Tim [Vinyl]

Replacements | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (November 25, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Rykodisc
• ASIN: B001DPC42S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,892 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

The middle title among the triad of seasoned-but-not-depleted mid-'80s Replacements albums, Tim isn't as inspired as its predecessor, Let It Be, nor as involving as its successor, Pleased to Meet Me. Still, it's the work of a wondrous foursome near the peak of its powers, and, as collections of songs go, it may be Paul Westerberg's crowning achievement. "Kiss Me on the Bus," "Swinging Party," and "Here Comes a Regular" pretty much set the standard for the sloppy-drunk college-rock romanticism of the '80s. "Bastards of Young," "Lay It Down Clown," and "Left of the Dial" proved that the hard-charging Midwesterners were still scamps at heart...or at least could still fake it. This is the last album made by the original quartet (the excesses that would lead to guitarist Bob Stinson's early death prompted his dismissal after Tim came out) and provides a key to understanding the appeal of an astonishing band that did everything right except figure out how to become stars. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

US LP 180-gram vinyl pressing. Rhino. 2008.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "There are some who call me 'Tim'...", April 14, 2004

By 

Wheelchair Assassin (The Great Concavity) - See all my reviews

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute masterpiece, and I was there., November 7, 2005

By 

Reuben I. Thaker MD MPH "RITMDMPH" (USA) - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the greatest albums ever made! Buy this!!, November 19, 2005

By 

Jim Gullett (An American Boy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tim (Audio CD)

My words cannot appreciate this beautiful piece of mid-eighties rock n' roll glory. This was my first Mats album and after becoming a big fan, I have noticed that Paul Westerberg has became this metaphysical saint-like figure in the audible cosmic atmosphere called "rock music." From talking to different sorts of people, I have noticed that Westerberg has activated two extremes within the hearts of folks who have heard the Mats or Westerberg's solo stuff... they love him or hate him. How on God's green Earth can you hate a genius like Westerberg? From those who adore Paul, they have noticed that Westerberg has the ability to write songs that are about what an individual has felt or is currently feeling or going through. This is done in such a deep way, his lyrics are connected online to the human heart, mind, and nervous system.

All these songs are good. "Hold My Life" kicks off the album and this particular track is one of those songs that I am attached to. The Replacements dive into a pool of diversity on this album, beautifully blending the elements of popular American music past and present. "I'll Buy" is a rockabilly/country rocker, "Bastards of Young" is an electric anthem that is timeless, full of distorted rage and the acne of innocent youth. "Kiss Me On The Bus" is a romantic ditty, placing the listener into a realm where you mystically envision a first kiss, or remember your own. Country, folk, rock,...whatever it is. The Mats took these genres and made them their own.

Tim is the last album to have guitar-wildman, Bob Stinson, and their first major label debut on the then-hot Sire Records. I should also mention the album is produced by Tommy Ramone.

Maybe someday, Sire or Warner Bros, will rerelease this album with bonus tracks, not to mention the rough version of "Can't Hardly Wait."

God Bless Paul Westerberg