Taking Sides: Robyn Hitchcock vs. Paul Westerberg

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Neither currently releases material as great as they once did, but neither is currently scraping the bottom of the barrel for good songs, either. Whose solo work do you prefer? Which albums, in particular?

― paul, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Although I was a much bigger fan of the 'Mats than I was the Soft Boys, I tend to go with Robyn Hitchcock. Just because of the sheer volume of releases? Maybe. But Hitchcock seems to experiment more often than not, whereas Westerberg still writes songs using the same formula he developed back around Don't Tell a Soul.

Favorite Hitchcock LP: Invisible Hitchcock

― paul, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh Hitchcock without a doubt. The Replacements were brilliant for a span of albums then lost the plot, and Westerberg's solo trajectory has followed the same rather dull path ever since. Hitchcock, meanwhile, is constantly at work on something.

Fave Hitchcock albums: I OFTEN DREAM OF TRAINS, ELEMENT OF LIGHT and INVISIBLE HITCHCOCK.

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eh? robyn not releasing material as great as he once did? well as i reckon most of the egyptians were pish, and "moss elixir" was almost entirely as wonderful as "i often dream of trains" that scuppers your argument for a start. "jewels for sophia" was lumpy, but "a star for bram" showed promise. i look forward to buying the bob dylan covers album soon...

― chris browning, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Question for Robyn Hitchcock fanatics: I remember when MTV would play the video for "Madonna of the Wasps", the song has a small intro. However, on the Queen Elvis album, it is no longer there. Where can one get the version with the intro?

― Joe, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I had a hunch that the version your saw in the video might have been the version on the single, but alas...I was wrong. Sorry.

― paul, Friday, 10 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hitchcock's written more good songs than Westerberg, but Westerberg's written more great songs than Hitchcock. Still, at this point I'd be very surprised if Westerberg wrote another great song and somewhat surprised if Hitchcock didn't write another good one.

― J Blount, Friday, 10 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

I would have to say Robyn, but it's a close one. and my answer is based on music that is really really old. (for both of them)

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 22 February 2004 05:46 (twenty-two years ago)

and i do adore everything up to pleased to meet me. don't get me wrong.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 22 February 2004 05:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"If You Were A Priest" alone beats Westerberg's complete catalog for me.

― anode (anode), Sunday, 22 February 2004 05:53 (twenty-two years ago)

part of it for me is that tim and let it be just don't hit me like they used to. whereas, bones in the ground and winter love STILL kill me. i will dare stil kills, but....and that's not even getting into the soft boys, you know?

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 22 February 2004 06:05 (twenty-two years ago)

i love love love the replacements, but westerberg's entire solo catalog isn't as good as the cd bonus tracks on "i often dream of trains."

then again, hitchcock went solo way, way earlier in his career than westerberg did, so it's not really a fair comparison.

then then again, the last time i saw hitchcock he came across like a singer/songwriter who still had a lot left to play and to say, whereas the last time i saw westerberg he came across like a nostalgia act. an endearing nostalgia act, but a nostalgia act nonetheless.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Sunday, 22 February 2004 06:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Taking Sides, Elvis vs. John Lennon. Yeah, sure Westerberg was great and lost his touch, but Hitchcock has never written a "Can't Hardly Wait but is consistent. There is no "side" to be taken here.

― Speedy Gonzalas (Speedy Gonzalas), Sunday, 22 February 2004 09:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been appreciating Hitchcock more and more lately but it's still Westerberg by a mile. Wait, two miles.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 22 February 2004 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.