guitar playing is inspired. And the whole tune is over in less than 90 seconds. Check it out: http://www.twintone.com/video/mats/

ok. i know im gonna get sacked here but im just not down with the replacements. I dont get the hype. BUT in my defense, im not from MN. i just had to go on the record with this. that being said, im ready to face the backlash

Can't Hardly Wait.

Just for the line,

"I'll be sad in heaven, if I can't find a hole in the gate."

first a thank you to Jim Bickal for posting the video location - I've never seen it. The Mats were on my 'favorite bands I missed list'. Actually they and especially PW is probably my single biggest influence musically, and somewhat personally. (Like them, I dropped out of high school.) I just spent 45 minutes watching video and reading Westerburg history instead of figure what my favorite song is. So much from Tim of course, I would cite Bastards and Unsatisfied, as above, but that makes me realise I have to mention 16 Blue. When I was writing songs, I think that was what I was wanting to write. I feel sad and nostalgic and gleeful right now. Again, the nail gets hit as I read the tag line for paulwesterburg.net : 'A bad idea whose time has come.'

This is probably WAYY to late to post a comment but Little Mascara is in my top ten, Favorite Thing is my fav, Androgynous is amazing, Skyway, ... (Tim Version) is my all time fav, Achin' To Be, Skyway, I'll Be You, Customer, Seen Your Video, Kiss Me On The Bus, Waitress in The Sky, Color Me Impressed, Another Girl Another Planet, Cruella DeVille, Date To Church, Like a Rolling Pin, gosh there are SO many!!!! what a F****** great band. RIP BOB STINSON!!!

Achin to be
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