So, anyone got any thoughts on Paul Westerberg's new one Folker? Or, more generally, on his career output, both solo and with the 'Mats?

There's not a Metascore yet for Folker, but I was kind of shocked by the blasting it took from Alternative Press. I hate to commit an ad hominem, but does anyone read AP anymore? I haven't cared what they had to say since it became a haven for articles on nu-metal and emo a few years back.

I'm a huge Westerberg fan, but I'm not going to blindly praise everything he does. On first listen, though, the record seems pretty good to me. "My Dad" and "Lookin' Up in Heaven" are both excellent tunes, musically and lyrically. My only complaint, thus far, is that too many of the songs are similar in tempo, making the album same-y. But I need to get more listening time with it.

I think, for the most part, he's had a fine solo career. His output, including the Grandpaboy stuff, has been pretty solid, if not spectacular, and 14 Songs is a great record on its own. But it's been a different KIND of career, which has alienated diehard 'Mats fans.

Replying to my own thread...sad. The fact that nobody seems to care about ol' Paul...sad.

After some spins, I have mostly positive things to say about Folker. There are a few dumb ideas (as Pitchfork points out, "Jingle" and "100$ Groom" are both pretty lacking in ideas) and that may explain the violent reaction by Alternative Press. But I renew my argument against the AP: does anyone read them anymore?

The good songs, the heartfelt ones, like "My Dad" and "How Can You Like Him?" more than make up for the duds. As a whole record, I give it an 8 out of 10. It's better than Suicane and Eventually but probably not better than Come Feel Me Tremble or Stereo.

I haven't gotten around to the new one, but since I have everything else the man has released, it must be a fait accompli.
I thought maybe I'd wait to discuss everything after I heard it. I mean, I saw the Replacements with and without Bob Stinson. They put on some of the best and one of the worst concerts I've ever seen. They were a great band, and most of Westerberg's solo output is also impressive, if not as revelatory.

Well, that's a start, considering I have nothing to add to the discussion of the new one. Don't feel too sad; nobody's commented on my Drive-By Truckers in Rock, and LT hasn't even talked about Old 97s newish song "Bloomington." That reminds me, I figured this should be put in another topic, although I'm not sure that will ignite mass discussion, but each time I've moved one of my lonely kids here, he/she got more attention.

I think Folker is a great album."Lookin' up in Heaven" and "My Dad" show Paul's sensitive side whereas "Jingle" is sarcastic and reminiscent of The 'Mats.

Am I the only one that actually loved Suicane and Mono[LIST]?

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Originally posted by mark f:
...and LT hasn't even talked about Old 97s newish song "Bloomington."

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I hadn't listened to the new album yet. The questions is; Bloomington, Indiana or Bloomington, Illinois?

Or Minnesota, for that matter...

Now Playing: "Bloomington" Old 97's Drag It Up (Sony)

My question back at ya...do the lyrics reflect YOUR Bloomington...or not? It's OK to ask Heather (killer name!) I hope this doesn't turn me into mr. persona non grata.

quote:

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Originally posted by MO'Brien:


Am I the only one that actually loved _Suicane_ and _Mono_[LIST]?

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I liked Mono alot...I was only talking about the "official" records as Paul Westerberg...but I should have included the Grandpaboy records. I thought Suicane was a little weak, in spots, but it's still a good record. It might be his weakest record as Paul Westerberg, although Eventually has some of the same flaws.

To respond to mark f...

I also saw some bad and some good 'Mats shows. I saw Westerberg three times as a solo artist, and he was excellent each time.

The Old 97's record is on an upswing for me...I've been liking it more and more each time I play it.

quote:

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Originally posted by mark f:
My question back at ya...do the lyrics reflect YOUR Bloomington...or not? It's OK to ask Heather (killer name!) I hope this doesn't turn me into mr. persona non grata.

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"She said that most girls who come to Bloomington only come to find husbands..."

"In the park that doubled as a parking lot, there was music and it was free..."


Anything to clear up the mystery? It doesn't SOUND like Bloomington, MN, which is a place I'm familiar with, but I haven't been back in over a decade, so who knows...

I think Bloomington, MN is out.

I think Heather would agree that "She said that most girls who come to Bloomington only come to find husbands..." sounds uncomfortably like a lot of Big 10 college towns, but that may be a weekend spent in the small, liberal arts haven of Grinnell, Iowa talking.

"In the park that doubled as a parking lot, there was music and it was free..."

Well, I can think of a few places the latter half describes in our current home town, but the first half? Not so much.

I'm going to say...it's the idealized Bloomington we find in all of us. How's that grab ya?

Now Playing: The Cards and Marlins underway in the second game of the double-header

Well, after unintentionally hijacking the thread with nary a commment regarding Mr. Westerberg, I finally got a hold of a copy of the album.

I agree entirely with you, pE (surprise, I know). This is a completely solid album. I haven't opened a copy of the Alternative Press in years, so I don't know what the current editorial bent is, but if they savaged Folker, I cannot imagine why.

Outside of the songwriting, I have to say one about Westerberg. For a guy that made his initial reputation with a band that at the outset had a hard time identifying the business end of a microphone when they were sober (which wasn't often), this is such a terrific sounding album. Did he produce it himself?

Now Playing: "Folk Star" Paul Westerberg Folker (Vagrant)

Just heard a weird but cool interview with Westerberg on the nationally syndicated sports talk show "The Jungle" with Jim Rome. Turns out Rome is big 'Mats fan from back in the day, and jumped at a chance to talk with Paul about the new record, the 'Mats, his relationship with his former bandmates, the Karl Mueller throat cancer benefit, and even a little sports.

A really cool interview, which should be available in the next few days on the Jim Rome website: www.jimrome.com

An addendum: there's also a good interview with Paul in the new issue of HARP. He hits some of the same topics, as well as telling a really sad story about the passing of his dad, and there's some excellent Replacements news: expanded reissues of the Twin/Tone records to come next fall on Ryko, with expanded reissues of the Warner records (from Rhino) also on the way. And, on top of that, the long rumored box set combining Twin Tone and Warners material might be in the cards for 2006 and a solo Paul "best of" is in the works for next year on Shout! Factory...

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