(Knox News) Let's establish this: If you never heard The Replacements in the band's 1980s heyday, you owe it to yourself to listen now. The Replacements were the soul of rock 'n' roll - wild, raucous, smart and dangerous.
These four discs complete the deluxe re-release of the Minneapolis band's complete catalog. Following three albums and an EP on the independent Twin/Tone Records (all re-released earlier this year with bonus tracks), The Replacements signed with Sire Records, seemingly poised for the big time. "Tim" and (especially) "Pleased To Meet Me") hold up in all their glory.
Even with the departure of guitarist Bob Stinson before recording began, "Pleased to Meet Me" is the band's most stunning moment - the disc blends the ferocity of punk with gorgeous pop (the string- and brass-laden "Can't Hardly Wait" may be the most sublime rock song of the 1980s).
The surprise is that the group's last two discs ("Don't Tell a Soul" and "All Shook Down") are better than you remember.
At the time, "Soul" was seen as a sellout. Doubtless, the group intentionally watered down the sound in hopes of scoring a radio hit (the effort failed), but the songs, including "Talent Show," "I'll Be You" and "Achin' to Be," stand up well.
"All Shook Down" is sometimes viewed as singer Paul Westerberg's first solo album rather than a band effort, but the tracks still crackle with what was left of the band's spirit.
The four discs many bonus tracks (mostly early takes of album cuts) generally just let you in on how Westerberg and company changed each one for the better.
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