DTHOmnibusThursday, February 16, 19895
The Replacements reach musical maturity with new LP
By DOUG EDMUNDS
Staff Writer
The Replacements Don't
Tell a Soul
In a recent interview in Musician
magazine, Paul Westerberg was
quoted as saying, Tve come to
grips with the. fact that I'm an
artist." Coming from the lead
singer and songwriter for a band
as unpretentious and down-to-earth
as the Replacements, a
comment like this might very well
signal the proverbial beginning of
the end, the point at which self
image and attitude start to inter
fere with simply making great
rock n' roll. Luckily, this interpre
tation couldnt be farther from
the truth. The proof is in the
platter, kiddos, the brand-new LP
from the Replacements, that is.
ironically enough, ifs called Dont
Tell a Soul, which just might be a
self-conscious allusion to Wester
berg's new-found sense of identity
and purpose. After all, their last
album, released in early 1987, was
called Pleased to Meet Me, and now
that Westerberg and the rest of
the band have come to know each
other better, they've created
what is without question the
most ambitious, mature record of
their career.
I'm not going to cultivate a
common music critic cliche by
saying that with this record, the
Replacements have arrived. They
got here a long time ago. Anyone
who doesnt believe that need
only pick up a copy of 1984's Let
it Be or their major label review
from the following year, Tim.
These boys have been bashing
away and honing their craft ever
since they said "Sorry, Ma, forgot
to take out the trash" back near
the start of the decade. Each of
their records has been character
ized by raw energy, a musical
eclecticism and an often self
depracating sense of humor. The
past three LPs have also exhibited
the condsiderable songwriting
talent of Paul Westerberg. Dont
Tell a Soul offers all of the above
and more. It's a big step for the
group and, although there are a
couple of moments where it
seems like they might trip and fall,
the overwhelming majority of the
record proves otherwise.
The disc kicks off with a typical
Replacements mid-tempo pop
song, "Talent Show." Reminiscent
of several upbeat, bouncy
numbers from their past, this song
is a perfect album opener, immed
iately catchy and recognizable as
the 'Mats. "Back to Back," con
tinues in a similar vein, though the
production and arrangement are
noticeably more dense here, with
harmony backup vocals and some
melodic lead guitar work filling out
the sound. It's the third song, "We'll
inherit the Earth," that alerts the
listener to something totally new
coming from this band. An elec
trifying track both musically and
lyrically, this number has as much
passion and sweep as any U2 song,
but without the extravagant
vocal sty lings or any sense ,of
messianic posturing. The singer
sings about finding a note washed
ashore that has these words
written on the back: "Well inherit
the earth, but we dont want it
it's been ours since birth, whatcha'
doin' on it." in it's vivid and
powerful, unaffected delivery this
is the album's most striking song,
a centerpiece for everything else.
Next is the country-flavored
"Achin' to Be," which features
some of the band's best playing
and some of Westerberg's best
lyrics. Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars
and Slim Dunlap sound like a
genuine honkey-tonk backup band
by laying down a perfect musical
backdrop for Westerberg's por
trait of a lonely misunderstood girl
who Wants to be loved. "Thought
about, not understood, she's achin'
to be," he sings and compares her
to a poet "who finds it hard to
speakThe poems come out so
slowly, like the colors down her
cheek." Then in a nice twist at the
end he turns it around: "Thought
about and only loved she's achin'
to be just like me." Closing out
side one, the band gives us a gentle
'50s-style ballad called, "They're
Blind," another brilliant lyric about
another misunderstood soul.
Like "Bastards of Young," the
first song on side two of Tim,
"Anywhere's Better Than Here"
starts off with a long scream and
fades out with a repeated, thrash
ing tag line. Whether the parallel
was intentional or coincidental is
unimportant. What matters is
that this tune keeps the momen
tum going and pulls the listener
back into familiar Replacements
territory. The funky "Asking Me
lies" revolves around the biting
accusatory line, "You're telling me
questions, asking me lies." Here the
band sounds exactly like the Clash
around the time of Sandinista,
though westerberg's voice sounds
more like a raving Bono than a
pissed-off Joe Strummer. This
song is another attempt at some
thing new, but this time the group
comes up short.
For a taste of classic pop rock
'Mats style, check out "in Be You."
Creat music, great lyrics, great
concept: two people so bored with
themselves that one of them
proposes they pretend to be each
other. "I wont" will warm the
heart of any long-time Replace
ments fan with its pure crazed
rock 'n' roll sound and classic wes
terberg howling at a sentimental
loven "You want me to send a
letter or a note I wo-wo-wont!"
"Rock 'n' roll Ghost" is a sad-eyed,
confessional, haunting perfor
mance by Westerberg, with taste
ful low-key band accompaniment.
The record closes on a disap
pointing note-. "Darlin' One" simply
sounds like the band trying too
hard to end with a majestic bang.
This big arrangement just doesnt
do justice to the subject matter.
Fortunately, the previous 10 songs
are more than enough to over
power this weak finale.
The group has obviuosly put a
lot of effort and thoughtful
consideration into arranging and
producing these songs, a fact
which isnt really true of their
. earlier recordings. Though many
of the, rough edges have been
polished smooth, the album is
more consistent and more cohe
sive than any previous LP. Dont
miss a note of Dont Tell A Soul:
Now l "cant hardly wait" for the
tour to begin.
yA ChsS
( v-f h n )J
li ivimmncBiWT
Hams
310 W. Franklin 933-3767.
Famous for our home-made chips
and fries, deli style subs and sand
wiches, burgers and homemade soups.
Wide selection of imported beers along
with yard and half yards of beer. Ten
foot wide TV screen. Open 11A.M.
1A.M. Monday through Saturday,
11 A.M.-midnight Sunday. ABC per
mits. Mastercharge, Visa and American
Express.
rant's trademark but many authentic
Greek dishes are offered along with
sandwiches, homemade barbecue,
chicken, seafood and 60 brands of
domestic and imported beers and 25
wines.
Chapel Hill there is no finer dining than
that at The Siena Hotel. II Palio serves
breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its highly
trained chefs prepare magnificent Ital
ian cuisine that is served by attentive
staff in an elegant setting.
Columbia Street
Bakery and
Coffeehouse
107 N. Columbia St (next to
Copytron) 967-9150. Homemade soups,
salads, sandwiches, spinach turnovers,
and more. ("Best chili in town."-Anott.)
Plus fresh muffins, pastries, brownies,
cookies, breads. Beautiful birthday
cakes. With fresh-roasted coffee, cap
pucino, teas, juices.... Informal atmos
phere, reasonable prices. Open all day
through late evening, everyday.
i oro prom
Marco Polo
International
Restaurant.
Chefs from Italy and China pre
pare fabulous dishes from the finest
provinni veal, stuffed clams, to
szechuan shrimp. Thailand chicken and
spicy Indian curried dishes, pleasing
the most critical palate. Come for a
casual lunch or delightful dinner.'The
average price of our 100-item dinner
menu is about $8.00.
Cisco, Charlie and
Chang
As the name suggests, our menu
offers a delectable variety of interna
tional cuisines. Mexican, Oriental and
Cajun American specials make your
dining experience unforgettable.
Popular entrees include a mesquite
chicken sandwich, New Orleans Cajun
seafood gumbo and orange beef. All
ABC permits including domestic and
imported beers. Deck or inside dining.
Brass Rail
Come enjoy "Magic at Your Table"
on Friday and Saturday, Feb 24 & 25 at
The Brass Rail, 1301 E. Franklin St. 933
1323. Steaks, grilled seafood and
chicken dishes served in an elegant at
mosphere provide for a special evening
that won't kill your budget.
Mariakakis Restaurant
and Bakery
Famous in Chapel Hill since 1963,
offers a variety of famous Greek pas
tries and breads made fresh daily in its
on-premises bakery. Pizza is the restau-
. .mi. .li.... i....-.MWMiiijmi ijayii mL hjmi. m-MH ' 1
II Palio Ristor ante
There is no spectacle in all of
Europe like The Palio in Siena, Italy. In
Sal's Pizza
Wide variety of Italian specialties
featuring succulent daily specials
served with salad for just $3.15. All day
specials include Monday spaghetti and
eggplant, Tuesday lasagna and cheese
ravioli and Wednesday manicotti.
Thursday night's pizza buffet is just
$4.15. Sal's has all ABC permits and
offers a variety cf wines and beers.
University Pizza
Original Hand Made Pizza (thin
ner crust) and Pan Pizza (thicker crust)
are both available for delivery. A 33
minute delivery guarantee makes UP
the best delivery deal in town. Nightly
from 10P.M. until 2A.M. there are late
night specials on both 12" and 16"
pizzas. Call for more details. 968-9999.
v
V.-