These two CDs are (or at least sound like they were) recorded in Westerberg’s basement, on the fly, whenever the mood struck him and with whatever and whoever was handy. Big-name producers? Expensive studios? Session musicians? Forget it, pal. No, what Westerberg has done is stopped trying to please anybody but himself. Not on music, mind you some of these songs are the finest work he’s done in years. And that’s what Westerberg has done on Stereo / Mono, his new double album. Even 1998’s Suicaine Gratifaction, recorded with hitmaker producer Don Was, couldn’t attract the wider audience his material deserves.Īfter being kicked that many times, even a dog would give up. Over the past decade, Westerberg has put out three superb, endlessly acclaimed solo albums full of gritty garage-rock and wry confessional balladry - each of which has sunk with nary a commercial ripple. But did it make him a household name? No he just got to sit and watch as his band dissolved in acrimony while imposters like The Goo Goo Dolls hijacked their sound and rode it to the top of the charts. ![]() ![]() Back in the ’80s, he practically invented grunge and alt-rock as the leader of hard-drinking punks The Replacements. You can hardly blame Paul Westerberg for being bummed.Īfter all, he hasn’t exactly had the greatest of luck career-wise. ![]() ![]() Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing): This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it.
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