137 - The Replacements - Tim
I've had respect for The Replacements since college, but I've never been all that hooked on their songs. That has changed some after listening to Tim. When I listened to Let It Be, I heard a ragged band which just seemed to be having fun. That group of rowdy guys are still on this album, but there is more diversity in song styles on here. My first impression after my first listen was that the bar cover band got drunk after their set and started making up shit...and that shit ended up actually being really listenable and enjoyable. There are folk songs, ballads, rockabilly-like stompers, and what could be said are 80's college rock templates copied many times over. While they covered KISS's “Black Diamond” elsewhere, “Dose of Thunder” could have easily have been by most any other hard rock band.
Part of the charm also is on the somewhat low-fi production. It doesn't sound like Paul was isolated in a booth when he sang the songs. And, if he was, they mixed his vocals into of the instruments instead of on top. It is like the best live club recording ever, but lackluster by studio standards.
Songs I Knew I Liked: I thought I knew “Left of the Dial” but it didn't sound familiar once I heard it.
Songs I Now Like: “Hold My Life”, “Kiss Me On the Bus”, “Swingin Party”, “Bastards of Young”, “Left of the Dial” and...well, “Lay It Down” kinda grew on me with its honky tonk sloppiness.
Songs I Don't Want to Ever Hear Again: None