Jack
Rabid - BIG TAKEOVER - Issue #47 (NYC) 1/2001
- Every issue I pick up a handful of tribute LPs I could review,
but ultimately decline. If you love the originals, you get
turned off by an hour of third-rate covers and needless replication
by lesser lights. Left of the Dial is among the intermittent
opposites: it's a good time instead of a major downer.
Probably its success is down to its conception. Though the
Replacements were America's premier '80s garage band,
there was always that supremely developed pop side to Paul
Westerberg's inspired writing that bubbled up so clearly out
of the scrawk, pummel, and roll. So, instead of assembling
a bunch of new punk-garage misfits to zerox the gasket-blowing,
sloppy-thick originals, these 24 paying homage are a stack
of underground bands that still rock, but approach the originals
as more powerful pop to be played tightly (a few like the
Marlowes, who do a fine job with "Alex Chilton",
Lolas, and [Taggart] still go for the controlled,
fast chaotic, slop-bucket charm). With the exception of only
one or two duds (The Andersons ruin "Nobody"), everyone
has the right idea, right from the Happy Regrets opener of
"Kiss Me on the Bus".
The
recording quality is surprisingly high - this is not a bunch
of bad-sounding, thrown-together 4-tracks- and several, like
the Dipsomaniacs'
"Can't hardly Wait" should bring an instant smile
to anyone who loved the group in the old days. It'd be nice
to see a few more here take on Sorry ma... and Stink (hurrah
for [Taggart's] "Don't Ask Why")
but otherwise high marks!
I'd give plenty to be in the front row at Danceteria, Folk
City, Gildersleeves, CBGB, or Irving Plaza again. The songs
always win. |
