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Post by GimmeGimmeGimme on Jan 12, 2010 16:07:31 GMT -5
I decided to start a new thread before we completely hijack the "Random Replacements sighting of the day" thread. In that thread Phil wrote: In the end it seems that while Husker Du is well liked and very respected there's a love for the Replacements that the Huskers don't get. I can't explain it and it really doesn't seem fair on the face of it. What Bob said in his quote is mostly accurate but despite the facts that they didn't give back, drank too much and were irresponsible goofs they still managed to win our hearts. I think this mostly goes back to music styles. Husker Du was more or less a hard core band, and played to that niche. Later on they mellowed some, but they were always a loud band, and as such their songs tended to only appeal to that particular scene. The Replacements defined the sound that would become known as "alternative" in the '90s. They fused punk, rock, pop, or whatever else they did, and weren't afraid of expanding their boundaries. This is what makes them endearing to this day. Songs like Here Comes a Regular have a timeless beauty, and Bastards of Young will always apply to the current youth. With Husker Du, I don't think I can decipher many of the choruses of songs without really trying hard. It's just a different musical style, and the replacements are far more accessible to the general public. Phil Good point, but how do you explain Nirvana whose sound was very influenced by Husker Du (whether they realized it or not) and the fact that they became far more popular than the Replacements? I would argue that the fans made an emotional connection with Paul and his songs that they couldn't make with Bob and Grant and their songs. In the same manner and on a bigger scale people connected with Kurt Cobain. I don't think it has as much to do with the musical style as it does with Westerberg's more emotional and personal lyrics and the tightrope that Westerberg and Cobain walked over the chasm of self destruction. |
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Post by timtoast on Jan 12, 2010 16:39:54 GMT -5
Remember that Nirvana and Kurt Cobain played the publicity game whereas the Mats and Husker did not. Nirvana made videos, did interviews, etc. Eventually that backfired (no pun intended) for Cobain, but they were media whores for awhile.
Nothing wrong with that, but to compare the bands is somewhat apples and oranges.
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Post by GoddamnJob290 on Jan 12, 2010 17:03:36 GMT -5
I disagree that Husker Du were more or less just a hardcore band. You could make that argument for the earlier records, but, imo, Flip Your Wig is just as accessible as Tim.
And Candy Apple Grey saw the folky sides of Mould and Hart emerging---Paul fired the shots with "Swinging Party" and "Here Comes A Regular", Mould raised him "Too Far Down" and "Hardly Getting Over It". Husker Du used to play acoustic sets after their main shows---the hardcore punkers were not receptive.
I chalk the lack of success for Husker Du and the Replacements compared to Nirvana pretty much to timing. They were the trailblazers. By the time Nirvana came around, bands like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. were on major labels, while the Pixies, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jane's Addiction all had some mild success. The road had been paved for it. When the Replacements and Husker Du were both at their arguable peaks in 1985, all those bands were in their infancy. I don't even think 120 Minutes had been started yet. The tide hadn't quite turned. So it was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in 1991 instead of "Makes No Sense At All" or "Bastards of Young" in 1985.
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Post by thetwilitekid on Jan 12, 2010 22:28:31 GMT -5
Husker Du more or less a hardcore band? What?!
Husker Du changed the musical landscape. For better or worse since them, alternative, emo, punk/pop, grunge, have a lot to do with Huskers influence. Mentioned above: Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr on majors were there because of Husker Du's signing to Warner Bros. Pixies wanted to be Husker Du meets Peter, Paul and Mary. Jane's Addiction wanted to be Husker Du meets Led Zeppelin. There's a video on YouTube of Husker Du on The Today Show and Bryant Gumbel asks Husker Du what kind of music they're playing because the terms we now would refer to them as didn't exist yet or at least not in the mainstream, i.e. alternative, punk/pop.
The Replacements are the slightly better band but Husker Du's influence is greater from my perspective.
Husker Du created the blueprint. Jane's Addiction, Pixies made the foundation. Nirvana built the house. The Replacements egged it.
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Post by GoddamnJob290 on Jan 12, 2010 23:18:37 GMT -5
Husker Du created the blueprint. Jane's Addiction, Pixies made the foundation. Nirvana built the house. The Replacements egged it. I like your analogy. I'd throw X in there somewhere too. |
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Post by thepogo on Jan 13, 2010 9:21:04 GMT -5
"Husker Du created the blueprint. Jane's Addiction, Pixies made the foundation. Nirvana built the house. The Replacements egged it."
You nailed it with this statement. The Replacements didnt give a shit. Those other bands had that attitude somewhat. But The Replacements lived it and encouraged it without any remorse. You were either with them or against them. And even if you thought you were with them, you better still be looking over your shoulder for that egg coming your way. Thats what made them great, their take no prisoners, all or nothing attitude. Its amazing that these 4 guys found each other, all with the same attitude towards not just music, but life in general. And thats what sets them apart from every other band from any era.
Your quote needs to be in a book, on a poster, in a song.....
Awesome insight!!
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Post by thepogo on Jan 13, 2010 9:23:42 GMT -5
And in addition to the above. I don't know if it was their music they played that had such a huge influence on the new bands as much as it was their attitude towards the music they played.
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Jer
Beagle Scout
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Post by Jer on Jan 13, 2010 13:23:50 GMT -5
Good point - but I thought The Replacements were trying to play that game by booting Bob, the slick production on DTAS, the Petty tour, the videos, etc. They just weren’t as successful as Nirvana was a couple years later. If DTAS or ASD took off like Nevermind did, it probably would have been a whole different story. A strong argument could be made that they lost a lot of that FU attitude after PTMM and the publicity game wasn’t being shunned, it was just a bit out of reach. By that time Paul wanted his records to be heard as much as Kurt Cobain would later. In the end, probably more. The Huskers weren’t quite as popular as the mats so they didn’t have all of the same opportunites for press, tours, interviews, etc. Unlike the mats, Warehouse was not getting FM airplay and they weren’t opening a major summer shed tour. I think the same applies though – had Warehouse or CAG taken off like Nevermind did, they would have been happy to be accepted into the mainstream at that point in their career. I think it’s likely that both bands felt that they had done their time in the trenches. To an extent, I agree, but there are plenty of comparisons that can be made – mostly since both bands came out of the early 80s Minneapolis underground scene. They both signed to a major around the same time, toured the same circuit until HD broke up, and left a pretty good mark on modern alternative music. The apples and oranges come into play when we start discussing the music, and who was "better". I get a burr in my saddle about that!  |
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Post by bigbak on Jan 13, 2010 14:44:31 GMT -5
Husker Du decided to throw a party, the 'mats crashed it.
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Post by timtoast on Jan 13, 2010 16:36:44 GMT -5
I meant comparing Nirvana to the Mats is apples and oranges. Husker to the Mats is fairly apples to apples. |
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Post by scoOter on Jan 13, 2010 17:03:16 GMT -5
To an extent, I agree, but there are plenty of comparisons that can be made – mostly since both bands came out of the early 80s Minneapolis underground scene. They both signed to a major around the same time, toured the same circuit until HD broke up, and left a pretty good mark on modern alternative music. The apples and oranges come into play when we start discussing the music, and who was "better". I get a burr in my saddle about that! I meant comparing Nirvana to the Mats is apples and oranges. Husker to the Mats is fairly apples to apples. so, hold on... are the mats apples or oranges? ;D |
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Jer
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Post by Jer on Jan 13, 2010 18:04:40 GMT -5
aaah, I see. Sorry. McIntosh to Granny Smith perhaps......
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Post by Philip Garcia on Jan 13, 2010 22:15:19 GMT -5
aaah, I see. Sorry. McIntosh to Granny Smith perhaps...... careful now, apple records might sue you for comparing a band to apples.... Cause, you know it might confuse someone... Phil |
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tims
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I'm becoming the sappy parent I used to make fun of.
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Post by tims on Jan 14, 2010 23:53:26 GMT -5
...and the Apples In Stereo can only be mentioned here because they share a label with Loudon Wainwright.
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Post by Stegman on Jan 19, 2010 17:25:22 GMT -5
Husker Du created the blueprint. Jane's Addiction, Pixies made the foundation. Nirvana built the house. The Replacements egged it. How can you egg an house that hasn't been built yet? I think the Replacements waited until the Huskers left the room and then took the blueprint and drew a big dick on it with a Sharpie. |
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Post by thetwilitekid on Jan 20, 2010 21:18:27 GMT -5
Husker Du created the blueprint. Jane's Addiction, Pixies made the foundation. Nirvana built the house. The Replacements egged it. How can you egg an house that hasn't been built yet? I think the Replacements waited until the Huskers left the room and then took the blueprint and drew a big dick on it with a Sharpie. I was thinking of going the dirty doodle route. But the Replacements could have egged before it was moved into. They broke up only a couple of months before Nevermind was released. The house was standing there and their break-up meant they didn't want to be a part of it. They could have doodled the blueprint. They could have graffitied the foundation. But they were too lazy. Too indifferent. Too drunk. Then they sobered up and egged it. |
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gage
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Post by gage on Jan 22, 2010 12:03:38 GMT -5
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