The Batlord

The Replacements: Let It Be

The Replacements are yet another band that I'm familliar with but not that familiar with. So, yeah, enough with the dull intro...




If I had to compare this to something it would have to be London Calling. They're both albums that are making the transition from punk to pop, the vocals are notably similar, and they just, well...kinda sound alike. I'm not the biggest fan of London Calling, but this album is pretty fantastic.

First of all, this album's punk influence isn't dulled to the extent that it is on London Calling. LC lacks a certain energy that this album has in bags, which makes it's pop hooks even more infectious than LC's.

Secondly, I think that the "experiments" on London Calling are rather shallow and only serve to add some extra personality to the pop songs. Let It Be is more organic though. It adds country and power pop to the punk in a way that is seamless and never feels like a gimmick.

Finally, I never quite noticed it before, but listening to The Replacements made me realize it. Without the anger and energy of early Clash, the political lyrics fail to arouse anything but indifference. Not that I cared in the first place, but it sort of makes me disconnect from the album. Paul Westerberg, though his voice sounds sort of similar to Joe Strummer, has a voice that expresses emotions effortlessly, and along with his much more personal lyrics, really makes you relate to the album. From an emotional standpoint London Calling just feels two dimensional and dull in comparison.

It might be weird to review one album by bashing another one, but it's just the way it came together in my mind. So, whatevs. All you need to know is The Replacements > The Clash.

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