May Musings

Pleased to Meet Me – Probably the most discussed Replacements records among fans because there is considerable disagreement among fans and critics regarding what the record means. Is it the third leg in a historic trilogy of great records? Is it the beginning of the end for great band? Or is it a stilted piece of attempted commercial crap. I lean toward a combination of the first two. Hearing the record now, in a vacuum and ignoring the history, it sounds great, but it IS a step down from Let It Be and Tim. Those records both get 5 stars. Pleased to Meet me is not a 5 star record, but it seemed to sound even better now than the last time I picked it up. 4.5

Rush – Never really got Rush. Never offended me and the stuff like Tom Sawyer that you’d hear on the radio was pretty good. This, to me, just never goes anywhere. A couple of the songs seem to have the potential to turn into Rush epics, but they just stop without stretching it out. It does get better toward the end of the album, though. 2.5

Rancid – Best punk album recorded after the golden era. 5 or 6 bonafide classics and they all run together during the middle part of the album. They could have edited out a few songs and actually made the whole better, but this is just great hook laden punk. 4.5

Get Up Kids - Didn’t listen enough to get a real sense of it. Somewhat one dimensional first time out, but it deserves more of a chance and I’ll get to it in the next month and report back

Nine Inch Nails – It’s a shame that all of their guitars and drums got stolen halfway through the album. This would have been far superior with those two instruments. Unless that IS guitar making that weird electronic sound that the last three quarters of the album is built on. What ever it is, it is too bad because there are a number of really good musical ideas and beats here. Much more enjoyable than I thought it would be although it reaches a ridiculous level with the 9th or 10th song, which has so much electronic bullshit that it sounds like a parody song of themselves. And I’m not so sure he’s as smart as he thinks he is, but this was a surprising 3.5 for me.

Topic

Three that matter 25 years later - other than Neil - that's just a given.

Buzzcocks – Although their recorded output is not as strong as the glory days, it is serviceable punkish pop and live they still sound as good as ever and you’re reminded just how much better they were than nearly every band from that era except the Ramones and Clash.

Stones – When I saw them 2 summers ago, I approached the show with dread, thinking that there was no way they wouldn’t disappoint. Instead of being disappointed, there were times that I was actually thrilled. And their last record was better than just about anything they had released in the last 20 years.

Paul Westerberg – He’s the leader of one of the greatest 5 bands ever and he really hasn’t compromised much musically, only behaviorally, which he had to do if he wanted to live. Not all of his solo stuff clicks, but he takes chances and as evidenced by the two new tracks released last year, he still can write great rock and roll tunes. Sadly, a pretty bad accident with his hand has put the hopes of a reunion tour on hold, but we hold out hope.

Three who need to GET OUT NOW

Stones – They still matter because they can still rock and great songs are great songs, but age will do them in before they realize it has.

Rod Stewart – I guess technically, he has retired from singing rock and roll, but I really wish he would go away, because the sight and sound of him singing standards makes me cringe.

Allmans – Already jumped the shark for me and they merely sound and look like an Allman Brothers cover band without Dickie Betts in the band, but they refuse to quit touring. I used to love seeing them and now it bums me out every time I hear they are touring.