Customer Reviews

Stink

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The genre police may not find this genuine 'hardcore'. But I remember my reaction when I first started to hear 'hardcore' in the early 80s -- the Replacements had already been there and done that, but way better, on the 'Stink' EP.
One slow song, and a fistfull of loud fast funny anthems - how can you not own an album that contains a song called F--- School? My fave is "Gimme Noise" an attack on another Mpls band that jumped on the post-punk bandwagon. (The Suburbs)

I give you my jacket
You give me your glamor
Gimme that racket
Gimme that hammer

And then Bob Stinson rips into an undefinable self-destructing guitar break. You could say Stink is as much Bob's record as Paul's. Of all the Mats discs this one probably shows off Bob's gonzo playing the best. Which is a nice reminder that even though the songs are funny, this record isn't a joke.

Thought that would catch your attention.

The second instalment from the greatest band in the world and it rocks big style. For me, this and the Huskers 'Metal Circus' are the two greatest ep's of them all.

'Stink' is 20 years old but it is timeless. Wouldn't be out of place nowadays, but hey that was the Replacements for you. Ahead of their time , but at the same time so right in time!

Show me a punk album that is 20 years old and still makes you want to take on the world.

It's brash, funny and swaggers like an alcoholic on payday!

Westerberg defined and called to arms a generation with 'Kid's Don't Follow', while 'Dope Smokin' Moron' and 'Goddamn Job' are as funny as they would get.

If you want punk straight in your face get this album, if not check out the charts!!

This album comes at you full force and doesnt relent. The early days of the greatest band. They're like an uncut diamond on this album. Not polished up for the masses but you see a little of whats beneath the grime on the surface.

...The early Replacements albums were inspired bits of punk genius, a decade ahead of their time. Stink, like Sorry Ma, Hoot, Let it Be and Tim blended punk fury with intelligent, deep thoughts like few bands have ever pulled off.

Play this one loud and down a couple mickey's big mouths for Bob while you're at it. This is the real Replacements to me. It's hard and fast. Punk, but not Dead Kennedy punk. It's one of their best and when they played stuff like this live, going to clubs did not suck. Each song is a classic delivered like only Westerberg can. This is far superior to their later stuff. Sorry, no acoustic numbers.

Not hard like Black Flag, not mad like the Clash, not well dressed like the Jam, not simple like the Ramones. Minneapolis had the finest rock band for these very reasons. They were loud, they were funny, they wore stupid clothes, and they were real. They were a cartoon gone bad. Not wrong, but like a comic book that came with with beer and cigs. One minute you laughed at them, the next you were scared to death by how much they really knew about you and how you felt. What would you get in the next issue? Who knew? It made life worth living for a whole lot of people. Hopefully it still does.

This CD is just another example of how the Replacements defied a trend that music had to be 'picture perfect' all the time. Unconcerned with image and presentation they cranked out some of the best rock without worrying about whether they'd be on the cover of some 'Rock Star' zine.

If you're from Minneapolis then you'll laugh when you hear the first track which starts with the Minneapolis Police breaking up a party and the Replacements retaliate by exploding into 'Kids Don't Follow'. Each song afterwards just follows consistently with high energy and funny lyrics. Ain't no sin in that...

If you know all their more poppy tunes on the radio play lists, you don't own this album. It is short, sweet and makes you feel embarassed to abmit you're a Replacements fan if you don't own a copy . This defines the Replacements, although not the definitive album, for those who live off of todays fly by sound bytes. White & Lazy is a song and a self descriptive anthem. Loud, obnoxious, drive faster when you hear it and makes you wanna break stuff sound!

Rolling Stone gives this record two stars. To heck with Rolling Stone. Stink is a hardcore potpourri which has withstood seven years of my CD-collection weedings, re-weedings, and re-reweedings. It's scrum-dilly-icious!

This a great album from a great band but this probably isn't the first Replacements album one should buy. Not a bad bunch of songs but very short. I doubt if it clocks in at over twenty minutes.