Let It Be

After reading the Wikipedia article about the band and the album, I was curious. Well, you can hear the echoes of punk. I can't recognize a really big development like with other post-punk bands. I didn't find the album annoying but boring. There wasn't a track that made me sit up and take notice and that I would have wanted to listen to again. 3/5

Pretty good. I need to give it another listen though.

8/10

I Will Dare Unsatisfied Sixteen Blue Answering Machine

Really struck a chord with me. Super raw at some points and introspective. Really liked this one.

I overlooked this at first listen, but it's actually so perfect. I'm glad I gave it a second shot. Definitely wouldn't have appreciated it as a teenager, I don't think. Too understated. It reminds me a lot of R.E.M. and a bit of Hüsker Dü at times? Why is this so fucking good?

The album hits the ground running with a catchy riff and keeps the energy going throughout. I wish I had heard this when I was younger. I would've loved this in high school when I was obsessed with the Clash. This is so well-rounded. You can't predict what the next song will sound like based on the first, but it's still a cohesive sound.

Not sure if it my state of mind, but this album kicks butt

The first few songs had me thinking we were heading in some kind of punk-rock direction, which worried me a bit. The album took a left turn though, and I found some safe ground in the trio of 'Androgynous', 'Black Diamond', and 'Unsatisfied', where especially the latter one was very good. The rest of the album continued along this trajectory: some punk-ish rock songs with 'Sixteen Blue' between, which sounded completely different (in a good way). Keep making these types of quite dramatic switches makes the album feel a bit in-cohesive to me. At the end I very much enjoyed the tracks I stated, but the more energetic post and rock songs were not for me at all. In summary I think this puts it at a weak 3. There were some good songs, but most were not to my liking, sadly.

First it was punk, then it was pop and more like the Smith's with some very punk tracks thrown in (what other style would "Gary's Got a Boner" be in?). The punk was ok and the slower songs not really my thing. Just a bit incoherent. Strong 2 star.

Don’t hate it but also don’t love it. Upbeat, high energy. Sometimes the shouting is a bit much. Some cool guitar riffs. Appreciate the lyrics of ‘Androgynous’ - definitely ahead of its time.

Great album

While it wasn’t terrible, nothing was great enough to stick out in my mind worthy of listening again. I gave it a few rounds, and it was decent background music to go about my day, but nothing special. Listen again:no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song:

Huge album that filled America post punk and Indy scene of the 80’s (thank god!)

More American Post-Punk / Indie Rock / Alternative Rock / College Rock from the mid-1980s. It's OK, but nothing special.

Don’t know much about punk but this fucks It’s refined and raw at the same time Cannot wait to listen to this again before my rugby game this weekend Solid 4

Perhaps not for my grandmother but this is another example of shit rules. Such a sick album to come out when it did. This is close to my brand of 80's "post-punk". I remember listening to this in high school bc Tanner made me and thinking eh but since becoming an REM fanboy this really stands out more clearly as a great album. Gary's Got a Boner is so good. I'm happy the list made me relisten to this as I will continue to relisten to this.

Gary's not the only one with a boner around here. This album rocked. It checked all of the boxes of what a great album needs. The album flows really well with a great variety of tones, volumes, and genres. The lyrics and topics across the album are a perfect blend of being hilarious and serious. Listened to this album three times and had the same amount of enjoyment. The only downside to this album is that I think it started off too slow with the first two songs. They didn't hit as hard as the remainder of the album. Great songs: Black Diamond, Unsatisfied, Sixteen Blue, Gary's Got a Boner, We're Coming Out, Answering Machine (honestly can list almost all of them) This album was clearly pushing boundaries at the time, and I'm sure angered a lot of boomers, making it even more entertaining. Soft 5/5

Is this a 5/5? It might be, the songs are great, earnest, and the album sequencing is near-perfect. I will dare is such a great opener, followed by favorite things is so good. I love Androgynous too. This album picks up right where The Clash left off for me. I love this record

One second its bash and crash proto-skatepunk the next its reflective post-punk and the next its a Randy Newman pisstake about genderqueer lovers. This is a defining album in the list of "Albums Mack gets and likes but doesn't much care about" which puts it at a 4.

53/1001 - British James Hetfield voice and sloppy musicianship.

My kind of punk

jangly. underwhelming. I still don't get what people see in these guys.

I have an emotional antipathy to The Replacements. They were the paradigmatic cool-kids bank when I was in high school (that I didn't even hear of until well after high school). While the kids smoking clove cigarettes were listening to The Replacements, I was listening to Billy Ocean. In any event, this was just okay. I can see how a disaffected teenager in 1984 would have loved it, particularly compared to the bulk of music on pop radio at the time. But not earth-shattering.

Don't like this genre

Not for me but had a bit of life. Earns its 3 for "Gary's got a boner"

nota 2 - pelo péssimo cover de Black Diamond do Kiss - como eu sempre digo: "Deixa a música quieta lá..."

I see why this is so influential among the punk scene. I don't love it personally, it is a little rough for my taste, but Androgynous is an all timer.

Kinda punky rock

Digestible punk, what's not to like?

I don't have anything new and exciting to say about this album

March 7, 2025 HL: "I Will Dare", "Androgynous", "Unsatisfied", "Answering Machine" Cool beans; never gave the Replacements much attention, even though they keep popping up in various other people's greatest albums lists (Paste*, Rolling Stone, et al) On paper, a buncha messy drunks from Minnesota ripping off Big Star, Kiss and the New York Dolls doesn't sound like anything I'd want to listen to once. But after listening to Let it Be twice, there's oodles of (juvenile) charm and memorable melodies that make it all worth it. *Paste's 300 is probably the most interesting greatest albums list I've come across (aside from this one!!), not just because it balances the usual suspects (Beatles, Springsteen) with RYMcore favourites (Fishmans), but also features Asian (Fishmans) and South American artists that critics from N.A. tend to ignore. Also, 2 Replacements in the top 100. Crazy

Fun 80s rock, pretty mellow, nothing stands out, the songs all sounded fairly similar, but it was enjoyable.

Okay, good

Five songs into this album, and the record goes from not giving a shit to very much giving one; from the bravado of 'Yeah I hear, I think, I know / Rock don't give a shit, you know' ('Favorite Thing') to the reserved optimism of 'One more night to get it half right' ('We're Comin' Out') to the ahead-of-its-time negotiation of the gender spectrum of 'Mirror image, see no damage' ('Androgynous'). There's authentic wisdom here: 'Your age is the hardest age / Everything drags and drags.' I love the sense that Paul is having a heart-to-heart w/ a young kid going thru it. This one's over in a blink, and by the end, I'm more than satisfied. If it's not quite sublime, it's still perfect, it's still exactly what I'd want out of a record. Bravo to that.

A post-punk album that’s actually good!? I mean that’s probably because it sounds nothing like any of the other post-punk albums on this list. Maybe it’s sort of meaningless to cobble all the varied and not so wonderful things punks went on to do once they’d learned how to actually play their instruments into a single genre?

Haha boner. I thought this was a good’un, which isn’t usually the case with a post-punk album. Simpsons: No

Decent album. Add Tommy Tonsils to the list of TT's references.

This album was very up and down for me. One minute I was loving it the next I wasn't. Also why do I need to know about Gary's boner?

I liked some bits. I didn’t like others. It was short at least?

Nice and fun rock here. A little punk, power pop kinda thing. Nice guitar layering. Might ne the better 'Let it be'

Punk ochentero con bastante sensibilidad emocional, acercándose en ocasiones al post-punk. Buena mezcla de temas punk típicos ("Gary's Got a Boner") con temas musicalmente más interesantes ("I Will Dare") e incluso baladas, y con letras adelantadas a su tiempo ("Androgynous"). Original, fácil de escuchar e interesante. Buen álbum.

Has a lot of elements I live (punk, rock, a bit quirky) but for some reason it doesn't move me at all. I think it's the songwriting, the songs just aren't great. Should have been great in a live setting though.

Been waiting on this one. Absolutely lived up to the hype and I am sad to have only just listened to it in its entirety. 16 year old me is kicking my 40 something year old ass for waiting so long...

OK, I can hear the 90s grunge right around the corner from here, but this is basically boring.

Not my thing but I actually liked the whole album!

This was good! Very breezy alt rock new wave sound. They didn't take themselves too seriously and you wanted to keep listening. I would definitely listen to this again.

That went pretty hard

I have a friend that has his own band and this is one of his favorite inspirations so I had to listen to them but for some reason it just didn't excite me like it did him. Maybe he got to see them live or something I don't know.

Meh

I could be kind about this but i wont. its bad. 2 stars.

It'd be a 5 star from me if it wasn't for the "outtakes" - not sure why they included them, maybe they didn't have enough material to make an album but oh well.

Not bad at all

Nothing special

2.5/5. Just fine, mainly forgettable.

If I had to sum up this album in one word that word would be, meh.

Kudos to them for expanding their sound into melody, but this is only slightly less boring than their first two studio albums. They weren't the most interesting thing coming out of Minneapolis-St. Paul in the those years. I much preferred Westerberg's post Replacements solo work. "Waiting for Somebody" and "Dyslexic Heart" are rock masterpieces.

Ha boner

Tim and Pleased to Meet Me are my two favorite albums by the Replacements. I have been exposed to Let It Be less than those other two albums. This is my third favorite Replacements album and there is a lot of really great songs on here. My personal favorites are. I Will Dare Unsatisfied Favorite Thing Androgynous Black Diamond (I like it better than the KISS version) Answering Machine Gary's Got a Boner isn't even as bad of a song as one would think that it could be. I would not recommend starting off a review of Replacements albums with this one, but I do think this is an album that should be heard in concert with Tim and Pleased to Meet Me. Addendum: I just found out that neither Tim nor Pleased to Meet Me are in this book. What the hell? Both are classics and easily the Replacements two best albums. I guess the 75 Bjork and 32 White Stripes/Jack White albums didn't leave room for 1-2 albums by one of the best early indie-punkish bands ever.

I don't know. Pretty standard rock. Nothing exceptional. Three.

Well worth a listen

I Will Dare ❤️

Not quite my thing

Kicks ass. Great punk rock. Not perfect, but scrappy, full of energy, and with enough variety not to get bored. Must-listen #74.

So Many great songs and it’s just a classic 4/5

Sometimes it sounds like it's on the verge of being new wave and other times it's more punk. I love the rawness to it and it feels genuine. They were ahead of their time with Androgynous. There are also some pretty sick riffs in there.

If blues and folk are the genesis of all modern music, then punk is the genesis of all post-modern music. The Replacements are a classic example of punk / hardcore band that evolved and grew out of their genre sound and took it to a new level. This is kind of the birth of pop punk, alt rock, indie rock. Its all the DNA of punk, but they took their own spin to it and turned it into something else. There's slow songs, rockabilly songs, hardcore songs. I love its smart, sincere but also silly and funny. You can draw a direct line from The Replacements to blink-182 but also The Strokes and then take that today with bands like Petey or MJ Lenderman. Its all there. I'm always so impressed with acts like The Replacements that were brave enough to take this music to a different level. This album rocks.

The Replacements show up with some range here. “Androgynous” is not a song I expected and this album but was pleasantly surprised. “Unsatisfied” and “I Will Dare” are solid rock staples. Even the goofy songs ‘Gary’s got a boner’ and ‘Tommy gets his tonsils out’ aren’t bad or lacking.

The “Let It Be” that matters.

Good listen! Like soft-core punk. Nothing crazy stood out but I would listen to again.

Love it! ‘Twas my first taste of the replacements back in the mid 80’s, and I’ve owned everything since. Jumping back to their earlier punk days found a different vibe, but equally as good. I can get their early fan base resented the transition to a more contemporary sound. Perhaps I was lucky to catch them in the middle. One thing seems certain; Westerberg was no sell out. His distain for MTV was apparent on their Bastards of Young vid, and getting banned from SNL cemented his status as an anti-establishment rock curmudgeon. People also complained about their live shows, as they often played hammered. I rather enjoyed them in their raw, playful behavior. Caught their show a handful of times in Seattle, where sets often ended in a noisy haze of smoke and humor. One night, they came on stage without eyebrows, courtesy of some shaving silliness with their opening act and drinking buddies, the Young Fresh Fellows. Fun night. Back to the album…. 5 stars! Unsatisfied gives me chills. God Bless the Replacements.

I didn't hate this, but pretty forgettable rock with punk influences. I can't imagine ever going back to this, but again, not terrible.

I like it. Nothing special but better than a lot of other albums on here. I realized I knew them from Can't Hardly Wait.

I don't think I like.this, it's a bit dull

An enjoyable punk album, from a very neat act. The replacements, for an 80's group has a for me succesfully captured the counter culture idea. The pure rock idea of the album and the polarizing lyrics make it unique for its time period, which I liked. Overall pretty great piece of music. Favorite track: androgynous. Overall score: 7.2.

I don't know this band, and I don't know why, maybe slightly before my time. Quite enjoyed this album

People often lament how overlooked this group was. Listening to this album I do not share that point of view. There were a couple good songs but also a lot of noise. Didn’t hate it but didn’t love it.

Same hair evolution, same build evolution

alright, fine bus music

6/10 - There were some very interesting titles but not very interesting songs. Overall it was fine

A little too punk for me at times but mostly liked it

in my brain it’s an unwritten rule that only the beatles can name an album “let it be” xD but yes, this didn’t really fall into my personal enjoyment. maybe i’ll feel different on another day and in a different mood.

punky iron maiden, proto strokes, ugodno iznenađenje

very good

Generic rock, but really repetitive. Really not a fan of the lead singer's voice. Androgynous and Answering Machine were kinda interesting, and Black Diamond was fun. Best song: Black Diamond

Solid post-punk 7/10

Strokes rip off, lol.

I’ve always enjoyed The Replacements, my second favorite band out of the MSP during the burgeoning 80s. A blend of punk ethos and pop sensibility. This one is a bit uneven, but some great ones on here including the anthemic I Will Dare.

pretty cool rock and roll album with a kick ass cover of “black diamond” by KISS.

Meh

Real good album. I'm not super familiar with the Replacements, although I did recognize Unsatisfied from somewhere. 3.5/5

This album rules and I am mad I hadn't heard it till last year. I love the mix of like indie, punk, older rock, etc. It's just very good. 4.5/5

One of the best college rock albums ever, although Tim is even better. A-

I didn't really like this album. Something about it rubbed me the wrong way.

3.5

It's alright. I guess for it's time it was something different.

Such a kickass album. The opener, I Will Dare, is a very well aged indie rock song. It's probably one of my favorite songs on this list so far, just such an fun, bopping riff. But theres also some really heartfelt songs, with Androgynous leading the way here. I think ultimately this will be the song I add to my list because there isn't really much like it that I've heard before. Overall, this album was amazing and I will be back.

I only knew Alex Chilton from this band, so I was surprised how heavy and punk it was. Sounded a little like the singer from Suicidal Tendancies and of course Kurt Cobain. I’ll listen to it again. Favorite track: Black Diamond. It’s also one of my favorite KISS songs.

I don’t recall being aware of this band before but will be investigating further. Really liked this album and will be adding this to my playlist.

I believe this band influenced some of my favourite bands, but I struggled to really get into it. Top track: Unsatisfied

I guess it’s OK in the ‘post-punk but still a bit punk while being a bit hard rock/pub rock sounding a bit springsteeny’ genre. I did really like ‘We’re coming out’ and was childishly amused by the boner song. Otherwise not particularly memorable.

I have been sleeping on The Replacements for a really long time. Maybe this was not the best album to start on (? I don't know, gotta go ask for fans) but it was pretty enjoyable. Sounds so ahead of its time for the early/mid 80s but occasionally slips into sounding characteristic of that, which is strangely endearing.

i had no strong feelings about this

Somehow I looked up today's album, saw it, went about half of my day, typed it in, hit play, and made it three songs in before going "this really isn't what I thought The Pretenders sounded like" That's because it's not The Pretenders. I don't know. My brain is shut off for the year.

Rating: 10/10 One of the best albums of the 80s. A seamless mix of punk, rock, and indie that's simultaneously infectious and thought-provoking. Sounds way ahead of its time.

Sounds sloppy and the production was not great Forgettable, couldn’t tell when the album ended and it started back from the beginning

As a punk lover, post-punk was never my cup of tea, but I found this album quite enjoyable. I give it a 3 because it's nothing special. I will listen to it again for sure, but I just found it quite mediocre, which is not bad, but there are better post-punk albums than this

I don't like it as much as Tim or Pleased to Meet Me, but it's a fun album.

Favorite Track: Unsatisfied

80s punk rock - loud, abrasive, and far too celebratory of Gary’s boner.

Very polished unpolished sound that took me by surprise. 3.5 or higher.

The music was pretty good and I didn't mind listening, but nothing really hooked me in. I would be willing to listen again, but right now this is a 3.5 rounded down.

I didn't hate it, but I was glad when it was over.

An enjoyable listen. Nice way to spend an hour dancing round the kitchen while cleaning.

I've not heard this before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. Can see/hear that Clash, Pistols, and Stooges are a big influence. Lyrics seem a bit adolescent, i.e.. Garys got a boner etc, although I guess they were still quite young. And there is a certain charm about some of their songs, e.g., sixteen blue reflects teen angst in an honest way. Might have liked this first time around the mid-80s - similar to the Alarm - and think it would grow on you. A solid 3 stars from me.

I don't know what it is about this one that clicked, but I actually dug a punk album.

apparently a beloved album, sounds like i had to be there to understand still alright though

++: I Will Dare, We're Comin' Out, Androgynous, Unsatisfied, Gary's Got a Boner, Sixteen Blue, Answering Machine +: Favorite Thing, Tommy Get's His Tonsils Out, Black Diamond, Seen Your Video 9,1/10

Dette likte jeg veldig godt! Mange vibber her, var som en merkelig blanding av Rancid, Boomtown Rats og Joe Cocker. Deilig med litt klassisk gitardrevet rock som også har litt variasjon. Beste sanger: Favorite Thing, Androgynous og Black Diamond

Har ikke hørt om bandet en gang, så starta med lave forventninger til enda en av de tilsynelatende hundrevis av alternativ rock albumene fra 70- og 80-tallet på lista her. Men ble skikkelig revet med! Høres ut som et punkeband som beholder edgen sin samtidig som de eksperimenterer med andre innflytelser. Og beholder sin barnslige humor samtidig som de snuser på mer alvorlige temaer. Kult også å høre en 40 år gammel (!) kjærlighetssang om transpersoner. Beste låter: We're Coming out, Seen Your Video

Listening to The Replacements takes me back to my early college days; and their rough, give no shits attitude is what I love best about the 'Mats. This album gives the listener a taste of both their earlier raw sound and their upcoming more polished sound that will happen on the album Tim. I Will Dare, Unsatisfied and Sixteen Blue are some damn fine songs!

Impressive

Very much more than the sum of its parts. The singing isn’t great and neither is the musicianship, but it goes together to make a good sound.

Mostly fine.

It's fine

okay but not for me

Fun, sad, irritating, one-of-a-kind British rooftop expression.

I get hit with a wave of affection for them with every new song. A sparkly, refreshing, youthful, sincere little album. An Appletiser of an album, if you will. And if you won’t, I still will.

Enjoyed this one, will definitely relisten. Standout tracks: - I Will Dare - Unsatisfied

In the early 2000s I went to quite a few punk/ska gigs: Guttermouth at The Garage, Rancid at Brixton Academy, plus some no-name bands at the White Horse in High Wycombe and some Reading pubs. I went because some of my friends liked this type of music. I didn't have wide enough horizons to know that there were other types of (live!) music out there that I might prefer, and even if I did I didn't have the social nous to be able to coordinate a group outing. And I feel now, listening to the Replacements, that all these bands I saw that I didn't really like had their roots in this kind of 80s punk. I will say that when it's carefully recorded it sounds ok! It's easy background listening. But, on reflection, when this kind of stuff is played live in the Purple Turtle by 20 year olds jumping around without their shirt on it sounded pants. I'm just not really into this. Best songs: I will dare Unsatisfied

I can see the potential in it being a semi groundbreaking band. Better than some of the others from that era.

This was great. I want to give this another listen over the summer

This had nothing for me. I don’t think it knew what it was.

Interesting album. I've heard a bunch of Replacements tunes over the years. My first introduction to them was off of the Say Anything soundtrack with their song "Within Your Reach", which was really good. This album came out after that song, and after listening to it, it definitely has it high points and some low points. Mainly, I didn't really get into any single song and say that's a masterpiece. Overall, it's decent with some interesting guitar work. I dunno, something about this sounds like they're trying to be a punk band, but just lack the rage or creativity to get there. Maybe punk-light? Good songs to check out: We're Coming Out Black Diamond Sixteen Blue 2/5

They hit so many genres so damn well on this album. I've listened to "Tim" a million times but never gave this one it's due.

They seem talented When I did things as a kid I used to pretend I wasn't trying (even if I was). Simple cope - if you haven't tried your best then you're not actually trash at whatever you've tried. You can always do better, you just don't want to. And then you never improve. And I guess to others it seemed like I was talented, just didn't apply myself This is how I often feel about punk - a get out of jail free card for cowardly musicians. It could've sounded good, but who knows. They never tried

dont remember a second but I know I wasn't into it

C'est pas le Let It Be que je m'attendais, un peu trop HEURGEURGGHARH fond de la gorge à mon goût

Easy to listen to, but didn't drag me into the songs. More background music on the 1st listen

Tiene dos o tres temas muy buenos pero deja mucho que desear. Es un grunge que no termina de ser grunge y sus mejores temas son baladas que cumplen.

A little better than I thought.

One of those bands I'd heard of but never found the time to listen to. Thank you 1001 list, this was a goody. Good mix of punk and indie, crunchy bass and jangly guitar. Listening again, that bass sound is just fantastic.

this was a solid album, no skips and i definitely added a bunch to my playlists. they can sing well and their instrumentals are good, ic an hear the emotion in their voice. it's wonderful, i hope to see them again.

Good but not amazing. But great but not astounding. Heartfelt but distant. Complete but unfinished

I enjoyed this

Interesting. I liked it

Good album overall but not great voice of singer didnt meet expectations for some songs and should have been sang by someone else in the band.

Not that memorable

It feels illegal to be giving this album a 4, but the truth is that it sounds like every other post punk album. I so badly wanted to like it. I'm sorry.

A good album worthy of further listening. 4 stars or B-.

Needs another listen to really know what it's all about. Or not

Shinola!

"I Will Dare" and "Androgynous" were the best tracks on here. I like that these guys actually wrote songs rather than just put out an album of two chords and unnecessarily aggressive "singing" ("We're Coming Out"). Not a bad listen.

3.5

Its pretty alright, didnt totally grab me, but almost

The heartfelt backdrop to my college years.

This has the components of things I like, but I don't love it, for reasons that I'm not quite sure of. Maybe it's Paul Westerberg's voice. I don't _dislike_ it, it just doesn't quite click for me.

No expectations, somehow this band passed me by in period. Grew on me as I listened. 3/5 for now. If I'd stumbled across this when I was 17 I might have liked it more.

Never heard of this band before, but glad I know of them now. I found this a really fun album to listen to. Will be listening to more of The Replacements

Good but I was expecting great. No doubt it influenced Kurt Cobain and the rest of Nirvana. There are good songs but not everything hit for me. Decent but not spectacular.

It was okay I'll give it 3 stars.

This will always be one of my favorites

Fun, punchy and punky, though a bit one toned here and there. It was good but not sure it is one of the best rock albums of the 1980s? It means the decade didn't produce the best ever rock albums, that's for sure.

for some reason i always mix up the replacements and the proclaimers cos their names are kinda similar. so those were my only thoughts going into this album even though i KNOW i’ve listened to it before and i’ve known “androgynous” since i was a teenager. i think these guys are kinda pranksters…naming their own album after a famous beatles album is such a cheeky move. is paul westerberg the latest in our line-up of little stinkers? it’s very possible. GREAT fucking guitar riffs my god. the middle part of “seen your video” is just perfect. kind of incongruously (for the era/scene) tender and empathetic lyrics which, when delivered with that strange desperate inflection in westerberg’s voice, come across as really earnest, despite the overall piss-take tone of the record given the title and the tonsillectomy song and the boner song. honestly the songs that i didn’t like as much musically i still enjoyed because of the lyrics. i know they took inspiration from alex chilton vis a vis his guitar sound but i actually think the replacements are very much operating in the tradition of big star’s startlingly sincere and plainspoken lyrics (*”i loved you, well, never mind.”*). plus the influence of lou reed’s ambiguously gay storytelling which also seem sincere if sometimes a bit muddled, and anyway the stumbling is sweet to me. this is what every suburban power pop group thinks they sound like but they DON’T. this is another album i wish i’d known as a teenager beyond “androgynous”…i would have loved crying to “sixteen blue.” fav tracks: i will dare; favorite thing; unsatisfied; seen your video; sixteen blue; androgynous

I don’t usually like punk but I enjoyed this. I’m not sure I can describe what it was that was different about this that made me like it. I guess I thought it was catchier? And the catchiness out-weighed the grating/repetitive aspects of punk that I usually don’t like? I didn’t love his voice at a lot of points; it reminded me of the scratchy kind of voices I don’t love in grunge music, but again the music was interesting enough to me that I didn’t mind it toooo much. *Fav tracks: I Will Dare, Androgynous, Answering Machine*

I wouldn’t wish lives like the ones the members of this band have led on anyone. And still, I kind of mourn that this attitude just doesn’t exist in rock and roll anymore. I wouldn’t want to hang out with Paul Westerberg or Tommy Stinson, but damn if they didn’t write some awesome music. This album sees the band starting to “mature” (as much as they ever could) into a more deliberate sound. Still carrying a little of the rowdiness from “Sorry, Ma,” which I also listened to to get a sense of the shift. Some real gems on this album, but still not as good as the album that follows it. 4.5/5

Fun listen once in a while but nothing more, like the earlier stuff better.

One of the bands that I’ve heard a lot about without actually listening to them. Good this though, what I expected: catchy, post-punk ish, with mainly catchy songs. There was a couple that passed me by but maybe theyll be growers

Heard a lot about the replacements and let it be, another hugely influential post-punk album I've never listened to. Sounds to me like this has a lot more melody than the other similar bands at the time and its right up my street, think Weezer, Ash and a million other bands I like would have listened to them. I love when a band has proper ropey punk production but plays music like this. It didn't click as perfect on the first listen, a couple of songs didn't land but definitely listening again. 4.5.

Really liked this - chaotic and frenetic, but not a mess. Far from it - I Will Dare, Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out, and We're Comin' Out were brilliant.

Never heard of the replacements and really liked this. Kinda rough, messy, soft punk, rock thing going on. Carelessness of youth. We're coming out Androgynous Sixteen blue Strong 4, I'll be back

Why these fuckers use the album name of an already well known record.

love these guys, but this wouldn't be the album I choose from them (maybe another one in there, but doubt it).

I’m not cool enough to like 80’s punk rock… was into the slower songs a bit.

Forgettable

💩

replaceable

Wow, I’ve heard of the replacements, never really listened to an album. Really like this, great mix of punk and early “college rock” sounds. Might be one of my first surprises where I’m giving a 5 star!

Unsatisfied //

### *Let It Be* by The Replacements: In-Depth Review Released in 1984, *Let It Be* marks a pivotal point in the career of The Replacements, where they transitioned from their punk roots to a more eclectic and mature sound. It’s an album that not only defines the band’s legacy but also captures the essence of 1980s alternative rock. The record is often seen as one of the quintessential albums of the decade, solidifying The Replacements' place in music history. In this review, we’ll delve into the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also weighing its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The songwriting on *Let It Be* is often lauded for its raw, unfiltered honesty and introspection. Lead singer and songwriter Paul Westerberg’s lyrics range from deeply personal to witty and irreverent, capturing the disenchanted youth’s voice with precision. The songs tackle themes such as alienation, longing, and the absurdity of growing up, resonating with listeners who feel like outsiders. "Unsatisfied" is a prime example, with its repeated refrain of “I’m so unsatisfied” becoming an anthem for the restless and discontented. The simplicity of the lyrics adds to the song’s power, emphasizing the feeling of being stuck and yearning for something more. Westerberg’s delivery is raw and vulnerable, which gives the track an almost desperate edge. Conversely, songs like "Gary's Got a Boner" display the band's more playful and juvenile side. While it’s less sophisticated than the album’s other tracks, it serves to lighten the mood and demonstrate the band's punk rock roots. The humor and straightforwardness in tracks like “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out” reflect a carefree spirit, reminding listeners that The Replacements never took themselves too seriously. "Westerberg’s exploration of gender and identity in 'Androgynous' is ahead of its time, addressing themes of fluidity and acceptance. The song is tender and empathetic, celebrating nonconformity with lines like, 'He might be a father, but he sure ain't a dad.' The lyrics emphasize how outdated traditional gender roles can be, a progressive message that resonates decades later. However, some tracks feel underdeveloped lyrically. While "Gary's Got a Boner" might provide comic relief, it lacks the depth found in the album's stronger songs, which could be seen as a missed opportunity to maintain a more consistent tone. ### Music Musically, *Let It Be* is an eclectic mix of punk rock, power pop, and alternative rock, showcasing the band's growth and musical diversity. The album opens with “I Will Dare,” featuring jangly guitars reminiscent of R.E.M., a band The Replacements were often compared to. The lead guitar line, contributed by Peter Buck of R.E.M., gives the song a polished, melodic edge, making it one of the most accessible tracks on the album. Tracks like “Favorite Thing” and “We’re Comin’ Out” retain the band’s punk energy, with fast tempos and raucous guitars. These songs are raw and aggressive, channeling the youthful energy that characterized their earlier work while also displaying a tighter, more refined sound. The album’s heavier tracks serve as a reminder of the band's roots in punk, despite their evident evolution. "Sixteen Blue" is another standout, with its haunting, arpeggiated guitar line and emotive solo that convey a sense of yearning and frustration. The slower pace allows Westerberg’s voice to carry the emotional weight of the song, creating a more introspective atmosphere compared to the more frenetic tracks. The cover of KISS’s “Black Diamond” is a surprising addition, as it brings a classic rock element into the mix. The Replacements inject their punk flair into the song, making it their own while paying homage to the original. The inclusion of the cover adds to the album's unpredictability and reflects the band's broad influences. While the album's diversity is a strength, it can also make the record feel disjointed at times. Some may find the transition from a raw punk song to a ballad jarring, as the band jumps between different styles and tones. However, this eclecticism can also be seen as a deliberate choice to illustrate the multifaceted nature of the band. ### Production The production on *Let It Be* is relatively raw, retaining a lo-fi aesthetic that suits the band's punk ethos. Unlike the slick production associated with many mainstream 1980s rock records, the album’s sound is gritty and unpolished, which works in its favor. Producer Steve Fjelstad and the band didn’t aim for a polished studio sound, allowing the natural energy and imperfections to come through. The rough production quality contributes to the authenticity of the music, especially on tracks like “Unsatisfied,” where the coarse guitar tones and Westerberg's strained vocals amplify the song's emotional impact. The live feel of the recordings adds an immediacy to the songs, making the listener feel as if they are in the room with the band. However, some aspects of the production may be seen as drawbacks. The rawness occasionally leads to inconsistency in sound quality, with some instruments sounding more prominent than others in the mix. In songs like “Gary’s Got a Boner,” the production feels almost too unrefined, which might detract from the listening experience for those who prefer a more polished sound. The DIY approach might alienate some listeners who are unaccustomed to the roughness associated with punk and alternative rock of that era. ### Themes Thematically, *Let It Be* explores a range of subjects, from personal struggles and existential angst to youthful irreverence and humor. Central to the album is the concept of dissatisfaction, as exemplified in “Unsatisfied,” where Westerberg laments a sense of emptiness despite striving for fulfillment. This theme is a recurring thread throughout the album, resonating with listeners who struggle with the same feelings. The album also addresses issues of identity and conformity, particularly in “Androgynous,” where gender roles are questioned and rejected. This theme of nonconformity extends to other songs, such as “I Will Dare,” where the band encourages taking risks and defying expectations. The Replacements' rejection of societal norms and celebration of individuality is a consistent message, giving the album a rebellious spirit. Songs like "Sixteen Blue" explore the adolescent experience, capturing the confusion and turmoil of teenage life. Westerberg’s lyrics delve into the insecurities and pains of growing up, portraying them with a sense of empathy that sets the album apart from more typical punk fare. It is in these moments of vulnerability that the album resonates deeply with those who have felt misunderstood or alienated. Yet, not all tracks carry the same thematic weight. The inclusion of songs like “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out” and “Gary’s Got a Boner” adds levity to the album, but they don’t contribute to the overall themes as strongly as other tracks do. These songs feel like throwbacks to the band's earlier, more carefree style, which may disrupt the flow of the album for some listeners seeking a more cohesive narrative. ### Influence *Let It Be* is widely considered one of the most influential albums of the 1980s, paving the way for alternative rock bands that followed. It demonstrated that punk-rooted music could evolve to encompass introspective and emotionally complex themes, inspiring a wave of artists who sought to combine the rawness of punk with more mature songwriting. The album's influence can be seen in bands like Nirvana, who blended punk attitude with emotive lyrics in a similar fashion. It also helped to shape the sound of the burgeoning college rock scene, impacting bands like The Pixies, Soul Asylum, and even R.E.M. Westerberg's songwriting, in particular, is often cited as a major influence on subsequent generations of musicians, who sought to capture the same mix of vulnerability and defiance. Despite its lasting impact, *Let It Be* did not achieve mainstream commercial success at the time of its release, which limited its immediate influence. However, its status as a cult classic has only grown over time, with many now recognizing it as a cornerstone of alternative rock. ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** 1. **Raw Emotion and Honesty**: Westerberg’s lyrics and vocal delivery are deeply personal, offering an unfiltered glimpse into feelings of dissatisfaction and alienation. 2. **Musical Diversity**: The album’s eclectic mix of styles—punk, rock, ballads—showcases the band’s versatility and growth as musicians. 3. **Unpolished Production**: The rough production enhances the authenticity of the music, capturing the band’s raw energy and spontaneity. 4. **Cultural Relevance**: Themes of nonconformity, identity, and youthful rebellion resonate across generations, making the album timeless. 5. **Influence on Alternative Rock**: It laid the groundwork for the alternative rock scene of the late '80s and early '90s, inspiring countless bands. **Cons:** 1. **Inconsistent Tone**: The album’s shifts between humor and introspection can make it feel disjointed at times, potentially detracting from its thematic coherence. 2. **Underdeveloped Tracks**: Songs like “Gary’s Got a Boner” don’t carry the same weight as others, appearing more as filler than substantive contributions to the album. 3. **Lo-Fi Production Drawbacks**: While the raw production adds to the album’s charm, it can also result in uneven sound quality, which might be off-putting for some listeners. 4. **Limited Immediate Impact**: The album’s initial lack of commercial success limited its influence during the time of its release, with recognition growing mostly in retrospect. ### Conclusion *Let It Be* by The Replacements is a seminal album that represents a turning point for the band and for alternative rock as a whole. With its mix of introspective lyrics, diverse musical styles, and unpolished production, it captures the essence of youth and rebellion while pushing the boundaries of what punk music could be. Although some tracks may lack depth or cohesion, the album’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, earning it a well-deserved place in the pantheon of great rock records. Its enduring influence and timeless themes make it not just a classic of the 1980s, but an essential listen for anyone interested in the evolution of alternative music.

one of the best 80s alternative albums imo

It’s ok, punk and alt, not a fan

The trend of hating 80s music continues. Did nothing for me.

Some good stuff, but that interesting overall to me. The bonus material the best part.

“Unsatisfied” is a smashing song, the rest good, just not up there with it.

Diverting and unpretentious collection of power jangle bangers. Highlight is "Unsatisfied"'s stunning vocal. Might be better on average than the obvious namesake, certainly more consistent.

I enjoyed this for the most part. Really preferred the more downbeat songs as my favorites were “Androgynous,” “Unsatisfied,” “Answering Machine,” and “Sixteen Blue.” I definitely understand why this is on the list. My only experience with The Replacements before this was the song “Alex Chilton,” which I absolutely adore. This didn’t quite live up to my love for that song, but it was still pretty good overall.

Begon oke, later wack

A perfect example of early indie rock. Unsatisfied and Androgynous are still huge hits in my eyes. A perfect album!

Lots of paeans to this album in the reviews but I don’t really see it.

I’ve been long aware that not being familiar with The Replacements is a glaring gap in my music knowledge. I think this is the first album that I’ve listened beginning to end. I really enjoyed this, but need a few more listens: 3.5 for now.

I like the mix of rock & roll and a bit of punk.

..

The tracks felt like they needed something more to stick in my mind

Goated

As much as I enjoy rock and most of its subdivisions, this album was genuinely a mixed bag. The instrumental portions were phenomenal but the vocals were so below average that it sucked the life of out the song. Solid 2.5 to generous 3 out of 5. The vocalist ruined it for me.

This one had bright spots and dark spots, with some tunes being really intricate and well-performed and others just sounding like noise (aka punk). I liked the good tracks a fair bit and hated the bad tracks a fair bit. The Beatles did this album much better. ;) Overall three stars.

Not surprisingly, they were much rougher in their early years. There are notes of things to come but it’s a bit of a struggle to get through this.

Nothing special.

Niet mijn ding, vond dit niet bijzonder, mistte uiteindelijk ook net een beetje energie.

Decent US power pop indie from a band u know little about.

(3-) 4

I'm usually down with the jangly guitars, and this starts out super jangly with "I Will Dare" then I found out the jangly guitar part was played by Peter Buck of R.E.M.... They fooled me, they weren't jangly at all. They were just dull college rock. Not cool man.

i want to give this a 5 so badly but there were just not enough songs that i really really liked, BUT i did really thoroughly enjoy this album and a lot of the songs on it, i just don’t love it as a cohesive piece as much as i wanted to, but no i actually really liked this and i’d say this is like a 4.5 for me, as good to me as magazine was for me, i don’t know they kinda nailed this is that crazy or what, anyway yeah this was super super fire very solid lots of bangers that will be on my playlists very soon, listened to this one twice beatles reference

Pre listening thoughts: I’ve heard a few songs by the replacements but I’m still not 100% sure what to expect. But I liked what I’ve heard so we’ll see! Post/during listening thoughts: love me a good 30 min album. This is pretty good 80s rock. The production doesn’t date itself and I always love seeing punk’s early blossoms. Sometimes it’s a little too “loud and fast” for me but overall a good listen. 8/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah but once again a good listen! Fav tracks: I Will Dare, Favorite Thing, Androgynous, Unsatisfied, Seen Your Video, Sixteen Blue, Answering Machine Least fav tracks: We’re Coming Out

Some fine tunes

Meh, not really my style.

Not my style, sorry

Punk done dumb. Not my thing. Even the KISS cover is lazy AF.

I’ve come to expect a lot from Paul Westerberg, this was good but not great. 3.5 rounded down.

It was okay

Sounds like and about as good as the band I was in when I was 13

Great punk sounds, very 80's. Interesting song writing, something different.

not exaaaaaaaactly my thing. liked the first track and androgynous a lot found myself dancing involuntarily to 'seen your video' sounds very ninetees. like sp territory I guess. the 20th century boy cover has veery cool guitar but vocals are mediocre at best. so placebo did it better will surely need to re-listen. I feel like I'll like it much more in two or three more listens

It's fine, it may have hit differently when I was a few years younger though. Favorite track: "Black Diamond," probably.

Not bad.

its right kinda forgettable

# Playlist track - I Will Dare # Notes - I don't dislike much about the album, but there's not much to like either. - Vocals are kind of weak. Some good riffs, good energy. - Can't reprehend it too much for sounding extremely 80s, as I have no idea if they are a cause or consequence of this. - I've got a feeling that I would like it more if I've gotten to this while I was younger.

So so album. I briefly listened to each track but I didn't get good vibes.

It’s okay - but I've heard music in the same genre, that - to me - is more catchy. But I am intrigued and would like to delve more into this bands discography

This was fine. I'm starting to get real tired of albums that I have the same opinion on the music on song 1, as I do by the time I get to song 11. Just no variety on this (and many of the 1001) albums. Like I didn't have to listen to this whole thing to know I was giving it a 3.

ive been extremely exhausted due to recovering from sickness, its maybe questionable whether i should still be doing these daily albums at all but so far ive been fine if sparse on my writing. all this is to say that something in this reached into me and pulled out a very strong emotional reaction, but im having a hard time identifying what...need more listens with a clearer head and body for that. but lowkey this is one of my fave New To Me albums of this project so far...sits compellingly between deceptively numerous genres, but not thru pastiche or whatever, just feels like the most natural alchemy ever of this particular group of ppl writing and playing songs together in a Rock framework. feels as comfortably itselt as it is anxious and fluid...the moments of immaturity that u learn to not repeat but represent something painfully honest. idk. i loved this very much

Should buy

sixteen blue is good, and androgynous, and answering machine. I'd say this is an overall 3 for me. some tracks I didn't mind

It might be nostalgia, but the sound of 80s punk/indie still doesn't work for me. I remember there being a few songs here and there that would catch my attention, but for the most part I really did not enjoy the sound. After all this time, I apparently still don't. I'm sure it largely has to do with my listening to predominantly classical, jazz, and rock/metal that required (sometimes extreme) musical competence back then (and now, for that matter). I'm not sure what to make of the fact that the first song on the album that I kinda liked was a cover of a band that I range from apathetic toward to actively disliking ("Black Diamond" by Kiss). That's a weird experience. 2 stars.

Rockin' into the weekend. I like propulsive and I like punk--it's like they can't keep away, try as they might. Tonsils, boners, gender bending, of course the material for songs. And songs like 16 Blue and Androgynous show what they could stretch to when they wanted.

Good ol' Replacements. More on the hard side vs melodic Replacements.

A pleasant nostalgic ride - this was like the soundtrack to a John Hughes movie.

I never paid a whole lot of attention to The Replacements, not for any particular reason. And for whatever music-critic cred I may think I have, I would have been sure this band hails from London in the shadow of The Clash. So, wrong there, bud. I'm hearing what must have been an outsized influence on Jeff Tweedy and Wilco, in addition to tons of other bands, and while this is a little more raw and raucous than I gravitate toward (hence my unfamiliarity), this is great stuff. I loved the un-ironic cover of Kiss (Black Diamond) and appreciate their "can't give a fuck" aesthetic. But you can tell they really do. Hard to pull that off. It's rough in places, beautiful in others, and somehow it all stands together.

Man, I haven't listened to this in decades. Held up great. Nice variety of material. (Love the Kiss cover.) Paul's a hell of a songwriter and performer. At least on this album. I never could get into their other releases, but this one is lightning in a bottle.

Absolute Classic Perfect Album no notes, an all time favorite.

4/5

Love the post-punk sound. Great album.

Прикольная движушка

own

Grunge rock before grunge rock. Decent melodies and vocals, but it all kind of blends together with not much distinction between songs. Fortunately, it’s only 33 minutes long. Not my favorite, but not the worst.

Some of the songs are fun to listen to. Very "the clash" in some songs and some weird concepts for songs.

Diverse rock and punk rock album about growing up and uncertainty. Some good themes here overall. Didn’t care for the extra songs on the expanded version, but I enjoyed this album more than I was expecting. The second half of the album was what I enjoyed most. Standouts: We’re Coming Out, Tommy Got His Tonsils Out, Black Diamond, Seen Your Video, and Sixteen Blue.

Honestly pretty good. Only a song or two were kind of duds to me compared to the rest. Very cool!

pretty okayish 80s punk rock. androgynous and the first track bump it up a bit for me

Can’t let it be

Great album, ahead of its time. Mixes up the sound among tracks to ensure it is not just a samey mix. Good lyrics

Generally pretty chill with a few standout songs.

stone cold classic imo, simultaneously rough and lo fi and impeccably polished songwriting. that closer is so good too

A nice thematic slide from punk to post-punk to alternative and some infantile indie. Obviously an inspiration to many of those future groups, but cool that it happens over the course of the album

Been hearing about The Replacements my entire life, on of my Dads favorite bands. For whatever reason never gave them a shot - I dont think I'm a big alt rock guy. Glad to have listened to this one though. Some awesome songs I'll come back to a lot and really love Westerbergs voice. Sounds a lot like Cobain to me.

Had a bit of a replacements phase in college so fun to return to them. Many gems on here (unsatisfied, androgynous, answering machine, Gary’s got a boner) but a few too many songs that seem included just to prove their punk bonafides and don’t add to the whole. The rare band that is better when they deviate from their genre than when they try to exemplify it. Underrated in American music history for their impact on college / alternative radio.

Ok

Love this, and Tim possibly even more so. Androgynous is wonderful. So much similarity with Cobain in the voice.

There are a few Replacements songs that I really really like, but they are not on this album. The tracks we do have though are endearing in the same style as the ones I really like are; they call out to the youthful ennui I often feel for a time long passed. It's a nice place to settle in and hang out for a while. I always feel wistful listening to these guys. They make me wish I'd been a reckless and restless American youth in the 80's noodling on a guitar with my buddies and causing some shit wherever we go. It's ripped jeans and a shoplifted 6-pack. It's comfortable and slightly illicit in that way that only retro American punk is.

A few newbies for me! Loved Greg has a boner as a goof track

This one started out as a 2 or so for me, but after a couple of relistens, notched its way up. By that point found very few duds in the bunch and the whole album holds together so well. Definitely raw, but you can hear the building blocks of where they, and the other bands they influenced, are going. Looking forward to more of the catalog.

Pretty fun rock. One song was too noise-rock for me, but overall enjoyable and silly-in-a-fun-way in some spots. Liked it a lot.

A surprise hit for me! I found this really fascinating. It varies across the board tonally yet comes across as this very genuine portrait of adolescent feeling. There's an almost "Bruce Springsteen goes punk" kind of sound here that I really enjoy. I find the mentions of queerness on "Androgynous" and "Sixteen Blue" really interesting as these offhand feelings that exist in the speakers world. Not a thing id ever check out otherwise but very happy I listened

Some nice guitar moments. Grungy production value kind of hurts the overall quality to me. I like the angst and energy. I wish the hooks were catchier.

Looove androgenous I've listened to a cover of that for years! Had no idea they sang that. Nothing crazy to say about this album, good tunes though

Kind of a mixed experience here. Post punk with some indie ingredients. Sometimes they try too hard and then it is all a bit too much. Production is not bad, but I think this would have deserved something better.

Some very nice stuff here. If I could take approx. half of the album it would be a clear "5" but the rest is boring.

I mean come on !

Kinda cool. Definitely goes beyond the basic punk or pop-punk sounds which I really enjoyed about it. 6/10

I found some of this tough to listen to. It's just too gruff / not melodic enough for my taste. When it all comes together, though, it's excellent. Unsatisfied is a homerun of a song, and I plan to return to that particular track often.

It's a vibe

It be let

STANDOUTS: Androgynous OVERALL: 2/5

Day 36 - July 7th, 2024 Still hate punk, but this album was actually listenable. 3/5

Favorite Tracks: I Will Dare Black Diamond Androgynous

Punk with song structure Oddly catchy anti-pop Not unsatisfied

Let it Be Kind of familiar with this, one of those albums that get talked about a lot. I remember downloading it dodgily in pre streaming times, but it must have been a poor quality or highly compressed version as it didn’t sound as good as the version I’m listening to now. I didn’t really give it many listens but I did like Unsatisfied, which I’ve got on a few playlists to this day I Will Dare, love this, very power pop, Byrds and Tom Petty ish with a punk new wave edge to it. Makes sense that Peter Buck plays on it. Favourite Thing is similar, with great guitar interplay. We’re Coming Out, beers a bit close to a slightly tuneless punk thrash, although i love the piano breakdown at the end and the solo is good. The lead and rhythm guitars on Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out are great, a cool post punk power pop combo, but the song just kind of fizzles out, even though I like sense of humour to it. I can hear a lot of people must have been influenced by Androgynous, it does sound a bit like Mercury Rev and other 90s US and UK indie bands. Amazingly progressive and sympathetic lyrics for the time too. Bit of a gem. Black Diamond. Bit of an oddity, don’t know the Kiss original at all, but seems a strange choice of band to cover. It’s fine but not as interesting as the other tracks. Unsatisfied is excellent, a great bit of songwriting, it immediately sounds right, well constructed, but with enough roughness around the edges and a pleasing lack of polish. Stand out track. Seen Your Video is another great slice of power pop, love that, idiosyncratically, it’s wordless until the end. Gary’s Got a Boner. I’ve got a boner. Sixteen Blue is really great, a few little county touches with a great sense of longing and yearning. Excellent solo. Answering Machine is also great, love that’s it’s just guitars and nothing else until the little bit of percussion at the end. I like their sound, the two ‘lead’ guitars, and his unconventionally affecting voice, and the unpolished looseness and occasional dissonance of their playing. Can hear a lot of Libertines in that. It is possibly a bit patchy overall, but this is a great little album, it’s punk new wave power pop classic rock synthesis is great, it’s rough edges and it’s sense of often imminent musical collapse gives it such charm - you can see and hear why it’s been so influential and why it gets talked about so much. A definite minor classic, easily in the high 4s. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Playlist submission: Unsatisfied

Happy 4th of July to one of the finest albums of the 1980s and the Mats at their sloppy, immature, drunken, heartfelt, coming-of-age best. Look me in the eye then tell me that I’m satisfied.

yeah okay sorry this is not for me. i like one of their other albums but i think that's because they mellowed out a lot more/made their music more palatable or poppy or something

On the fence with this one. Some of the more indie sounding songs were actually pretty good but the album also has a punk aspect to it which I didn't enjoy as much. We'll round up as I know there's much worse 80s British out there plus there being a song titled Gary's Got a Boner. 5/10 (2.5/5)

it’s fine but it’s just an appetizer to Tim & Pleased To Meet Me

Obviously way ahead of it's time, 90s alt rock about 10 years before it was a thing, but as a result of that it sounds a bit generic. Still a decent album though.

It's not terrible. It's not catchy either.

Great Album let's get into this!

Seminal

I really dig this LP, solid music choice.

I quite like this.

Ерунда слабослушабельня

Not good, not bad.

I liked the soft punk songs. Nice discovery

An ok album

J'ai bien apprécié le mélange de son de cet album, particulièrement les moments où ça frisait le punk rock. Il manque un petit quelque chose pour vraiment me faire tripper sur cet album, mais globalement c'est bien fait. Quelques chansons de la fin m'ont un peu plus laissé sur ma faim par contre. 7/10

Going into this record, I was under the impression that The Replacements were more reminiscent of a British new wave band. While some songs had hints of that sound, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a great amount of influence from 70's punk bands like The Clash and Sex Pistols. There was a great mix of tracks on this album with fast-paced punk sound (some even with some thrash metal vibes) with some slower, softer songs to balance out. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, this record packed a very memorable punch to me in a compact package, and very much makes me want to put The Replacements more permanently in my daily listening rotation. Notable Tracks: Favorite Thing We're Comin' Out Unsatisfied 7.5/10

I'd heard good things about this album going into it. But... it just isn't that good. Straightforward punk-rock with no risk-taking either musically or lyrically, solid musicianship with no particular standouts, and a mild combination of genres and moods without the album quite feeling like the adventure it was intended to be. The best tracks on And the worst tracks can be identified by their titles alone, even excluding the relatively weak hooks in them (Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out, Seen Your Video, Gary's Got a Boner). My favourite track, if only for its nifty doubled guitar/bass melody, is the opener I Will Dare. Androgynous is about as controversial as the band is willing to reach - particularly in a genre defined by its controversy - but it's surprisingly good. The drumming throughout the album is pretty fun, with some good, satisfying fills here and there. The experimentation in guitar sounds, if a little limited, is fun and keeps the listener engaged. In general, the bass closely mimics the lead guitar, so it doesn't stand out as much as it could. A couple of bass solos would've been darn cool. The Replacements aren't necessarily bad in Let it Be. But the Beatles did it better. 3/5 Key tracks: 20th Century Boy, Temptation Eyes, Androgynous, I Will Dare

I think this is one of those you have to be around at the time sort of albums. On paper it should be just the sort of music that would absolutely appeal to me but all I could hear was just about average punk by numbers with none of the, insouciance of the original 1977 variety which I love.

Struck me on my first listen as enjoyable but not too remarkable. The members of the band were all great at what they did but some of the songwriting fell a little flat. Some songs were very fun and enjoyable. Could be worth revisiting and reevaluating

Let It Be was recorded by the band after they had grown tired of playing loud and fast exclusively as on their 1983 Hootenanny album; the group decided to write songs that were, according to vocalist Paul Westerberg, "a little more sincere." Track 9 is called "Gary's Got a Boner" - very sincere

Jaaaaa, Let it be, magistrale plaat, met natuurlijk het titelnummer, Across the universe, Get back en het prachtige The long and winding... Ow, dit zijn helemaal niet de Beatles? Jarentachtigpostpunk? Euhm ja, kunnen deze heren doorgaan als Vervangers voor de Fab Four? Eerlijk gezegd valt de kwaliteit me nog mee, gezien het genre. Er wordt wat geragd, maar andere nummers zijn wel aan te horen. Ach, ik ben in een gulle bui.

Een punk-light album. Het verschil lijkt dat deze zanger niet lijkt te doen alsof álsof hij niet kan zingen. Hij lijkt het gewoon niet te kunnen zonder overslaande stem. In het begin pruim ik het nog wel. Het begint zelfs wat pop-achtig, toegankelijk. Maar de punknummers zijn soms verschrikkelijk. We're Comin' Out bijvoorbeeld. Blijven jullie maar binnen...

Er zijn heel veel zangers (met name Britse) met zeurderige stemmen. En op het eerste gezicht lijkt dit ook niet de beste zanger, maar ik vind dit licht schurende geluid echt fijn om te luisteren. Het doet me wat aan the Gaslight Anthem denken, met name door het stemgeluid. De muziek heeft af en toe dat rafelige punkrandje, maar het zijn toch echt wel vaak prima liedjes. Net als the Clash gaat dit wat meer de poppy kant op, al houden ze wel duidelijker de roots met de punk(rock). Maar dan met het melancholische van Gorki. Een schitterende combinatie. Ik heb dit album nu gewoon een paar keer opgezet om te bedenken wat ik er van vind, en ik zit elke keer met veel plezier te luisteren. Het is een soort voorloper van de latere punkrock waar ik veel naar heb geluisterd,. En dus niet een voorloper die klinkt als een soort rauwe mix van geluiden. Juist een waar meer structuur in zit. Ik ga gewoon lekker 4,5 ster afronden naar een 5.

The Replacements is one of those bands that seems like it checks all the boxes for me but I'm never fully won over. I appreciate the swings and the work being done here. I just wish I loved it.

Pretty much everything you want a garage rock album to sound like. Ragged, passionate, pregnant with youthful angst - and choc-ful of melody. To these ears 'Androgynous', whilst a welcome change of pace, is the weakest cut here. It's got the most individual plays on Spotify. Curious!

Short and sweet album. You can feel the emotion in each song. I especially liked Androgynous, Unsatisfied, Sixteen Blue. Something about the raw and strained voice is satisfying to me.

Good old fashion punk music. Energetic and melodic. Occasionally they branch out with songs like Androgynous and Sixteen Blue. Love unsatisfied 7.2/10

Annoying vocals, just not good

Meh. Sounds like a typical early 80’s garage band. Easy enough to listen to but nothing stood out.

Again like Bad Brains and Husker Du and Black Flag, they do have some good songs and you can see how influential they were but... it's just not very riveting. I can see the appeal at the time, it's honest and original guitar rock in a time of big hair and cheesey synths but. Dunno, my candle remains unlit.

A bit all over the place. instrumentally it was interesting, vocals were the weakest aspect. I enjoyed the cover of kiss’s black diamond though.

First track is great , but the rest is just ok . I actually prefer the bonus tracks, which weren’t really n the original release !