Open Wide

Gonna see Tommy tonite, and that's cool.

The Replacements - Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
Bash & Pop - Never Aim To Please

Close Your Eyes

An offer that you might refuse? This new box set aims for a re-discovery of the Mats' much maligned Don't Tell A Soul album, which loses its eighties pop sound a bit in a new mix by original producer Matt Wallace. Interesting to say the least. As a bonus, you get a not that stellar earlier session with Tony Berg at the helm, and a blistering Milwaukee live gig. Hop a ride why don't you.

Replacements - Talent Show (Matt Wallace mix)

Boy Looked At Johnny

Presenting the third and final part of our Johnny saga. Sensual six pack artwork again by Tinca. "Just trying to tell a vision..."

Television - Little Johnny Jewel

Mission Of Burma - The Ballad of Johnny Burma
The Replacements - Johnny's Gonna Die

Nikki Sudden - Johnny Smiled Slowly

Die Haut - Johnny Guitar
Liz Phair - Johnny Sunshine

Out There Somewhere

"And why do you tell me not to go there, would you jump into defences if I do?" Presenting an oblivious six pack for your listening pleasure. Sad sad art by Tinca.

Benny Joy - Nowhere
The Only Ones - Miles From Nowhere
Shoes - Nowhere So Fast
The Replacements - Nowhere Is My Home
The Aints - It's Still Nowhere
Bettie Serveert - This Thing Nowhere

They Shine

I do realize that christmas is just a kiss away and 2017 just around the corner and yes you just can't wait to see the famous FTSOTS end of year list... But please be patient, folks. Come snow or come shine, let's observe some other faves first.

This years must-reads:

Josh Rosenthal - The Record Store Of The Mind

Bob Mehr - Trouble Boys: The True Story Of The Replacements

This year's blazing (re-) issues:

Bonnie Prince Billy - Pond Scum
Bonnie Prince Billy - When Thy Song Flows Through Me

Tim Buckley - Lady, Give Me Your Key
Tim Buckley - Marigold
Terry Allen - Juarez
Terry Allen - Dogwood

Bunny Wailer - Solomonic Singles 1: Tread Along 1969-1976
The Wailers - Arabs Oil Weapon
Jack Rose - Opium Musick
Jack Rose - Linden Ave Stomp
various artists - Cosmic American Music

Jeff Cowell - Not Down This Low

All Around Me

Deeply immersed in the alcohol-fuelled antics of the Replacements at the moment, by way of a new biography by Bob Mehr. Up until now, Trouble Boys proves well-researched, well-written and just plain fun. That apt title comes from a Dave Edmunds cover the Mats played a lot in their formative stages by the way. Here it comes.

Dave Edmunds - Trouble Boys

And since I'm guessing you'd like to hear some Mats, too, do enjoy this cool outtake from Pleased To Meet Me.

The Replacements - Cool Water

Champions Only

All together now: "Mama's baby boy is a bum..."

The Replacements - Beer For Breakfast

Wild Weekend Vol. 13

Welcome to Wild Weekend, edition thirteen. Just happens to be my lucky number, amigos. Haven´t got it tattoed on my back yet though. Let´s see what the magic shuffle function of the iPod has in store for us this time.

We´ll begin with a very recent song. Sweet Apple is a new side project of J. ´Dinosaur Jr´ Mascis, helped by some guys from Cobra Verde. And as I´ve Got A Feeling (That Won´t Change) clearly shows, these guys just plain rock. Ever seen the sleazy album cover of Roxy Music´s Country Life? If so, the sleeve of Sweet Apple´s Love & Desperation might just ring a bell... Johnny Daye, a white protege of the great Otis Redding, was one of the relatively unknowns in the Stax stable, but his gritty brand of soul still goes down a treat. That trademark guitar comes courtesy of the one and only Steve Cropper, who also co-wrote the song.

Sweet Apple - I´ve Got A Feeling (That Won´t Change) MP3

Johnny Daye - What´ll I Do For Satisfaction MP3

When it comes to the Replacements, everybody always names Let It Be as their fave album. I can see their point, but I personally rate successor Tim (´85) at least just as high. Maybe a lot more people would, if only the sleeve it came in wasn´t so pig ugly. Can anyone name a truly great record with artwork that´s even more horrible? While you´re racking your brains, we´ll be visiting Portugal, for a beautiful fado track about a foundling that one Maria Teresa De Noronha recorded in 1961. What a voice. I can listen to this Portuguese brand of blues for hours, getting sadder by the minute.

The Replacements - Little Mascara MP3

Maria Teresa De Noronha - Rosa Enjeitada MP3

It´s been a little quiet on the Kramer front lately, and that´s a shame. Mark Kramer played in such interesting bands as B.A.L.L., Bongwater and Shockabilly in the eighties, produced tons of bands including the complete Galaxie 500 oeuvre, and ran the influential Shimmy Disc label. The Lennonesque Nine Minus Seven Is Two shows the man is skilled in math, too. And we´ll call it quits with some fine outlaw country by way of ole Waylon, from Honky Tonk Heroes. Cool lyrics by the great Billy Joe Shaver, who penned nearly all the songs on this legendary ´73 album. "If I'd never felt the sunshine, hell I wouldn´t curse the rain, if I hadn't been railroaded, well I guess I'd been a train..."

Kramer - Nine Minus Seven Is Two MP3

Waylon Jennings - Ain´t No God In Mexico MP3

Married Man´s A Fool

"Ever since you walked right in, the circle's been complete,

I've said goodbye to haunted rooms and faces in the street,
To the courtyard of the jester which is hidden from the sun,
I love you more than ever and I haven't yet begun..."

Thanks for that, Bob, could not have said it any better myself. As it happens to be my - umpteenth - wedding anniversary today, here´s a tenpack of songs about that weird phenomenon called marriage. Married man may be a fool, Ry, and granted Tom, I do indeed have to ask permission when I want to go out fishin´, but that´s cool with me.

"And I could never let you go, no matter what goes on,

'Cause I love you more than ever now that the past is gone..."

Ry Cooder - Married Man´s A Fool MP3

Bob Dylan - Wedding Song MP3

Tom Waits - Better Off Without A Wife MP3

George Jones & Tammy Wynette - Golden Ring MP3

David Bowie - Be My Wife MP3

Blind Willie Reynolds - Married Man Blues MP3

Freda Payne - Band Of Gold MP3

Jimi Hendrix Experience - 51st Anniversary MP3

Replacements - You´re Getting Married MP3

Moby Grape - Gypsy Wedding MP3

On The Bus

"If you knew how I felt now,
You wouldn't act so adult now,
Hurry, hurry, here comes my stop..."

The Replacements - Kiss Me On The Bus MP3

All Over But The Shouting

"But the fact is, I think, is we were a great little garage band - and that´s what I want to be remembered for." So says Paul Westerberg, and he´s right of course. Although the late Bob Stinson maybe on the mark as well by debunking the whole thing in his typical fashion as "Replacements, shmeplacements". 

I just finished All Over But The Shouting, an oral history by Jim Walsh (Voyageur Press). A fun book I found impossible to put down, filled to the brim with remembrances and anecdotes on what was undisputedly one of the greatest bands of the eighties. It´s not definitive or perfect, but then again, the Mats themselves never were either, right? As it´s not a straight biography but more or less a rather fragmented collection of quotes it´s sometimes hard to know just where you are in the band´s history. Also, as the tons of people who contributed are all insiders you need to have at least a basic knowledge of Replacements lore to really enjoy it. 

If you´re a fan though, you´ll love this. Probably the funniest quote in the book is by the daughter of guitarist Slim Dunlap. She remembers: "The ironic thing is, when Bob Stinson left the band I was crushed because they were my favorite band, and in my mind they were disbanding. And then my dad joined them." Cool or what? So grab yourself a beer or two, crank up the stereo and start reading. And here are some personal faves by way of a soundtrack: Johnny´s Gonna Die is from Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash, Answering Machine from Let It Be, Here Comes A Regular from Tim, and If Only You Were Lonely is a b-side. "Somewhere there´s a drink with my name on it..." The Replacements: when they were good, they were very very good. And I´ll drink to that.

Replacements - Johnny´s Gonna Die MP3

Replacements - Answering Machine MP3

Replacements - Here Comes A Regular MP3

Replacements - If Only You Were Lonely MP3