I hate ILoveMusic, it's got too many POLLS - Artist Poll #104 - THE REPLACEMENTS - RESULTS

It makes sense, but I was still a little surprised to see Johnny Winter cited in Trouble Boys as a formative influence on Bob.

I love the story in Trouble Boys about how the 'mats were doing some relatively high-profile label-showcase-type show in NYC, and Gene Simmons slinked in, trying to go unnoticed.

ultimately, it was his bold black/white makeup that gave him away

Ha. Jesperson was at the soundboard, saw him and told the 'Mats on the talkback.

Robert Neil Stinson. Born 12/17/59. Replacements founder, guitarist extraordinaire: “I ended up sounding like Johnny Winter but I like to put a Steve Howe lick in. Really, I sound like me. I like the guitar. When I'm in a certain mood I can pick it up and it sounds like me." pic.twitter.com/ADawsDzrZS

— Bob Mehr (@BobMehr) December 17, 2018

one of the defining things about Minnesota punk was that there was no "year zero" movement, all those bands held sometimes unfashionable pre punk influences, and just regular 70s dirtbag midwest rocker shit

huskers obv repping the beatles in hardcore, etc...suicide commandos were def "a quick one while he's away" etc etc

What was the deal with the suicide commandos? Steve Almaas always seemed to be some kind of shadowy figure. He started some band I used to go see a lot long after he had since left, that being Beat Rodeo. Maybe once somebody pointed him out in a crowd to me.

https://images2.imgbox.com/3f/78/zUeC6P34_o.jpg

#36
Portland
outtake from Don't Tell a Soul sessions (1989)
Score: 146
Votes: 12 (0)
Youtube: audio track 1
Youtube: audio track 2 (Bearsville Version)

still a little surprised to see Johnny Winter cited in Trouble Boys as a formative influence on Bob

if you were in high school in the mid '70s and you were a serious rock and roll dude, johnny winter and yes were both very present in your life. and bad company. and the doobie bros. and jeff beck. and the entirety of the ILM classic rock poll.

What was the deal with the suicide commandos? Steve Almaas always seemed to be some kind of shadowy figure. He started some band I used to go see a lot long after he had since left, that being Beat Rodeo. Maybe once somebody pointed him out in a crowd to me.

― She Thinks I Will Dare (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, October 12, 2020 3:48 PM (nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

to me they are the fucking greatest....Make a Record one of the smartest, funniest, best written punk records...they were so melodic and had a real 60s sensibility even as they were hyper

Chris Osgood (singer) was really the most influential man in Mpls punk, he mentored a lot of people including Bob Mould, the Suburbs, etc.

the Replacements/Husker Du are really second generation, the original (Jay's Longhorn as opposed to 7th St Entry) scene were older people, more kinda intellectual boomers like the NY scene

the Commandos were THE band when the Replacements etc were still forming

but I don't know, the record is out there and it's definitely a favorite of mine and glad I got to see them do reunions over the years.

Aalmas wasn't around as much he moved to NY and would come back for reunions but that's about it so I don't know too much about him...but I def got a "vibe" that he might have been into darker stuff...

here's a great interview with Osgood with Mary Lucia (aka Mary Westerburg, Paul's sister)

https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2017/05/16/mary-lucia-chris-osgood-the-godfather-of-punk

here's "Complicated Fun" from Big Hits of Mid America Vol. 3 on Twin Town, about the best Mpls rock song still to me at least

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiWqT7a0EjM

also a recent doc on the Jay's Longhorn scene, pre Mats/Huskers Mpls punk & new wave etc

https://www.amazon.com/Jays-Longhorn-Peter-Jesperson/dp/B0817KMH4W

XPS I think my surprise came from thinking of Winter as a Blues Guy, despite spending loads of time with his '68-'74 stuff and knowing--if not necessarily acknowledging--what a hot shit Rock player he was.

i voted for Portland! not sure why that one didn't make it onto DTAS?

Hello by the way. LOL. I'm little behind schedule so will just keep them coming...

https://images2.imgbox.com/ac/48/r6PqeWCC_o.jpg

#35
I Don't Know
from Pleased to Meet Me (1987))
Score: 149
Votes: 12 (0)
Youtube: audio track

didn't vote for this but i'm glad it made it.

I Don't Know snuck into the bottom of my ballot as well. i think i mentioned it on the voting thread, but i love its relentless energy. did they ever perform it live with the baritone sax? i would love to hear a looser, even more intense version.

didn't vote for it but have always smiled at the baritone sax and "whatcha gonna do with your life? nothin'!"

"one foot in the door, the other foot in the gutter" is one of many paul lyrics that could double as a one-line description of his band

https://images2.imgbox.com/3e/10/EfOQteVY_o.png

#34
Seen Your Video
from Let It Be (1984)
Score: 160
Votes: 8 (1)
Youtube: audio track

I had it at #10

definitely voted for this one, it rocks so hard.

I sometimes want to think it’s a trite lyric, but the track is so great.

It’s trite in the manner of “Higgle-Dy - Piggle-Dy,” meaning awesome.

My #1!

i fucking love this song. the instrumental part for the first couple minutes gives little indication of where it's going to wind up. i think i just really appreciate the act of burying a really catchy anthem of a chorus. self-sabotage in musical form

I certainly voted for it myself. The last 3-4 actually, I believe.

I suspect that photo is slightly more recent than the song but it features TV ANTENNAE, see!?

i never think about that outre guitar-piano duel that comes in right before the anthemic chorus, but it really works.

love "Seen Your Video"

I missed the appearance of "Take Me Down to the Hospital" earlier ... I love that one too, it might be the song in which their comedy and desperation combine most effectively

the opening/closing riff is the best part, i commend their discipline in only unleashing it twice.

I like this one and could easily have included it - it's a pretty good synopsis of Let It Be, part silly and part great songwriting.

I've still only had two songs place from a 30 song ballot - waiting for my ship to come in!

https://images2.imgbox.com/fc/15/K9UvBMOK_o.jpg

#33
If Only You Were Lonely
from "I'm in Trouble" single (1981)
Score: 175
Votes: 12 (0)
Youtube: audio track

I had “Take Me Down to the Hospital” at #22. Love the “eight of my lives” holding pattern before the big finale.

“If Only You Were Lonely” at #7, because it was their earliest more sensitive but not too sensitive song.

the way they turn what could've been a throwaway rant into a full-on anthem with the repeated "we don't wanna know"s is a nice turn.

Yes

"if only you were lonely" my #3. such a lovely and timeless song. it helped that i first heard it at the same time i was getting into george jones, and he and it have lived together in my head ever since. "there was liquor on my breath / you were on my mind" is a great line. the way paul says he's "dreaminin' of that smile. that surprising change into the chorus. fucking perfect.

Didn’t vote for Seen Your Video, but one of the joys on Let It Be in general and this song in particular is Tommy’s bass tone.

I have problems with the mix of Let It Be but Tommy always sounds great.

https://images2.imgbox.com/47/ef/QiqXjftx_o.jpg

#32
Waitress in the Sky
from Tim (1985)
Score: 183
Votes: 14 (1)
Youtube: audio track

can't imagine voting for this one, even though i like the rockabilly bounce.

So many great lines:
Sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer
Garbage man, a janitor and you my dear

i used to know a flight attendant & this song just makes me think of all the stories about crappy passengers she told

also it is v good but i did not vote for it

I like it okay but didn’t feel compelled to vote for it.
xp

https://images2.imgbox.com/f0/5f/AdhKR8cp_o.jpg

#31
Shiftless When Idle
from Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash (1981)
Score: 188
Votes: 14 (0)
Youtube: audio track

LIke it, but left it to others to vote for.

It's true, btw: I'm milking that particular photoshoot dry. Cuz it's awesome.

I haven’t followed the rollout but I hope “Shiftless When Idle” places high — I still feel that one in a real and visceral and FUN way (compared to most of their songs)
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, October 11, 2020

https://images2.imgbox.com/c3/5f/uBRGyVpW_o.png

#30
We're Comin' Out
from Let It Be (1984)
Score: 207
Votes: 12 (0)
Youtube: audio track

This one I don't really like. To me it's a dull spot on Let It Be and suffers in comparison to earlier similar material.

https://images2.imgbox.com/e5/ad/9nBfGKxs_o.jpg

#29
Takin' a Ride
from Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash (1981)
Score: 220
Votes: 12 (0)
Youtube: audio track

"Seen the Video" has my favorite changes in any Mats song.

This one I don't really like. To me it's a dull spot on Let It Be and suffers in comparison to earlier similar material.

― She Thinks I Will Dare (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, October 12, 2020 6:11 PM (eight minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

i feel this, but think it has an important thematic role in the album, both in its lyrics and the way it turns the hard-and-fast formula inside out