Post by nowwesayitoutloud on Oct 4, 2006 4:24:13 GMT -5
Insite Atlanta gives an A:
PAUL WESTERBERG - Open Season Soundtrack (Lost Highway)
CLASS: New songs and a new band.
JD Despite nearly drinking and drugging his career as leader of the seminal Replacements from 1980 to 1990, Paul Westerberg's relative sobriety has produced a compelling solo career. He littered the Singles soundtrack with a couple of gems, did a few solo albums for a major label, and has spent the past five or so years writing and recording stuff in his basement. To the surprise of many, the overall quality of his recent output has remained high.
Open Season is an animated film, and it's a bit of a surprise to see Westerberg get the job scoring it. But it also appears to have allowed him a bigger budget to record some new songs, and he delivers with some good material. Backed by his touring band (the incredible Michael Bland on drums, guitarist Kevin Bowe and bassist Jim Boquist), Westerberg leads the charge through the upbeat rockers (“Meet Me In the Meadow,” “Right To Arm Bears”) and some excellent slower stuff, including “Whisper Me Luck,” which is one of his best ballads ever.
The addition of a couple of good Deathray songs and the Talking Heads' classic “Wild Wild Life” seem tacked-on, but the album's only bad move is the awkward “I Belong.” It's sort of positioned as the Elton John-like showstopper, and it just doesn't carry the kind of cloying weight that a big-budget film relishes pounding the audience with. But overall, the album finds Westerberg as vital as he's ever been since disbanding the Replacements. (A)
Salt Lake Tribune review:
It's Westerberg's season on new CD
Paul Westerberg, "Open Season"
Grade: B
Technically speaking, this isn't a Paul Westerberg album, but considering the former Replacements leader wrote 10 of the 12 songs, as well as scoring the film, it sure sounds like one. And fans of the Minneapolis bard's poppier moments will love some of the material he came up with for this animated feature. "Meet Me in the Meadow" could be a companion-piece, both thematically and musically, to the 'Mats' "Kiss Me on the Bus," and Westerberg's old bandmate Tommy Stinson even takes on bass duties on two other tracks, "Love You in the Fall" and "Right to Arm Bears." Elsewhere, Westerberg delivers some solid piano balladry ("I Belong," "Good Day"), worthy rockers ("Any Better Than This," "All About Me") and an acoustic, solo "Whisper Me Luck" that recalls past highlights like "Here Comes a Regular." Bay Area pop rockers Deathray, Talking Heads and Pete Yorn all make appearances as well on this genial set, but it's Westerberg's contributions that make "Open Season" something special.
- Dan Nailen
PAUL WESTERBERG - Open Season Soundtrack (Lost Highway)
CLASS: New songs and a new band.
JD Despite nearly drinking and drugging his career as leader of the seminal Replacements from 1980 to 1990, Paul Westerberg's relative sobriety has produced a compelling solo career. He littered the Singles soundtrack with a couple of gems, did a few solo albums for a major label, and has spent the past five or so years writing and recording stuff in his basement. To the surprise of many, the overall quality of his recent output has remained high.
Open Season is an animated film, and it's a bit of a surprise to see Westerberg get the job scoring it. But it also appears to have allowed him a bigger budget to record some new songs, and he delivers with some good material. Backed by his touring band (the incredible Michael Bland on drums, guitarist Kevin Bowe and bassist Jim Boquist), Westerberg leads the charge through the upbeat rockers (“Meet Me In the Meadow,” “Right To Arm Bears”) and some excellent slower stuff, including “Whisper Me Luck,” which is one of his best ballads ever.
The addition of a couple of good Deathray songs and the Talking Heads' classic “Wild Wild Life” seem tacked-on, but the album's only bad move is the awkward “I Belong.” It's sort of positioned as the Elton John-like showstopper, and it just doesn't carry the kind of cloying weight that a big-budget film relishes pounding the audience with. But overall, the album finds Westerberg as vital as he's ever been since disbanding the Replacements. (A)
Salt Lake Tribune review:
It's Westerberg's season on new CD
Paul Westerberg, "Open Season"
Grade: B
Technically speaking, this isn't a Paul Westerberg album, but considering the former Replacements leader wrote 10 of the 12 songs, as well as scoring the film, it sure sounds like one. And fans of the Minneapolis bard's poppier moments will love some of the material he came up with for this animated feature. "Meet Me in the Meadow" could be a companion-piece, both thematically and musically, to the 'Mats' "Kiss Me on the Bus," and Westerberg's old bandmate Tommy Stinson even takes on bass duties on two other tracks, "Love You in the Fall" and "Right to Arm Bears." Elsewhere, Westerberg delivers some solid piano balladry ("I Belong," "Good Day"), worthy rockers ("Any Better Than This," "All About Me") and an acoustic, solo "Whisper Me Luck" that recalls past highlights like "Here Comes a Regular." Bay Area pop rockers Deathray, Talking Heads and Pete Yorn all make appearances as well on this genial set, but it's Westerberg's contributions that make "Open Season" something special.
- Dan Nailen