Customer Reviews

14 Songs

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

With "14 Songs," Paul Westerberg released exactly the kind of album you expect when the leader of one of the most influential bands in history breaks off to tell his own stories. The quality of such records rarely matches the ambitions behind them, but "14 Songs" is one amazing album.

Like all the best punks, Paul is a smart, smart man, with an affection for wordplay and 9th chords. He puts that intelligence to great use right away with "Knockin' on Mine," a rocker about reading(!). And then Paul lets his romantic side shine, with the heartbreaking "First Glimmer," "Runaway Wind," and my fave, "Even Here We Are." Paul moves effortlessly through hard-driving post-punk ("Something is Me," "Down Love"), confessional pop ("Dice Behind Your Shades," "Things"), humorous commentaries ("Someone I Once Knew," "Mannequin Shop"), and mid-tempo rockers.

Well, so did the 'Mats, you say. And you're right - but this album is packed with idiosyncrasies that are pure Paul. It's great to hear albums that seem to flow from one's soul, and "14 Songs" is one of those albums. Some of the critiques complain that too many of the 14 songs are filler, but I hear no filler here - every tune is vital, robust, and brimming with the joy of a great artist finding a new path to rock and roll.

OK, here's the deal on this CD...

-- The Replacements were lovingly known as "The Mats" in Minneapolis, MN, from which they hailed

-- A couple of years ago I read in some magazine that "Let It Be" by The Mats was one of the Top Ten most favorite albums as rated by college students

-- This album is NOT like "Let It Be"

And to anybody who's familiar with the history of The Mats but doesn't like this album...well, have another adult beverage.

14 Songs is Paul Westerberg throwing off the mask. Admitting, yes, that the last Replacements album ("All Shook Down") was his alone, practically...and that the punk/grunge expectation tied to that band's name was starting to bum him out, big time.

So he goes solo. "Ego trip," the thrash-faithful scream. Have another adult beverage, I say to them.

"An English teacher from Vancouver asked me to write something for her students." So starts the album ("Knocking on Mine") as Westerberg lets us in on his problem: So-called intellectuals are now proclaiming him the James Joyce of the '90s! His reaction to that (unwanted) praise is at first reactionary ("Wisdom is ignorance"), then measured ("First Glimmer" and "Runaway Wind" are beautiful, looking-back-in-fondness songs). In between, "World Class Fad" and "Something is Me" remind the faithful that you can never fully escape the stuff that goes with being born into The Mats family.

But most of all, Westerberg finally gives us a glimmer...musically and lyrically...that he's done with the broken hands, falling off of stages, .36 blood alcohol content performances that The Mats were (in)famous for. If you listen closely to "Black Eyed Susan" you might become convinced that this was the work of a guy who decided to stay home on a Friday night and just fool around with his guitar, a drum machine, and a crude 4-track recording system...a guy who had decided that was better than going out and getting blasted out of his mind.

In other words, a guy who had finally started growing up.

"14 Songs", an apt title for someone constantly stating the obvious in often revelatory ways, has been part of my life for over a decade. I remember the day I bought it...summer before freshman year in high school and miniture golf would never cut it again. All those hormones and songs such as "First Glimmer" and "Runaway Wind", quite a heady mix. I latched onto the cynicism of "World Class Fad", "Dice Behind Your Shades" and, really, the whole album. "Things" though, remains the melancholic lament that rings true over and over whenever i'm love sick. It's the parts more than the whole, whatever that means, that make this the bluest and truest album I own.

Yes, this album is a beauty. I've listened to this cd umpteen times since it was first released and it still amazes me when i read negative comments about it from so-called Westerberg fans. First Glimmer and Runaway Wind are gorgeous heartbreaking tunes easily a match for his best Replacements songs and the rockers like Silver Naked Ladies, Knocking on Mine really hit the spot. This and the follow-up album Eventually are unrecognised classics that will hopefully be re-evaluated in time. If you've never heard this or Eventually buy them, or if you initially dismissed them in the post 'Mats fall out give them another chance. They're better than his acclaimed new cd Suicaine Gratification in many ways but hell, buy that too, the man's a god.

Paul Westerberg knows that love is not a victory march, but so what, he can still kick up his heels & cut a soft shoe shuffle. This Mpls native son knows a thing or three, & shows it on his stellar 1993 solo record, "14 Songs." Hailed as one of our greatest American songwriters - I say Westerberg co-signs w/ Bob Dylan - he cuts loose from the get go & exceeds all expectations.

Only Westerberg can perform magic like this: Swinging a mighty axe all over "World Class Fad," picking up the pieces & blowing a kiss on "Runaway Wind" & then disappearing completely on "Even Here We Are." Do not try this at home...or even on stage.

"14 Songs" is a national buried treasure & as the case w/ all Westerberg solo releases - whilst a critic's darling - it gets treated commercially like a groom stood up at the altar. It isn't right. Brother Paul, you need to get yourself a damn good time. D.G.T. Live it to the letter. "Boom, boom, out go the lights..."

I've had this album since day one, so I finally wanted to say something. This is, undoubtably, the best album I've ever heard. It emotes the clearest memories of myself when I was all full of ambition and youth. Paul's music hits me right the soul the way Mingus would have liked. He doesn't talk smack and he speaks with more soul than any other artist around. Totally inspiring. . . I don't know what else to say. If you don't already have this album, get your hands on it. A decision you'll never regret. Trust me my friend.

Consistency has been the main problem with Westerberg's solo albums. He's still one of the best songwriters around, but for every "Blackeyed Susan" there's a clunker like "World Class Fad". Overall, it's still worth adding to your collection.

Released in the summer of 1993, 14 Songs was Paul Westerberg's first solo album after The Replacements disbanded. Around that time he recorded two songs that ended up on the soundtrack for the Cameron Crowe film, Singles. 14 Songs, just like Westerberg's other solo efforts, has not been treated well by critics or mainstream listeners but that's fine though, he proves that you don't need lots of critical accalim and radio airplay to find an audience. It's strange though because I always thought that most of Paul's work with The Replacements and as a solo artist are very radio friendly and I never understood why things didn't work out that way for him.

I have to say though, 14 Songs is a real gem from start to finish in my opinion. It may take a few listens to really get into it but I wore this album out once I came to love it. Not a single bad track here. One of the things I love most about this record is that it's mostly a fun one, very energetic and catchy. Songs like "A Few Mintues Of Silence", "Dice Behind Your Shades", and "Mannequin Shop" are great to dance to and sing along with. Also, "Down Love" is a fun punk song that is better then most punk rock songs I have ever herd. There are a couple of slow tracks like "Runaway Wind" and "Things" which are really beautiful and folk driven.

Another album that should have sold millions but for the few of us who are lucky enough to discover it, you won't ever regret it.

It took me 5 plays to become completely captivated with this CD but after that I was hooked. A good range of rockers and whisper sweet ballads with great stuff in between.

The lyrics are amazing - I expect no less from Paul Westerberg. Runaway Wind, First Glimmer, Black Eyed Susan, Things, and Even Here We Are (a precursor to the haiku-like Bookmark on Suicaine Gratifaction) are standouts for me but I really like every song on it. No waste material here.

This is not for someone who is expecting to hear another Tim or Let It Be but if you liked All Shook Down or Don't Tell a Soul, give this one a listen or rather 5 or 6 listens. It's well worth the effort. After you love it, go get Eventually and Suicaine Gratifaction!

Simply the best rock and roll album ever. Westerberg's songwriting is unmatched. Outstanding cuts include world class fad, a few minutes of silence and mannequin shop.