There's some consensus that the last two Replacements releases, 1989's 'Don't Tell a Soul' and 1990's 'All Shook Down' are, well...pretty weak. "Whether 'Don't Tell a Soul' is a strong album with a few clunkers or a weak album with some great songs, the Mats' previous glories tinge the record with disappointment," Trouser Press noted, and summarily followed up with, "...compared to the stultifying 'All Shook Down,' however, 'Don't Tell a Soul' is positively blistering."
No faint praise there, huh?
But actually after a week of delving into The Mats' back catalog, I think time has been somewhat kind to these two records and if one say, over a bottle of wine or something (*cough-last night-cough*) were to choose five tracks from both releases, you'd have a mighty fine Replacements record indeed, I'm thinking. AND you'd also have your Weekend's Ten:
The Replacements - Talent Show (Mp3)
The Replacements - One Wink At A Time (Mp3)
The Replacements - Achin' To Be (Mp3)
The Replacements - Sadly Beautiful (Mp3)
The Replacements - They're Blind (Mp3)
The Replacements - When It Began (Mp3)
The Replacements - Attitude (Mp3)
The Replacements - Rock 'N' Roll Ghost (Mp3)
The Replacements - Darlin' One (Mp3)
The Replacements - My Little Problem (Mp3)
"When you open that bottle of wine/you open a can of worms every time..."
6 comments:
Its probably the unpopular opinion, but All Shook Down is the one Replacements album I've gone back over & over through the years. Its really held up well...I love it.
You're not alone...although it does indeed sound like the work of a very different band from whence they began...
Well, the entire band is only on 2 or 3 tracks I think.
All Shook Down has always been my favorite, too. MAybe it has to do with the fact that it was the only one I listened to upon release instead of having to go back and figure out what all the fuss was about?
That wasn't the case for me but I know what you mean. My first album experience with them was Let It Be followed quickly by the other earlier ones.
I've got a soft spot in my heart for both these... but you're right, take the best of both and you've got one amazing album...
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