I get static around this constantly. I feel like every dude who gets their identity rocks off by turning a blind eye to the obvious implications of the Replacements’ middle-class resentments is eager to discount the political content of Paul Westerberg's best songs. And I get that the frontman himself is too insecure to validate what is obvious. But like Beggars Banquet and Darkness on the Edge of Town, Tim is a masterpiece of class resentment percolating in the dispositive years of the early-Reagan days. On and on and on and on — which side are you on, boys? That’s the old union singalong. Here's a tweet I wrote about it, and a New Yorker article as well. God, what a beautiful mess.
Discussion about this post
No posts
I'm convinced that had the Ed Stasium mix of TIM had come out in 1985, it would be my canonical all-time favorite album by anybody instead of LET IT BE.
I read the New Yorker piece twice when it came out - really opened up the album for me and feels like a part of the reissue / new mix whenever I go back to those songs now. Thank you!