Tuesday, June 13, 2006

I Don't Know Who They Think They Were

Rock 'n' roll purists may scoff, but I love greatest-hits packages, especially when they're done up right. Such is the case with Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? The Best of the Replacements, which I picked up upon its release this morning at Sonic Boom.

The disc's 20 kickass tunes are neatly presented in chronological order, spanning the group's entire recording history (1981-1990), drawing at least one track each from their seven albums and lone EP (released on both indie and major labels), and including previously unreleased tracks (in this case, "Message to the Boys" and "Pool & Dive," two new songs recorded by reunited original members Paul, Tommy, and Chris). Of course, this being a hits compilation, the liner notes contain a gushing, superlative-filled essay -- here Bill Holdship claims, "No rock band has ever released a trilogy of albums any greater than the one the Replacements released between 1984 and 1987"... Really?

Regardless, as the Replacements are one of my favorite bands, I already own 18 of these 20 songs. The new tunes are solid, upbeat rockers that hearken back to their glory days (though the guitar hook in "Pool & Dive" brings to mind the Seekers' "Georgy Girl"). However, DYKWITIW?TBOTR is somewhat redundant with the 1997 anthology All for Nothing/Nothing for All, and will also likely be redundant with a rumored box set, a collection of more rare 'n' unreleased Replacements that Rhino will supposedly, um, "drop" next year.

In the meantime, enjoy the Replacements' phoned-in video for "Alex Chilton," my favorite song from my favorite album ever of all-time ever, 1987's Pleased To Meet Me...



BWT, I've never been able to simply call them the "Mats" (as many fans do), like I can't bring myself to call my alma mater the "U-Dub." I just can't.

1 Comments:

At 9:11 PM, June 21, 2006 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

>>>Of course, this being a hits compilation, the liner notes contain a gushing, superlative-filled essay -- here Bill Holdship claims, "No rock band has ever released a trilogy of albums any greater than the one the Replacements released between 1984 and 1987"... Really?

Sorry you didn't like my notes, Steve. But since I think the 'Mats (they call themselves that, so I have no problem with it) were THE last great organic American rock 'n' roll band, I can't think of a band more deserving of superlatives or "gushing."


Actually, if you read the first part of my notes -- regarding the early years -- they are far from "gushing."

And I stand by that comment. There were other bands that released trilogies just as good (the Beatles, the Stones...even the Monkees, obviously) -- but I'm saying that no band ever released a trilogy that was any better. Can you name one? I'm all eyes. Like I said, I stand by the statement.

BTW: I enjoyed your entries in Kim's "Bubblegum" book.

Sincerely,

Bill Holdship
Los Angeles

P.S. Maybe you'll like my notes for the upcoming "Pleased To Meet Me" and "Don't Tell A Soul" reissues better. BTW: I don't think there is any boxset planned at the moment, although that hasn't stopped the press from reporting it.

 

Post a Comment

Links to this post:

Create a Link

<< Home