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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"There are some who call me 'Tim'...", April 14, 2004
This review is from: Tim (Audio CD)
It may have a rather modest title, but "Tim" is one monster of an album, easily deserving of the considerable praise it's earned over the years since its release. Led by the impassioned howl of Paul Westerberg and the incendiary guitars of Bob Stinson, the Replacements here cranked out a memorable collection of rousing anthems and brash rockers, with a few curveballs throw in just for good measure. Westerberg's lyrics told tales of hopes, dreams, fears, and disappointments in a way that just anyone can relate to, without pandering to the lowest common denominator like so many of the lousy "look at me; I'm so angst-ridden" alterna-lite bands crowding the airwaves nowadays. The result is a collection of stories that's alternately cocky, poignant, and upbeat, and always insightful. The album's finest cut, "Bastards of Young," a Springsteenesque tale of the struggles of the working class, especially deserves to be quoted at length: "The ones that love us best
Are the ones we'll lay to rest
And visit their graves on holidays at best
And the ones that love us least
Are the ones we'll try to please
If it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand." There are a few other classics to be found here as well. There's the twangy foot-stomper "I'll Buy;" the yearning "Kiss Me on the Bus;" the raucous "Dose of Thunder;" the swinging, ultra-catchy "Waitress in the Sky;" and the heart-rending domestic woe of "Little Mascara." And it's all topped off with "Here Comes a Regular," an acoustic ballad about the bonds between drinking buddies that somehow manages to be both depressing and uplifting at the same time. It takes a truly gifted composer to pull off such a song, but fortunately Westerberg is more than up to the task, as he more than amply proves on this album. Vocally, musically, and lyrically, "Tim" is a classic album that belongs in any good music collection. Period.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute masterpiece, and I was there., November 7, 2005
This review is from: Tim (Audio CD)
Among Mats fans in Houston Tx, this was regarded as their crowning jewel by unanimous account! Recognizing its brilliance, feels like having seen Van Gogh for a genius before the world took notice, and then seeing the bandwagon begin.
Westerberg achieved high art when he expressed the sorrow and pain and joy of growing up, all at once. So complex for such simple songs here.
My favorite line of all time 'little girls keep growing up, playing makeup and wearing guitar'. Was that not growing up 'punk rock' before it became a shopping mall fad?
In the summer they played a show in Galveston, if 'played', =30 minutes of missed bar chords before PW crashed into the drum kit. Shows over punkers! Wow, what a privilege to experienced this moment in history, the beginning and end of American underground rock, and this their crowning jewel.
It is so good, any cool 15 year old can pick it up and instantly get why it is brilliant.
It is timeless, like any great work of art, music or otherwise.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I didn't like this at first, but over time I grew to love it! This is great 80's indie rock!, December 28, 2005
This review is from: Tim (Audio CD)
I'll admit that the first couple of times I heard "Tim" that I only liked about five songs ("Hold My Life", "Kiss Me On The Bus", "Waitress In The Sky", "Swingin' Party" and "Here Comes A Regular"). These are obviously the standout tracks here and the ones with the best musicianship and lyrics, but the others are also good - they will definitely grow on you. The problem with most of the album is (and this is the reason it took some time to like) is that singer Paul Westerberg has a kind've unlikable voice at first (he sounds like he's been drinking whisky every day for the past 10 years). He's not horrible, but I can certainly see some people not liking him on their first listen (you'll grow to like him, though - he definitely has a very cool personality). Thankfully all the songs here are good, and the musicianship and lyrics are fantastic. The five songs I mentioned before all have very deep and memorable lyrics that will definitely grab your attention - "Here Comes A Regular" is an especially classic track. Unfortunately the production isn't all that good (I don't think this has been remastered yet), but it isn't bad enough to annoy anyone. The album itself came out in 1985, and you can imagine the impact it had (NOTHING sounded like it (or still sounds like it) - many bands even today are influenced by The Replacements). It has a sort of raw and edgy indie rock sound with a folk and country twist - it's pretty unique, basically. Overall I think that indie rock fans and those interested in music's history will love this album (eventually)! Absolutely recommended!
Highlights include:
"Hold My Life"
"Kiss Me On The Bus"
"Waitress In The Sky"
"Swingin' Party"
"Here Comes A Regular"
the rest are good, too
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