pat
First Class Scout
Posts: 209
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Post by pat on Sept 2, 2015 18:14:45 GMT -5
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bside
Star Scout
Posts: 356
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Post by bside on Sept 2, 2015 18:58:15 GMT -5
Seems like it really is done for that Mats run.
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Post by anarkissed on Sept 2, 2015 21:39:19 GMT -5
One thing I don't get...How long were they in the studio to record those cuts for the Slim EP? One or two days? Those came out great...Then, suddenly, recording anything else becomes this big fucking insurmountable ordeal...Is it because the former was just sort of a low-pressure toss-off of some covers, and the latter more like (gulp) actual serious recording of new original material? Geez...Their career arc is certainly consistent...Just when you thought they might be doing something new and interesting, they weren't up to it...Anything else would've been an insult to the legacy, I suppose...It's back to the basement and the couch for Paul until 2021, I guess...Bet that Juliana Hatfield thing never sees the light of day, either...
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Post by BronxTeacher on Sept 2, 2015 22:03:59 GMT -5
Anarkissed, I echo your sentiments. I'm pretty pessimistic about the future of the Mats and I think a return to the basement would be a bad idea.
I think that in calling it a day now, they (Paul, really) are shooting themselves in the foot yet again. The fours shows I saw demonstrated to me that the magic is still there. They remain a viable, relevant band with a passionate and dedicated fan base--and they've been discovered by a younger audience. At Forrest Hills, I was surrounded by 20 year olds who sang along to every song... Paul seemed energized, too, and I thought all the signs pointed towards the band making a full return--writing and recording new music, frequent touring, etc. Weren't Paul and Tommy only recently talking about how much they had discovered that they needed one another?
I wish Paul would take his own advice to stop taking himself so seriously and just go out and play.
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Post by anarkissed on Sept 2, 2015 23:38:35 GMT -5
Well, I was definitely being cranky...I'm firmly in the camp that "they" don't "owe me anything"...And I'm only half-facetious at the idea that this seems exactly like the kinda thing they would do: "Hey! We're back! These reunion shows have been great! We're thinking about going back in the studio and laying down some new tracks! Oh, wait a minute...Maybe not...Sorry, but we didn't realize this meant we had to actually all be more or less in the same place at the same time, and, well, just seems like a lotta hassle for no real purpose...But we do have those Rhino reissues out if you wanna relive your college years!" Goofy bastards...I guess I would have to stop being a real fan if they didn't regularly disappoint me...
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Post by FreeRider on Sept 3, 2015 11:01:40 GMT -5
Well, to me, it never seemed like it was gonna last....but I did kind of expect that something would happen from the recording sessions.
Just add water, I'm disappointed
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Post by teddinard on Sept 3, 2015 13:40:29 GMT -5
I think their discography/career is perfect just as it is.
Perfect punk rock album, perfect "transitional" album, perfect trio of masterpieces, perfect bad overproduced album, perfect valedictory album. And a trifle a decade and a half later.
Really I've got this whole Mats narrative in my head, it would be a shame to disrupt it by adding more stuff.
A wholly new attempt at a career as old men and only two original members, no thanks.
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Post by leftofthedial09 on Sept 3, 2015 23:00:04 GMT -5
I'm so happy I got to see the Seattle and SF shows. The did not disappoint. I'd love to see it again in 3-5 years, but am not expecting anything.
At the very least, I hope Paul is energized to record a studio album on his own, OR, go out on the road solo. Hopefully the later just to keep the blood flowing.
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Post by anarkissed on Sept 3, 2015 23:05:11 GMT -5
Never in my wildest imagination did I expect a "second phase of their career"...But I did hope there might be a few recordings of "The Replacements" doing original Westerberg and/or Stinson songs...Not even a major label album...Just some download only or impossible to find vinyl shit is alright with me...And I did want one more round of smaller scale shows so I could see them without driving more than 500 miles...I ask so little...
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Freddy
First Class Scout
Posts: 200
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Post by Freddy on Sept 4, 2015 7:50:59 GMT -5
Well, to me, it never seemed like it was gonna last....but I did kind of expect that something would happen from the recording sessions. Just add water, I'm disappointed That's pretty much how I feel. Really though, did we want them to stay together, becoming a touring band again and become just another band anyone could go see any time? Most of us were resigned to the point that we didn't feel like Tommy and Paul would ever play together as The Replacements again, so the "reunion" was a big treat. I'm more than happy with the come back and what they gave us. I honestly wish they could have put out a 10 or 11 song album of new music,so I feel a little disappointment too in that I won't get to hear anything "new". I was going to be a hard core fan for life anyhow, so the reunion thing was just a validation of all the time I devoted listening to them, discussing them, thinking about them, and writing about them. They were gawdammed great pre and post break up, and |
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Post by FreeRider on Sept 4, 2015 9:35:29 GMT -5
It'll be a year ago this weekend that I schlepped to Boston to finally see the Mats. Great time and fun. My one and only time seeing them. But that's okay.
Like all y'all, I was really hoping for some new material from the guys. But if the studio magic just wasn't there, then, unfortunately, we're not gonna hear anything new from them.
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Post by westerburger on Sept 4, 2015 10:33:58 GMT -5
FUCK THIS BULLSHIT
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Post by pleased2meetme on Sept 5, 2015 19:44:12 GMT -5
I truly believe that PW didn't want to do the "Back By Unpopular Demand" tour at all....but as hard as it is to fathom,given his indifference to the past, I really think he did it for the fans.
He really probably didn't give a shit about the payday,but felt at least he is off the hook in a way. The Mats almost exclusively played big festivals prior to the last run and obviously not only was that not ideal for a majority of the life long fans but the audiences were populated with a ton of people that didn't care about the band at all....Coachella proved that.
However, I think the breaking point may have came in the way of not being able to reach a compromise about the studio work.I don't think the two principles are happy just being a nostalgia act,but obviously still at odds about creating new music together. It probably was classic Westerberg control issues that sabotaged recording sessions. Tommy may be ok playing follow the leader in other bands like Guns or SA but this is as much his band as Paul's and he has proven himself as a strong songwriter many times over since the old days....so I don't think that shit flys anymore.
I just wonder what this current hiatus/endgame will mean as it pertains to the the live DVD,box set,new documentary film and even Mehr's book...all things that were talked about in the last 12 months.
I realize the book will still probably get published,but I bet none of the other stuff ever sees the light of day.
Hopefully I am wrong,but I've been disappointed in general with most things Mats since 1991,so why should it be any different going forward.
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Post by curmudgeonman on Sept 7, 2015 22:50:08 GMT -5
I truly believe that PW didn't want to do the "Back By Unpopular Demand" tour at all.... I agree with this statement. I did not see any of the reunion gigs, just couldn't muster the enthusiasm to drive across the bridge, park the car and see one of the shows. I've already seen many of their shows back during their original run. My more pragmatic view is that Westerberg just went through a divorce, I don't know what his ex-wife does for a living, but an influx of cash was perhaps very necessary. His son (same exact age as mine) may very likely be college bound next year. Any parent on this board knows these circumstances can be a tremendous financial strain. His cryptic t-shirt message may be a hint at this... |
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Jer
Beagle Scout
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Post by Jer on Sept 8, 2015 6:37:43 GMT -5
I truly believe that PW didn't want to do the "Back By Unpopular Demand" tour at all....but as hard as it is to fathom,given his indifference to the past, I really think he did it for the fans. He really probably didn't give a shit about the payday,but felt at least he is off the hook in a way. Yeah, I think this is probably the case for the most part, but I do think the payday was a factor. As it went on he got increasingly indifferent or dismayed, culminating with his sickness and the 2 cancelled shows. Seemed like he couldn't wait for it to be over. Tommy may be ok playing follow the leader in other bands like Guns or SA but this is as much his band as Paul's and he has proven himself as a strong songwriter many times over since the old days....so I don't think that shit flys anymore. I don't buy this. It's Paul's band. Tommy is great on his own and obviously more than a side-man in the band, but he's certainly not the songwriter and front-man for The Replacements. I'm sure he'd get more opportunities to contribute songs now than he did back in the day, but the band goes as Paul goes, been that way since Let It Be. And even though Tommy's post-mats output has been impressive, I think he knows his place here. |
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Post by anarkissed on Sept 9, 2015 0:27:42 GMT -5
"And even though Tommy's post-mats output has been impressive, I think he knows his place here."
Which is what exactly? To just shut up and play the bass? And if Paul thinks he's fucking that up, Paul will just play the bass? And if Paul feels like he can play the drums better than Josh Freese? This is why the guy has been in his basement for the last twenty years...He's entitled to do things the way he wants...But that doesn't always mean it made for better music...I don't know why this bothers me so much...No, I do...He's sitting on a friggin' vault of great songs that will never see the light of day because he can't play well with others...
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Jer
Beagle Scout
Posts: 1,182
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Post by Jer on Sept 9, 2015 7:37:07 GMT -5
"And even though Tommy's post-mats output has been impressive, I think he knows his place here." Which is what exactly? To just shut up and play the bass? Not what I said... but whatever his role is, he's not gonna convince Paul to suddenly love the idea of being in The Replacements again, touring and making a good record. Tommy seems to have a pretty good handle on the situation, even if he wishes it was a little different. And if Paul thinks he's fucking that up, Paul will just play the bass? And if Paul feels like he can play the drums better than Josh Freese? This is why the guy has been in his basement for the last twenty years...He's entitled to do things the way he wants...But that doesn't always mean it made for better music...I don't know why this bothers me so much...No, I do...He's sitting on a friggin' vault of great songs that will never see the light of day because he can't play well with others... I tend to agree with you, but that's been Paul's hangup for many years now. It's frustrating as a fan, but if playing nice makes him as miserable as it appears to, he probably shouldn't. |
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Post by GtrPlyr on Sept 9, 2015 7:51:59 GMT -5
So they recorded some Tommy songs, tried the democratic band approach this time around. My guess, like a few others, is that this probably didn’t work out so well. I imagine it would be difficult to spend the past few decades doing whatever you want artistically, then be put in a situation where you have to deal with the input of others. I don’t know, maybe Paul didn’t feel his, or Tommy’s current batch of songs were good enough to carry The Replacements moniker. There’s less pressure and expectation on a solo career, where you can release rough demos and undercooked songs if you want, and have it all be par for the course. The Replacements legacy has to be a bit daunting, it’s certainly easier to go back to old, and more comfortable work methods.
As far as Tommy’s place in the band, after all these years, and now that it’s just him and Paul as the remaining originals, I’m not sure he’s willing to take a backseat anymore. He’s no longer the teenager in the shadows of Paul and his brother. Now that he’s a full-fledged songwriter and band leader in his own right, I think he must see his position in the band in a different light. Who knows for sure, it’s all speculation until the leads speak up.
Personally I don’t care if they ever release another studio release at this point. If the Whole Foods song and that uninspired 30 minute jam are the sort of things they got up their sleeve, it’s probably best they just leave things as they are and focus on their individual projects. I have the memory of the reunion shows, and that’s more than I ever could have expected having a few years back. I just hope Paul gets back to releasing songs, that to me is the most important thing here.
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Post by towilmusic on Sept 9, 2015 8:40:35 GMT -5
"I just hope Paul gets back to releasing songs, that to me is the most important thing here."
-That's it. Everything else doesn't matter to me. Yeah we got spoiled with him clearing out the vaults but 6+ years is a long time since we've heard anything new!!!
C'mon...
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Post by A Regular on Sept 9, 2015 15:00:24 GMT -5
maybe, just maybe, PW is dried up and not sitting on a ton of good songs.
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