All for Nothing/Nothing for All

Replacements | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 28, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 28, 1997
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002NIU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,747 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of the best bands spawned in the postpunk era--scratch that, one of the best bands ever--was the Replacements. They perfected the art of making highly melodic, heart-rending tunes through the teenage vernacular of brash, loud, scrappy rock. Ardently anticommercial, they held out as long as possible against the rise of compact disks, MTV, and signing to a major label. Though it could be argued that their earlier indie albums were infused with an urgency and rawness (and the indomitable guitar of the late Bob Stinson) that bespoke of genius, All for Nothing, Nothing for All is proof that growing up did not equal growing old. This is a best-of compilation from their Sire Records years, 1985 to 1990, though selecting one Replacements song over another is sometimes impossible. The first disk collects the great songs from the albums from those years, while the second disk is a mix of unreleased tracks, B-sides, live versions, and a mischievous cover of "Cruella De Ville," recorded for a Disney compilation. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is this the place to start with one of the best bands ever?, May 13, 2001

By 

mymurkyworld (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All for Nothing/Nothing for All (Audio CD)

There are those that claim the Replacements, at the very least, as best band of the 1980s, I think they are much much better than that. Their impact has been felt far and wide, check any MP3 site and the numbers of bands that quote the `Mats as an influence will be too numerous to list. Great songwriters such as Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Ryan Adams of Whiskeytown have acknowledged them as a major inspiration. The Replacements style was part punk, part melodic, they could both rock and deliver crushingly sad heartfelt ballads. As to who do they sound like, there are some British influences in a kind of Mott-the-Rolling-Clash way, and New York punks such as Johnny Thunders/New York Dolls and occasionally the Ramones are also in there, but really they just sound like the Replacements. The question is then, is this collection the best place to start? There are 2 discs here one of "hits" and one of outtakes and rarities (to attract the fans who already have the hits). The trouble with the "hits" disc is that part of the appeal and charm of the band was their unpredictability and inconsistency. Over an album of songs, or even during a single song, they could veer from brilliance to trash, leaving a trail of half developed ideas in amongst moments of pure genius. So a disc of "hits" is like all chocolate filling and no cake, the second disc mish-mash of outtakes, alternate versions, and live tracks then is almost more representative of the band's true personality. Also no two fans would agree with any track selection of "hits" (no "IOU" or "Little Mascara"), particularly with nothing from the Twin/Tone period, thus missing the mighty "Let it Be" album. Don't get me wrong there are lots of great tracks here, like "Can't Hardly Wait" in two versions, both stunning, and the wonderful loser ballad "Here Comes A Regular", for that alone it deserves it's four stars. So if you have a casual interest or liked a track you heard one time, then by all means go for "All for Nothing". However, if you want to discover one of the great rock'n'roll bands then track down the full length CDs "Let it Be", "Tim" and "Pleased To meet Me" in that order, and you will not be disappointed.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before You Buy Anything By the Goo Goo Dolls...., December 14, 1999

By 

Joseph A. Polak (Perth Amboy, NJ) - See all my reviews

This collection is an absolute must have. If you went to high school in the late 1980s, Paul Westerberg (rivaled by only Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes) was the voice of teen angst. What makes Paul & the Mats stand out is that they never patronized or even catered to the young adults. They didn't care who listened---or who didn't. They gave the finger to everybody, while playing like the final moments of a house party. This collection, although stunted by the lack of anything from the Twin Tone years, is a handbook for anyone who wants to start a band. Flush all pretentions down the toilet and just write and play great songs. Enough of this sociological banter. Three words--ADD TO CART! Don't be surprised if you find yourself playing Alex Chilton over and over again until your ears bleed!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful losers, April 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: All for Nothing/Nothing for All (Audio CD)

In a way, this is the perfect Replacements 'Greatest Hits' collection. Too expensive to attract any new fans and sure to piss off longtime fans as they shell out $23 for that one B-side they don't have already. Plus, as an added bonus, it doesn't even have any of the Twin Tone catalogue. Thus, even half a decade after they've disbanded, the Mats manage to flirt with greatness and then fail spectacularly.