Dad Rock: Best band ever? May be Replacements
In 1989, Musician magazine (then a fairly important tastemaker) declared the Replacements "the last, best band of the 80s." (Color them impressed.) That cover piece reportedly prompted Jon Bon Jovi to write the publication in protest: "How can the Replacements be the best band of the 80s when I've never even heard of them?"
The arena rocker wasn't alone. Though the Replacements recorded seven full-length albums and an EP over the course of a decade, none of those records went gold. But the band's combination of raw emotion, wry humor and ragged bar-band power generated a dedicated cult following and influenced numerous musicians who went on to greater commercial success. (And singer/songwriter Paul Westerberg's clever wordplay made him an icon of the alternative rock scene.)
Among those who consider the Replacements their favorite thing are Jim Lenahan and Patrick Foster, hosts of Paste BN's Dad Rock podcast. In this episode, they talk about the reunited Replacements (Lenahan just went to their concert in Washington, D.C.) and look back at their incredible, and varied, output of sadly beautiful music. Take a listen; you won't be unsatisfied.
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