Post by Caroline on Dec 11, 2003 22:13:24 GMT -5
Picked up a copy at a local bookstore - Dec/Jan issue with Ryan Admas on the cover. Small pic of Paul on the cover, too. Nice little interview and Come Feel Me Tremble is #12 on their Top 40 for 2003 list. There is also a review in the "Raves and Faves" section. If I have the time, I will OCR the interview and post it.
The blurb under the Top 40 list is as follows:
Paul Westerberg
Come Feel Me Tremble (Vagrant)
This companion album to the film of the same name betrays a glimmer of the Mats' drunk spunk and Paul the Sober wisdom. That's some serious and welcome hocus pocus, there.
There's a much longer review in the "Rants & Faves" section:
In retrospect, it's become increasingly apparent that the Replacements were always the sum of their distinct parts. Accordingly, Paul Westerberg's solo abums had moments here and there but never seemed to be quite enough. That all changes with Come Feel Me Tremble--recorded all by himself in his Minneapolis basement and featuring the best batch of rock songs he's delivered since the 'Mats' Pleased To Meet Me. Maybe he's found better antidepressants (the use of which he acknowledged on Suicaine Gratifaction)--although the album's centerpiece, "Crackle and Drag," presented in both acoustic and electric versions, is one of the most striking and empathetic songs about suicide since...well, perhaps ever. Maybe it's having a son: "Dirty Diesel," the rousing opening track, certainly fits the bill as at least partially a great children's song. Whatever the reason, something's inspired Westerberg to write wonderful pop tunes again. "My Daydream" picks up where "Achin' To Be" left off; "Hillbilly Junk" sounds like a catchy latter Replacements outtake, complete with Tommy-like falsetto backing vocals. The gorgeous "Never Felt Like This Before" recalls Dennis Wilson's "Forever." And so on. He even recasts Jackson Browne's "These Days" in his own image and makes it a Paul Westerberg song; there's certainly more poignancy in one of rock's great "losers," now middle-aged, delivering those lines about loss and regret than there was from the 20-something (at the time) Browne. It's enough to make a diehard Replacements fan weep...and then rejoice. Simply put, this is one terrific album.
I was also pleased to see that Rufus Wainwright's Want One is #10 on their Top 40 list and they had a good review of that album in "Rants & Faves", too.
The blurb under the Top 40 list is as follows:
Paul Westerberg
Come Feel Me Tremble (Vagrant)
This companion album to the film of the same name betrays a glimmer of the Mats' drunk spunk and Paul the Sober wisdom. That's some serious and welcome hocus pocus, there.
There's a much longer review in the "Rants & Faves" section:
In retrospect, it's become increasingly apparent that the Replacements were always the sum of their distinct parts. Accordingly, Paul Westerberg's solo abums had moments here and there but never seemed to be quite enough. That all changes with Come Feel Me Tremble--recorded all by himself in his Minneapolis basement and featuring the best batch of rock songs he's delivered since the 'Mats' Pleased To Meet Me. Maybe he's found better antidepressants (the use of which he acknowledged on Suicaine Gratifaction)--although the album's centerpiece, "Crackle and Drag," presented in both acoustic and electric versions, is one of the most striking and empathetic songs about suicide since...well, perhaps ever. Maybe it's having a son: "Dirty Diesel," the rousing opening track, certainly fits the bill as at least partially a great children's song. Whatever the reason, something's inspired Westerberg to write wonderful pop tunes again. "My Daydream" picks up where "Achin' To Be" left off; "Hillbilly Junk" sounds like a catchy latter Replacements outtake, complete with Tommy-like falsetto backing vocals. The gorgeous "Never Felt Like This Before" recalls Dennis Wilson's "Forever." And so on. He even recasts Jackson Browne's "These Days" in his own image and makes it a Paul Westerberg song; there's certainly more poignancy in one of rock's great "losers," now middle-aged, delivering those lines about loss and regret than there was from the 20-something (at the time) Browne. It's enough to make a diehard Replacements fan weep...and then rejoice. Simply put, this is one terrific album.
I was also pleased to see that Rufus Wainwright's Want One is #10 on their Top 40 list and they had a good review of that album in "Rants & Faves", too.