Paul Westerberg

Anyone heard the new 6-song EP? I haven't but am very curious. (Not curious enough however to enter the download-only arena I have steadfastly avoided). Mats?

And by the way, what are these 3oclockreep and DGT records I now read about on WIkipedia? Man, am I out of the loop. Dont even hear about "releases" from my heroes anymore.

Great job. I knew nothing about these. Amazon has the DGT single. 3 songs for like 79 cents. 2 covers and the song DGT. The 6song is PW & The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys. It is 3.89 for mp3s and 6.78 for disc. I'm listening to PW now.

[www.amazon.com]

These are all in "Mono" mode. Garage rockers and ramshackle ballads.

This made my night after a really bad day.

Still haven't heard the new 6 song EP ..........but seems to be getting some love from other members of the Westy cult.

49:00 was one of the best releases of its year - so I'm anxious to listen. I also dug the single song he released as download only "Bored of Edukation" - not sure if that one is still available.

I think his back to the basement phase has produced some great music.........and some stuff that is just noodling. But he obviously feels he's better when he doesn't edit himself and just let's his muse take him where it will.


These new ones are fully formed songs right (?) - he's not doing that cross-fade thing / snippets of songs thing he did on 49:00 (because that can become a frustrating listen when a song you're digging just cuts out).

Edit : Bored of Edukation is still available - 99 cents on Amazon. Good song......

[www.amazon.com]



Post Edited (09-24-09 05:49)

The six song ep and dgt are all fully formed songs. Streets of Laredo and Away in A Manger (done Chuck Berry style) are both just tossed off.

I really think both eps are a must own for fans. PW & The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys is the real deal. The songs vary in production level but there is some quality sh*t here imo. for $4 it is a no brainer for even marginal fans.



Post Edited (09-24-09 06:17)

I gave up on Paul after his third solo album. Everyone's told me he has some great stuff now, but I haven't tried any since then. Any suggestions? Someone said his cartoon soundtrack for Open Season was pretty fun.

For me his best since he gave up trying to be Mr. Maturity is "Come feel Me Tremble" (satch strongly disagrees).

I'd divide them like this :

Great /Very Good :

Come Feel Me Tremble
49:00 - (download only - no longer "legally" available)
Mono


Decent/Good :

Stereo (which includes Mono in the package as separate disc)

Average or Less:

Folker (satch i think digs this one)
Open Season


D.G.T and "Bored of Edukation" single - both download only, both cool.

Dead Man Shake - Depends how drunk you are.....if the answer is very, it's kind of fun.

blah blah blah,
everytime the REPLACEMENTS r on, i try to convince kathleen, still my girl and tp/utensil fan club prez, that anyone can write asong like that.

pee. S.

if i were a real interviewer..

Q: for paul this thyme,
Do you still find all that cold weather in MINNESOTA agreeable?

Blasmo, his better stuff is after his first three. I am an Open Season lover. I put it with Mono and Come Feel Me Tremble as his best stuff.

I guess if I had to put all his solo output into order (from most to least essential/enjoyable), it would look like this:

13 Songs
Mono
Come Feel Me Tremble
Stereo
Eventually
Folker
Open Season
49:00
Dead Man Shake
Suicaine Gratification

I must not be a member of the Westy cult because objectively I feel none of these are truly "great" albums, though I treasure them. Only the first 2 or 3 of these would I consider "Very Good". Open Season probably deserves higher ranking on the list, but it IS a soundtrack to a goofy animated kids movie and has song titles like "The Right To Arm Bears". Actually if you took the combined collection of b-sides, soundtrack songs, rarities, etc, and made a record, that would be pretty high on the list also.

Westerberg is a hero of mine from Replacements days, and I feel like I am somehow tracking his life when I buy his albums. How many of these albums would we all listen to if they were by a guy with a different name? I dont know.

Overall, the back-to-the-basement approach is certainly preferrable to the emote-all-over-your-ears-with-piano approach a la Suicaine Gratification, but I am kind of disappointed that this has become his only working mode. A crackling band with a disciplined and committed PW in front and a batch of well written songs would be a beautiful thing. Might never happen again.



Post Edited (09-25-09 14:28)