The Replacements: Classic or Dud?

LIMITED WARRANTY was a more vital, entertaining and coherent band than The Replacements ever were. Anyone who has heard Limited Warranty will understand the magnitude of that claim.

DUD.

I'll tell you what's put me off them, though, and that's their nickname. There's something so clubby about "the 'Mats" - it's like "the Stuffies" or something. Ugh. Just typing it makes me wince.

A totally irrational reason to call anything a dud though. So I won't.

(I mean, okay, the other half was like painful orthodontic surgery without anesthesia, but that doesn't diminish the fantastic half...)

And if you never needed an anthem, you never needed rock and roll.

Three classic albums (Let it Be, Tim, Pleased to Meet Me)

Alex Chilton Color Me Impressed Hold My Life Androgynous Skyway Answering Machine Here Comes A Regular Bastards of Young (the snottiest video EVER) Talent Show Achin' to Be Can't Hardly Wait (studio and live vers. on Shit Hits The Fans) Sixteen Blue Kiss Me On The Bus Left of the Dial Anywhere is Better Than Here I'll Be You I Will Dare Unsatisfied

I really don't think The Who have that many great songs. They were, quite simply, the greatest bar band ever.

that said, "hootenanny" through "pleased to meet me". anything else (with the possible exception of "stink" and "shit hits the fans") should be burned. yeah.

And as for Tom not needing rock n' roll, well, there's only so much to be done about that.

The 'Mats, I suppose, are somewhere between the Cheers theme song done right and Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield" done angry.

Crusing at two-in-the-morning for no reason other than to stay in range of a college radio station with a bread box transmitter -- a station you found while scanning manically for a dadrock station and the cold reassureance that .38 Special brings... or used to bring. Now you've found The 'Mats and between you and morning is nothing but a stretch of road.

I have also never, ever, ever, preferred a band to a jukebox in a bar ;).

I love "Let it Be". It's just the essence of rock and roll for me, as is early Kinks or Nuggets-era 60's punk, or The Who, as are the Only Ones, as are the Buzzcocks. As are Urge Overkill! It's just something you feel, and I don't believe what I'm feeling IS a whole lot of cliched images of Americana.

"Tim" is almost there, but I really don't care for the final albums - too polished. I reckon Westerberg knew it was all up, had said all he had to say.

So, classic, despite the later albums. They deserve it despite the rubbish later albums.

I like the fact that the once set fire to Robert Christgau's hair, though. I give that cheap media stunt an A-plus.

Incidentally, the Cheers theme song done right would simply be the Cheers theme song, and "Love is a Battlefield" done angry would be "Love is a Battlefield." Not as if I like 'em or anything (though it's possible that if I ever heard Larry Levan play it at the Paradise Garage, my opinion would be different), it's just that I think there's nothing you possibly do to those songs that would make their sniveling sentiments any more palatable.

the above four bands, when grouped, are unique in that i have a hard time summing up my feelings for them, explaining just why i love each, and i almost find it besides the point to try to *speak* about them, as the music says it all to me, and if it doesn't for you, then no reason anyone on this board will give will make you fall in love similarly.

if you don't enjoy the thump of "the immigrant song" or the glee of "bye bye, pride" or the ending of "tenterhooks" or the bridge of "can't hardly wait," then i've nothing to tell you, only that my world has been all the better for them.

How does one say "I'm Lonely" to an answering machine? Easy. I've done it *lots* of times.

Incidentally, I have a problem with the kinds of sentences about pop music that go "If you don't love X, then you beyond the pale in some way or another." It's a way to pre-empt criticism, and hence, it is bad.

Note that The Kinks lost their touck on the US charts once they stopped writing songs like 'You Really Got Me'

Mark, it IS a great idea for a thread. There are many great British bands who the USA never 'got'. What about The Jam?

I've always been kind of on the fence about the Replacements. There are a couple of nice moments in their early songs, but I have always suspected the fawning praise from the indie-boy critics had more to do with their beery self-mythology than the music.

Saying that people who don't like them "don't get it" sounds a little too uncomfortably close to the rantings of an 11 year old angry at some critic for dissing Justin Timberlake. And the 11 year old has more of an excuse.

I didn't mean that people who "don't get" the Replacements lose. I meant that people who don't get Mark's post lose. You, obviously, lose. Sorry. :)

When people go on and on about Husker Du, I understand, because Bob Mould and Co. were doing some very cool stuff within the framework of accessible, understandable rock music. The Replacements don't and could never compare to that.

I gave the replacements a try, I really did -- I knew people who raved about them so I tried to give them a chance to impress me.They didn't. I have listened to all of their material up through Pleased to Meet Me. It's not bad...but on other hand, there's just nothing particularly compelling about it to give it that spark that the best pop music has. I don't hate it - I just don't love it either, so I'm still a little baffled as to how you read the phrase "on the fence" as a stand-in for "dislike".

I never "admitted to" being turned off by the beery self-mythology. I was just casting about for an explanation of why certain people might be into them to such a fanatical extent. Maybe I should have included other reasons, to make the point more clear. You know, like maybe it wasn't the beery self-mythology people liked, it was the fact that Tommy Stinson looked like a hairier version of Rob Lowe if you were squinting in a smoky club (well, it was the eighties)? Or maybe airline pilots worldwide rallied round their cause for having the courage to diss stewardesses in "Waitress in the Sky"? Maybe that's what earned them all of that "parise". I don't honestly know.

If that means I've lost something, well...as the legendary Robbie Neville once sang, "C'est La Vie". :-)

Nicole: Pardon my errant assumption, but it sure sounded like you were giving the "beery self-mythology" as your reason for not liking them since you didn't give any other reasons.

The Replacements and Soul Asylum are both from the Twin Cities and have, at alternate times, been held up as examples of how vibrant and wonderful the Twin Cities music scene is. The Goo Goo Dolls are from Buffalo and therefore irrelevant to the conversation.

I said that The Replacements and Soul Asylum represent the worst of what the Twin Cities music scene had to offer, yet both bands seem to be liked a lot and I could never understand why.

Tim (after taking a moment to slam Husker Du) asked why I didn't bring up the Goo Goo Dolls.

I stated that the Goo Goo Dolls were from Buffalo and have nothing to do with my point, which is that the Replacements and Soul Asylum are two of the worst bands to come out of the Twin Cities.

Tim has a fit.

There are a ton of jokes begging to be made here, but in light of Tom's new stance regarding abusive posts, I will refrain. So, to Tim: Since you want to bring the Goo Goo Dolls into this so desperately, I can't say that they rank among my favorite bands, either, but at least their lead singer can sing. That will excuse many things in my book. (Also, congratulations on being the first person on these boards to attempt to take a shot at me for posting with a Harvard email address.)

Anyway, by your "relevance" thinking, what does Soul Asylum have to do with the Replacements? Do you think that has more or less musical relevance than what the Goo Goo Dolls have to do with the Replacements? If "your point" was that Soul Asylum is crap, why bring it up in a Replacements thread? Just because they're both from Minneapolis? Fine (however backwards as I see it), but allow me the same freedom to bring up a band that is far more relevant to the "conversation", and the Goo Goo Dolls seem more relevant to the Mats in a musical context than Soul Asylum. And we're still talking about the MUSIC, right?

And was I REALLY "slamming" Husker Du? Do I now need to recap what I said or can we all just scroll up a bit to re-read it? (I'm going to trust that we've learned to use them by now.) I didn't rip 'em a new a-hole or anything. I don't "slam" many bands and certainly not HD. But they have neither the highs nor the longevity of the Mats.

Now, you ask, "What does Soul Asylum have to do with the Replacements?" Perhaps if you had utilized your newly-mastered skill with scroll bars, you would have noticed that I initially wrote, "They, along with Soul Asylum, represent the nadir of the Twin Cities music scene and I, for one, could never fathom why people liked them so much." Once you've mastered reading comprehension, you'll see several pieces of information in that sentence:

- I think The Replacements are horrifically overrated.
- I think Soul Asylum is horrifically overrated.
- Both bands come from the Twin Cities.
- Both bands have received critical acclaim and have been held up as representations of Twin Cities music.
- I think that there are a lot of bands from the Twin Cities who are much better than both bands. I facetiously (oops, sorry: jokingly) said Limited Warranty, but that list also includes Husker Du/Sugar/Bob Mould, Walt Mink, The Blue Up?, Tool & Die, Savage Aural Hotbed, Prince and the NPG, The Time/Morris Day/Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Psykosonik, Project X, Lies Incorporated, and Ex- Boyfriends of Pamela.

The only reason I brought up Soul Asylum was to illustrate a point about how people view the music scene in the Twin Cities. I was not equating Soul Asylum to The Replacements as far as their respective sounds are concerned. I never claimed to equate their respective sounds (beyond putting them in a general category called "Bad").

As far as "slamming" Husker Du is concerned: You just said that they had neither the highs nor the longevity of the Replacements. Considering how painfully mediocre the Replacements are, I don't see that as a very positive comment on Husker Du.

Finally, I'd like to point out that, unless there's been a major bio- engineering breakthrough while I wasn't looking, the Replacements aren't your mother and I'm somewhat puzzled as to why you're reacting so vehemently at my disdain. I'm further puzzled as to why you're obsessed with where I went to school, but I really can't do anything about other people's jealousy.

I eagerly await your nonsensical, ranting reply.

(On a different note, I actually think the Replacements should get classic status from their seminal proto-slacker attitude, which was fairly distinct at the time)

I think that their slacker attitude (as opposed to Pavement's) does not translate well outside the US. (For the reverse thread - I would suggest Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians: "The Man With the Lightbulb Head" reminds me of British comedies on PBS. They're funny, though I never feel like I'm laughing for the right reasons.) A 'beery self-mythology' would leave songs like "Androgynous" and "Little Mascara" unexplained.

I think that Paul Westerberg may have sounded 'bleaurghiriffic' (great word!!) intentionally, but I find this endearing, like the nasality of Jonathan Richman's voice.

I'll quote part of Dan Perry's answer to the tunes thread: "Certain tunes fit certain ways of singing. Certain ways of singing fit certain tunes. [...] Is it suited to the lyrics being sung? Is it suited to the voice singing it? Does the person have the vocal training to pull it off? Does the person have too much vocal training to pull it off?"

I think Paul Westerberg's way of singing fit his songs. On the other hand, listeners may have different tolerances for vocal imperfections based upon their own training.

I think the claim that the Replacements' 'conflicted conflictedness' makes their songs illegitimate is not the same as saying ska-punk is bad because it rips off other musical genres. Experience may be genuinely secondhand. I think it's a suburban thing.

So I would say CLASSIC, but not for reasons of technical virtuosity or being really innovative or anything like that.

I hope I haven't destroyed the fun of this thread.

Dan, if I knew where you were, I'd buy you a beer too cause you definitely need to lighten up a little.

etc., etc., etc.

That's one of few punk albums I like. It's just so dang good.

"Mature" Replacements just don't ring my bell. They're just songs, y'know? Not bad, not especially good. Just songs, and who needs more of those.

I'd watch it.

They should make this like the documentary, with everything told second or third hand, descriptions of what the band has been up to off screen. Just people cleaning up after their messes. Instead I assume it will be like the Motley Crue pic.

jeremy allen white as westerberg and jeremy strong as peter jesperson, obviously.

i'd be more likely to watch this if they stayed true to the Mats spirit and didn't take any of the casting, story, etc. seriously.

I'm under the impression that they have optioned Bob Mehr's absolutely sublime work Trouble Boys as the source, which is infinitely more tragedy than comedy, and perhaps triples as a study of self-sabotaging, substance-driven sociopathy within the indie-rock scene.

And I'm sure they will discard that stuff immediately and stick to the dead fish in ice machines and eyebrow shaving.

I can’t think of a single biopic I’ve ever liked. The new one with Mr Bear playing Springsteen looks hilariously horrible. I guess I’m just not interested in seeing the Hollywood version which might as well be the Lifetime version of these stories as portrayed by millionaires and signed off on by corporate film executives. Watched three minutes of the Dylan one and was like cool, you spent several years of your life training for this and you aren’t even doing as good of a job as most local tribute bands but let’s put a multimillion dollar paycheck in your pocket for the attempt.

The young actor-filmmaker Finn Wolfhard will be co-writing the screenplay of the upcoming film with his father Eric Wolfhard.

Dad Rock

I will say that Wolfhard's love for this era of indie-rock seems entirely genuine and deep-seated. His recent appearance on Amoeba's What's In My Bag was a litany of great records. Alien Lanes!!

every kid from Stranger Things should be in their own alternative rock biopic. so far we've got Pavement and The Replacements.

Obv Noah Schnapp needs to play Jonny Greenwood

Christian slater as a young paul westerberg

I'm under the impression that they have optioned Bob Mehr's absolutely sublime work Trouble Boys as the source, which is infinitely more tragedy than comedy, and perhaps triples as a study of self-sabotaging, substance-driven sociopathy

"the replacements: deliver us to nowhere"

I was just reading an essay about a Tarantino movie (not the point) that ended with this anecdote:

A few years ago, in a “State of the Cinema” address at the San Francisco Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh, with mordant facetiousness, advised young filmmakers, when seeking financing, to “in the process of telling [your] story, , stop yourself in the middle of a sentence and act like you’re having an epiphany, and say: “You know what, at the end of this day, this is a movie about hope.’”

lol rock biopics, there’s zero chance of this not sucking

what song title are they going to name the film after

will the soundtrack be wolfhard and his mates covering replacements songs?

and other fascinating questions

Christian slater as a young paul westerberg

what song title are they going to name the film after

They should call it Alex Chilton

Mark Eydelshteyn (from Anora) as the young Westerberg, if you don't mind making him Russian

https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MARK-EYDELSHTEYN.jpg

The Replacements: Hi We’re the The Replacements

The Impediments*

I can’t think of a single biopic I’ve ever liked. The new one with Mr Bear playing Springsteen looks hilariously horrible. I guess I’m just not interested in seeing the Hollywood version which might as well be the Lifetime version of these stories as portrayed by millionaires and signed off on by corporate film executives. Watched three minutes of the Dylan one and was like cool, you spent several years of your life training for this and you aren’t even doing as good of a job as most local tribute bands but let’s put a multimillion dollar paycheck in your pocket for the attempt.

― Slim is an Alien, Thursday, October 2, 2025 12:18 PM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

+1 every word of this

GARY’S GOT A BONER: The Story Of A Band, The Replacements (Replacements Being The Name Of The Band)

hey everybody wolf finnhard really likes the band the replacements

i would much rather watch a hard knocks style portrait of those Greta Van Fleet fools

^^^^^

I hope they do more of these type of movies just so they can build a universe and have them crossover. Wouldn't you want to see a Justice League of Rock Stars with Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and the Replacements fighting Colonel Parker?

The Wilbury Cinematic Universe

Post-credit scene in the Dylan movie where he awkwardly introduces Alicia Keys spin-off

Totally looking forward to the spin-offs:

Fear the Replacements
The Replacements: Beer City
The Replacements: The Ones Who Paint

i want a revisionist history version where my letter to SPIN comes true:
lovable drunken fuckup Bob Stinson really does come to live with me in my parents' house, sharing the attic space with me (a teenage girl) and reevaluating how he has lived his life and gaining valuable new perspective on his choices

OMG

love it

Should be about that 90s Arizona band The Refreshments

It's too bad Michael Snow is no longer with us. He would've made a film worthy of the Tim videos.

scenes:
* me and Bob goofin around in the Cuyahoga Valley, ideally during spring or fall
* me and Bob bickering about how to decorate the attic (specifically window treatments)
* Bob teaching me some basic drum patterns and us jamming dorkily in the garage, collapsing into laughter
* me and Bob sharing a chaste and wholesome hug as he decides that he is moving on after his retreat at my parents' house
* Bob lives

* me and Bob playing dress up

* you and Bob making pancakes

i put a smiley face on his and he rolls his eyes (before gobbling it with his hands), we lol

tell me this wouldn't be more amusing than a biopic of a book that everyone who wanted to read has already read

I would've written slashfic about Tommy, but it's the kind where we hook up, have an awesome time, and the next day he calls me a fag in front of all his friends.

LL I would 100% watch your movie and also contribute to its Kickstarter.

xpost Tommy Gets His Tonsils (Blown) Out

Alfred's Got a Boner

All this talk makes me want a biopic of Pollard

Danny McBride and Walton Goggins as Bob and Tobin.

lol

Leaving aside the lameness of some of the company here — and the center squish of Spanberger — this is still a good show by Tommy.

https://i.imgur.com/acMCXpf.png

Wow. Didn't know Klobuchar was in Manassas.

Has anyone listened yet?

Didn’t buy Let it Be box set and not seeing it in streaming yet

Oops it is on streaming

I bought it, but tracking only says a label was made so I guess Electric Fetus still needs to drop it off at the post office. (I ordered from them because they had that exclusive free live CD as a bonus.)