If you’re a fan of The Replacements (and if you’re reading Pencil Storm, you probably are), then this summer has been very kind to you. No, there’s no new reunion shows announced. That ship sailed into an unceremonious, cantankerous, and jaded ending in 2015. There’s no new unexpected Paul Westerberg sightings. By all accounts he’s living a quiet life in the suburbs of Minneapolis, perfectly content to be avoiding the stage and the heavy weight of expectations and presumptions that go along with being one of the best songwriters of a generation. Nope. The band, and by most accounts Paul, are done. Hey, anything’s possible, and who knows what the future holds, but there is some pretty incredible stuff happening anyway.
Last week, Rhino Records announced the fourth Replacements box-set, a reissue their 1985 classic Tim. Regarded by many as the high-water mark for the band, and for Westerberg as a songwriter, the album is pretty much flawless. Well, when it comes to The Replacements, absolutely nothing is flawless, and Tim is no exception. Most agree, the mix sucks. Tommy (Ramone) Erdelyi reportedly mixed the album in a rush, wearing headphones, while suffering from damaged hearing. The result is a cheap-reverb, washed out, and perhaps most offensively, restrained mix of a bunch of amazing songs that deserved so much more.
So here we have Tim: Let it Bleed Edition Box Set, including a remix by Ed Stasium (Smithereens, Soul Asylum, Living Colour), who the band originally wanted to do the mix. Rhino released the new mix of “Left of the Dial,” one Westerberg’s best, and it sounds amazing. The set also includes a disc of demos and outtakes, a remaster of the original mix, and a full Chicago show from January 1986, just days before their disastrous and beautiful performance on Saturday Night Live. The extras are cool, but it’s the remix that’s got everyone chirping. I’ve been waiting for decades, and it seems too good to be true. (Like Sorry Ma…, Pleased to Meet Me, and Dead Man’s Pop we’ll do a proper review when the set is released!)
It's not all nostalgia and improving on the past in The Replacements sphere though. Original drummer-turned-accomplished painter Chris Mars dropped a surprise album called The Average Album back in July. The Average Album harkens back to his first solo albums after leaving The `mats; Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (1992) and the aptly titled 75% Less Fat (1993), though it’s a bit less rambunctious than those. Shades of The Kinks creep in and out, elements of acid rock, classic rock (Steely Dan and Jethro Tull?), and the unavoidable comparisons to his former band are present as well. It’s a fun romp and worth your entertainment dollar. (Just $5 for MP3’s and $10 for CD-quality WAVs, with a couple of bonus tracks!) To sweeten the deal, all proceeds go to benefit the Mutt Mutt Engine, Mars’ own dog rescue and rescue support charity.
Video embedding is forbidden (C’mon Chris! What gives?), but watch the awesome videos for “Punk Prog” and “We Ain’t Gonna Play” with amazing Chris Mars’ animation.
We’re not done yet, folks. Never one to be left out, Replacements/ex-Guns `N` Roses bassist Tommy Stinson has released the long-teased album Wronger with one of his side projects Cowboys in the Campfire – an acoustic guitar + Telecaster duo with his Uncle Chip (technically his ex-wife’s uncle). Wronger finds Tommy sounding as comfortable as he ever has – a bit laid back, strumming and crooning, and generally having a gas. The Cowboys, and Stinson solo, have done a whole bunch of shows, mostly in people’s living rooms or yards, or in unconventional venues, and the record captures that vibe perfectly. X’s John Doe helps with some bass and harmonies, along with a slew of other guest musicians, so it’s not just a straight duo album for the most part. My favorite song is “Mr. Wrong,” Tommy at his best taking a page out of Paul’s songbook tricks, and the ballad “Schemes,” a tender slow-steppin’ dance number that’s up there with the acoustic songs on the first Bash and Pop album. Fans of The Replacements shouldn’t sleep on this one. Tommy continues to get better and better, and each record is a bit more consistent and comfortable than the one before.
Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
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