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Post by twicks on Dec 18, 2012 21:35:34 GMT -5
Gave this a real close listen for the first time in a while today. What an gem...maybe hangs together as an album better than anything else in Paul's catalogue.
Some random thoughts/totally unfounded speculation:
- Liner notes say it was recorded in NY and LA, but "Bent Out of Shape" was done in Minneapolis all by its lonesome. The album is a lot quieter as a whole without it -- maybe Paul decided it needed a true rocker, so he cranked this out closer to home. (My least favorite song on the album, but I'll acknowledge Side One would be a big downer without it.)
- Would love to know who drummed on what. To my ears, Charley Drayton is all over "Merry Go Round," "Someone Take the Wheel" and "My Little Problem," for sure. Maybe Paul dug Keith Richards' solo project at the time and swiped Charley for some sessions, there's a super-dry Xpensive Winos feel on a lot of this stuff
- Wonder why Chris showed up for the "Merry Go Round" video shoot but called it quits thereafter
- I also remember reading that only one song featured the whole Mats lineup: "Attitude," maybe? Anyone remember?
- Might be wishful thinking on my part, but those little lead guitar fills in the chorus of "Merry Go Round" sound like classic Slim to me
I'm sure I'll remember more later...sorry for the random thought vomit...
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bside
Star Scout
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Post by bside on Dec 18, 2012 22:32:12 GMT -5
I just saw the "Merry Go Round" video for the first time the other day and wondered the same thing, having not tracked drums for the song. He didn't seem to be trying too hard to match up with the track exactly. Of course by the video for "When It Began" we had Steve Foley.
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Post by anarkissed on Dec 18, 2012 23:37:43 GMT -5
Always interesting to hear other takes on an album..."Bent Out of Shape" is not only my favorite track on that album, it's one of my favorite Paul compositions, period...In fact, if not for the presence of that and "One Wink at a Time", I might not have listened to ASD more than once through...But those kept me coming back, and I grew to appreciate the rest of the album much more over the years...It really is one of my favorite "Mats" albums, but I have to say it always kind of makes me sad to listen to it in its entirety...It always feel like you're saying goodbye to something that you really loved, but you finally realized just isn't going to be there anymore...
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Post by adamapple on Dec 19, 2012 10:29:47 GMT -5
Well Chris was still in the band when they made the video, so it makes perfect sense he was in it. He quit after, in an interview, Paul said the reason he used so many other musicians was his songwriting was outgrowing the bands abilities, and he called out Chris' drumming as not being up to the level required for Merry Go 'Round. After the article was published Chris asked Paul to apologize, Paul refused, Chris quit. It was obviously the end of growing distance between the two, sadly. In interview both Paul and Tommy took shots at Chris, which I always thought beneath them. Chris was also the first to sober up in the group, which I am sure was the beginning of the end. I always felt Chris' first solo record put to bed any discussion that his drumming lacked any ability. Since, Paul has mentioned Chris being perfect for them. Time Heals.
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Post by scoOter on Dec 19, 2012 10:54:54 GMT -5
I always felt Chris' first solo record put to bed any discussion that his drumming lacked any ability. should & probably did scare paul at the time. not only was it the first post-mats solo album (putting aside asd for the moment), and it was smart, tight, and it rocked, but sounded distinctly different (subtly, to be sure) than what one would expect from a former replacement. think i will listen to it today. it's been awhile. |
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Post by bobstinsonsghost on Dec 19, 2012 12:42:24 GMT -5
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Post by bobstinsonsghost on Dec 19, 2012 12:43:57 GMT -5
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daveb
First Class Scout
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Post by daveb on Dec 19, 2012 15:02:22 GMT -5
So, knowing that Paul and Tommy took cheap shots at Chris in the press, are they the "popular creeps" that he wrote about?
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Post by scoOter on Dec 19, 2012 15:31:13 GMT -5
So, knowing that Paul and Tommy took cheap shots at Chris in the press, are they the "popular creeps" that he wrote about? i'm fairly certain that the bulk of mars' early 90s musical output is directly none too subtly @ his former bandmates, and in particular westerberg. |
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Post by timtoast on Dec 19, 2012 15:57:09 GMT -5
His second album's title, 75% Less Fat says it all....
I always thought he must have been pretty pissed off to still be taking shots like that on his second album, not just the first.
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Post by brianlux on Dec 20, 2012 3:04:34 GMT -5
I've often said "All Shook Down" is one of my favorite 'Mats/Westerberg albums... but then, to be honest, I've said that about all of them for different reasons.
Overall, the album has a blend of moods-- starting right out front with that great melancholy cover (front and back). I like the arrangement of the songs starting with a solid opener, "Merry Go Round" and the way they move through various mood- moody ("Bent Out of Shape"), touching ("Sadly Beautiful"), despondent ("Someone Take the Wheel"), jaded ("All Shook Down"-- which to me comes across even better on the "All For Nothing Nothing For All" version), slightly jaunty ("Attitude"). "Happy Town" is great because it sounds optimistic yet is anything but. All of the songs lend to the various flavors and moods.
Overall there is a bit of a lost feeling in the record that seems to find it's own way despite that. The odd assortment of songs feel cohesive to me even though they also feel a bit disjointed (I have no idea how to better explain that feeling) and on a whole, give me a comforting sense of moving on despite the uncomfortable feeling of an ending. It represents very well for me those phases in life that are passages from one leg of the journey to the next rather than a high or low point- something very important that is not outstanding.
I agree, twicks, it really is a gem/
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Post by wecantgetanybetter on Dec 20, 2012 5:21:32 GMT -5
So, knowing that Paul and Tommy took cheap shots at Chris in the press, are they the "popular creeps" that he wrote about? And Paul's sister took that song as the title and I believe theme song for her local-music radio show in MPLS. |
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Post by dee on Dec 20, 2012 11:16:53 GMT -5
I always thought Paul kicking the drummer in the World Class Fad video was a jab at Chris Mars.
I thought Ain't Exactly Good by Slim was a poke at Mars.
Monkey Sees by Mars could be about Tommy emulating Paul.Ego Maniac could be about Paul.Popular Creeps could be about his former band mates. Stuck In Rewind seemed to be about Bob.No Bands seems to be what Chris feels about being in a band.
I'm sure there's more zingers in there somewhere between them.
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batfink
Dances With Posts
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Post by batfink on Dec 20, 2012 11:26:25 GMT -5
The more I read about Chris, the more I respect him. I'm shocked at some of the things Westerberg has done and said. Assuming the reports or rumours are true, that is. Sounds to me like Chris has taken the high road. Thanks for the videos too.
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Post by adamapple on Dec 20, 2012 11:40:34 GMT -5
I seem to recall Chris answering questions about that first record and saying explicitly nothing was about the band, other than "before it began" which is about looking back at what once was...as much of it had been written while he was in the band. As far as slim, he is such a sweetheart, I truly cant imagine him saying anything disparaging about Chris.
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Post by dee on Dec 20, 2012 12:23:50 GMT -5
As far as slim, he is such a sweetheart, I truly cant imagine him saying anything disparaging about Chris. Well he's saying something disparaging about someone in that song. |
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Post by ClamsCasino on Dec 20, 2012 13:43:56 GMT -5
I always thought Paul kicking the drummer in the World Class Fad video was a jab at Chris Mars. Maybe, but over the years, Paul has literally kicked Chris (and Bob and Tommy) enough times that any veiled metaphorical jabs are pretty empty. Not to mention that he'd already attacked Chris's actual drum set in the I'll Be You video. I think it's too easy to assume that every little snark from these guys is directed at each other, Their worlds are a lot bigger than that. From the outside, we just see the Replacements drama with only the band as players, but I'm sure Paul (and Slim and Tommy and Chris) have a lot more people in their lives to bitch about than each other. |
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daveb
First Class Scout
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Post by daveb on Dec 20, 2012 14:15:57 GMT -5
When Slim suffered his stroke, Chris was the first one to step up and record a benefit song for him. Then when Paul & Tommy wanted Chris to participate in their mini-Replacements reunion recording, Chris turned them down. I think that tells you all you need to know about what his feelings are for his individual former band mates.
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batfink
Dances With Posts
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Post by batfink on Dec 20, 2012 15:47:05 GMT -5
When Slim suffered his stroke, Chris was the first one to step up and record a benefit song for him. Then when Paul & Tommy wanted Chris to participate in their mini-Replacements reunion recording, Chris turned them down. I think that tells you all you need to know about what his feelings are for his individual former band mates. Yes, that's my interpretation as well. |
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Post by bobstinsonsghost on Dec 20, 2012 16:24:12 GMT -5
I remember there was an article in musician magazine around the time of the all shook down tour where paul said some pretty shitty things about chris,more about his drumming than anything personalitywise.
I didn't really know much about the replacements at the time but I remember thinking if I was this chris guy I'd be pretty angry.
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