Reissues: Interviews, Reviews and More

A few reissues-related links today:

» Billboard interview with Tommy and Paul. Despite the discouraging title of the article - "The Replacements opt for reissues over reunion", the interview itself doesn't completely rule out the possibility:

YOU'VE REUNITED TWICE IN THE STUDIO IN RECENT YEARS. YOU'VE SURELY RECEIVED A SIZABLE OFFER OR TWO FROM THE PRODUCERS OF COACHELLA, SO...

Stinson: We actually talked about it again this year, and I think there was a consensus that, you know, maybe it wasn't the right time (to reunite), or maybe it is the right time. Paul and I were kind of in cahoots talking to them, talking to (his manager) Darren (Hill). There were some things thrown out, and there were other festivals that wanted it too, if we were going to do it. At the last minute, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do, so we didn't do it. But I think Paul and I have something to offer each other still. I think that's pretty obvious when we get together.

Westerberg: I'm very hesitant about dragging the name out there and what damage we could do to the legend. Whatever we did, someone would want something else. If I went up there straight, they'd want us wasted. If we were f--ked up, they'd want us to be this or that. But, I don't know. The records hold the key to the whole thing. So if I was ever going to play, I'd like to play once the whole shooting match is out, because I don't think I could physically get up there and bellow these 18 songs (from) that first record. That's just sheer youth there. I can't find that in a bottle or a pill. I'm just too creaky for that.

» Before VH1 became Celeb-Reality TV, (not complaining here, I will be glued to my TV for the "Rock of Love II" reunion/steel cage match tonight), they were actually a music channel. I know! And thusly, they've posted a "10 Great Songs by The Replacements" feature on their web site. Their picks are from the first 4 discs being reissued and are accompanied by some vintage Mats photos.

» Rolling Stone posted a review of the "Let It Be" reissue, giving it 4 stars. Oddly, in an earlier review, the original issue was awarded 5 stars. So according to Rolling Stone, the addition of the new tracks caused a 20% drop in quality. Uhm....ok.

» Nj.com glowingly reviewed the reissues, focusing on "Let It Be". "Rhino's remastered, expanded reissues of the Replacements' catalog should help carry their legacy further, while also being a godsend to fans pining for lost songs and better sound. Rhino has revamped the first four indie Replacements albums, with their four major-label releases to follow this fall."

» Meant to post this link awhile back. Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) posted her favorite Westerberg lyrics on her NPR blog. Some great choices (including one of my all-time favorites, "If bein' afraid is a crime, we hang side by side".

"Sixteen Blue" Outtake - Listen up!

In other reissue-related news, VH1 has a preview of the reissued "Let It Be" streaming on their site, including 2 of the bonus tracks: A cover of "20th Century Boy" and an outtake of "Sixteen Blue" with alt. vocals. Both are pretty durn sweet.

And Jim Walsh has posted his thoughts on the reissues on MinnPost.com, which are sure to get you pumped up for next Tuesday. To a person, everyone I've heard from who has the actual reissues (not just promo CDs), has raved about the great packaging and Jim is no exception: "Painstakingly and lovingly assembled and produced by the band's original producer and manager (and Twin/Tone co-founder) Peter Jesperson, the original recordings are augmented by 27 previously unreleased tracks and tons of photos and memorabilia that flesh out yet again what many have called the best band of the '80s." He also includes some excerpts from the liner notes, I love the stuff he posted from Gina Arnold's "Let It Be" notes.

At the risk of being repetitive...WANT.

Win The Replacements Reissues

Contest Time! Thanks to Rhino, one lucky winner will receive a full set of the deluxe and remastered Replacements reissues: 'Sorry Ma', 'Stink', 'Hootenanny' and 'Let It Be'. To enter the contest, email your name and mailing address (so we can get them to you) to: matscontest@gmail.com

All entries must be in by Friday, May 3, 2008. Please, limit yourself to one entry. And hey, guy who enters every contest using 4 different email addresses to submit the same name and mailing address (you know who you are)? Don't do that this time. I can see through your fiendishly clever ruse.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! Not only will the winner get all 4 CDs, he or she will also get this killer limited edition 7" vinyl single - "I Will Dare" b/w "Color Me Impressed":



WANT. For those of us who aren't the lucky winner, the single will be available through select indie retailers, when/if I get more details on that, I'll post them.

Good luck!

April 22 is Getting Closer: Replacement Reissues

Less than 2 weeks until the Mats issues (April 22), woo hoo. New episodes of BSG and 'new' Mats music, so I beg to differ with Mr, Eliot- April is not the cruelest month after all. Also coming in April is the May issue of SPIN, which will have a big story on the Mats and the reissues. Tommy, Paul, Chris and Peter Jesperson were all interviewed for the feature, so it should be very interesting. The issue should be hitting newsstands in the next week or so. As for the reissues themselves, I haven't seen the final versions yet but everyone who has mentions how fantastic the packaging is, so even more reason to look forward to them (in case the music wasn't enough).

Pitchfork has a nice preview of what's to come, with clips of three of the bonus tracks from the reissues: "If Only You Were Lonely", "Perfectly Lethal", and a cover of "Temptation Eyes" (originally done by The Grass Roots). There are little widgets that (ostensibly) would let you listen to the songs here, but Blogger doesn't seem to enjoy the coding of the embedded player and won't display it. So you can listen to the songs on the News page.

Rhino also has a Listneing Party available, where you can listen to a bunch of tracks from the reissues. All of the songs included here are remastered versions of previously released stuff, none of the bonus tracks are available, which may leave you...unsatisfied....but if you;re eager to hear what the remastered tracks sound like, here's your chance:

Listening Party Tracklist:
- I Will Dare - Let It Be
- Take Me Down to the Hospital - Hootenanny
- Kick Your Door Down - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
- Dope Smokin' Moron - Stink
- Hootenanny - Hootenanny
- Johnny's Gonna Die - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
- Sixteen Blue - Let It Be
- Kids Don't Follow - Stink
- Within Your Reach - Hootenanny
- Unsatisfied - Let It Be
- Shiftless When Idle - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
- Stuck in the Middle - Stink

To get your listening party started in here, click on your desired party format:
QuickTime
WindowsMedia
RealPlayer

Punknews.org is giving away a full set of reissues, you can enter here. I'll be doing a contest too, just getting it sorted at the moment.

They're Coming Out - Replacements Reissues!

So much for my snarky comment about waiting since the Mesozoic era for the Mats reissues to actually come out - today comes the news that they are really and truly scheduled for release in April and October - of this year! No, seriously! Billboard says so: Long-Awaited Replacements Reissues Due In April. The highlights:

"The Replacements' first three albums and an EP will be reissued in remastered, expanded form this spring, completing a long awaited upgrade of the seminal band's early work. "Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash," "Stink," "Hootenanny" and "Let It Be" will arrive April 22 via Rhino, Billboard.com can reveal.

Originally released on the band's hometown label, Twin/Tone, the albums were prepped for reissue by Replacements manager Peter Jesperson, with involvement from the surviving band members."

Here is the bonus material for the Replacements reissues (previously unissued tracks marked with *):

"Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash":

"Raised in the City," live, 1980 - demo*

"Shutup," live, 1980 - demo*

"Don't Turn Me Down," live, 1980 - demo*

"Shape Up," live, 1980 - demo*

"You Ain't Gotta Dance," studio demo*

"Get on the Stick," studio demo*

"Oh Baby," studio demo*

"Like You," outtake*

"Get Lost," outtake*

"A Toe Needs a Shoe," outtake*

"Customer," alternate take*

"Basement Jam," rehearsal*

"If Only You Were Lonely"

"Stink":

"Staples in Her Stomach," outtake*

"Hey, Good Lookin'," outtake*

"(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock," outtake*

"You're Getting Married," solo home demo*

"Hootenanny":

"Lookin' for Ya"

"Junior's Got a Gun," outtake - rough mix*

"Ain't No Crime," outtake*

"Johnny Fast," outtake - rough mix*

"Treatment Bound," alternate version*

"Lovelines," alternate vocal*

"Bad Worker," solo home demo*

"Let It Be":

"20th Century Boy"

"Perfectly Lethal," outtake*

"Temptation Eyes," outtake*

"Answering Machine," solo home demo*

"Heartbeat -- It's a Lovebeat," outtake - rough mix*

"Sixteen Blue," outtake - alternate vocal*

The Sire reissues are coming out in October, no details on the bonus material yet, but based on this list, I'd say the Sire bonus material will be Kick. Ass. Can you ask for more than an 'official' Mats recording of "Heartbeat -- It's a Lovebeat"? No, you cannot.

Mats 3D?

Not much news happening lately. Seems like the best we can hope for in 2008 is the Mats reissues (with bonus material!) that are meant to be coming out later this year (of course, I have been hearing that they are coming out "this year" since the Mesozoic era, so I advise against the holding of one's breath). Til we have some real news, here are some links/items of interest for a dreary winter Sunday.

» An interview with Jim Walsh author of "The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting") from OregonLive.com.

» If you've never been able to get your hands on a copy of the bonus track "Wonderful Copenhagen", (from the EU version of SG), you can now but it on iTunes (not to pimp out iTunes, but it is a good place to find off-the-beaten path singles).

» Check out this clip from "At The Movies With Ebert And Roeper", with guest critic Michael Phillips sitting in for Ebert. They review "U2 3D" and Roeper refers tot hem as the best band of the past 25 years. Phillips says "I don't know about them being the best band of the past 25 years, what about the Replacements...there's a band I'd like to see in 3D".

Random PW Video from YouTube: PW being interviewed on the set of the "World Class Fad" video for MTV and then grabbing the mike to interview some random people on the set, including the director of the video, Zach Snyder (who later found fame and fortune as the director of "300").

More Westerberg Videos from "The Craft" show

Remember The Craft/PW show back in September? Video clips from the interview portion were posted back in October on the RRHOF site. But no performance videos have been posted. Thankfully, there is YouTube and more importantly, Mr. JimP who took a lot of video that night and has just posted a bunch of new clips from that show. And here they are:

World Class Fad


Dyslexic Heart


Can't Hardly Wait


Skyway