Today marks the 16th anniversary of the passing of Bob Stinson, founding guitarist for the Minneapolis band. That makes this list a little bittersweet.
But without further ado, here are my favorite 10 Replacements songs.
10. "Answering Machine" - Let It Be
Maybe a little antiquated technologically but unrequited love will never go out of style.
9. "Color Me Impressed" - Hootenanny
In my opinion, the earliest (of many) great songs by the Replacements.
8. "Achin' to Be" - Don't Tell a Soul
From the Replacements stab at the pop market, Don't Tell a Soul is a much maligned album to many fans. This song, however, is great and the title perfectly fits the song.
7. "Merry Go Round - All Shook Down
From the Replacements' swan song (or what many consider Paul Westerberg's first solo album) comes a song that stands up to their best.
6. "Alex Chilton" - Pleased to Meet Me
Paul Westerberg managed to put one of his best songs in memorial to one of his biggest influences, Alex Chilton of the Box Tops and Big Star.
5. "Sixteen Blue" - Let It Be
Even though I didn't hear this song until I was in my mid-20s, it still manages me to put me in the confused mind of my 16-year-old self. Genius.
4. "I Will Dare" - Let It Be
The next three can interchange between spots 2-4 at any time. The leadoff track from the album that stands as, arguably, their best. With Peter Buck of their peer group R.E.M. helping on guitar.
3. "Hold My Life" - Tim
One of my first handmade cassettes was Tim on one side and Pleased to Meet Me on the other. I listened to that tape every day for about a year. Auto-reverse, I love you. Love this track. And I still don't know the words: Razzle dazzle, razzle roam, razzle dazzle razzle die...?
2. "Here Comes a Regular" - Tim
Bittersweet. Sad. Comforting. Lovely.
1. "Can't Hardly Wait" - Pleased to Meet Me
My favorite Replacements song, by a huge margin. Just an amazing song. If you haven't heard the version from the Tim sessions, check it out. I fell in love with this song on Pleased to Meet Me ... the demo version from the Tim sessions that I heard years later made me love it even more.
Any songs I'm missing? What's your favorite?
