Just for fun, before writing about this week’s Great Song, I Wiki’ed the band: The Replacements. What I got first was a general Wiki link asking me whether I was looking for the movie, an episode of “Band of Brothers,” a short story, a TV series, or the “American alternative rock group.”
The fact that the greatest rock n’ roll band of the 1980s is even referred to as “alternative” is hilarious.
While everyone else in the rock underground were wearing paisley shirts and doing their best to imitate the English New Wave, The Replacements were getting drunk and singing about growing up, being confused, and being pissed off. In 1984, they released “Let it Be” (the title chosen to get the goat of their manager, a big Beatles fan, and to prove that nothing is sacred) on a tiny Minneapolis indie label called Twin/Tone. It may not have seemed too important at the time, but now its regarded as one of the finest rock albums ever recorded. (Spin called it the 12th Greatest Record of All-Time.)
Picking a favorite Replacements song is like picking the best Scorsese movie—there is an embarrassment of riches to choose from. The one I picked today is simple, honest, and absolutely universal. The title pretty much sums it up.
Written by Paul Westerberg, who always sang as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders (and he could give a fuck), “Unsatisfied” is simple, repetitive, loose, and perfect.
Opening with a 12-string guitar intro that’s reminiscent of KISS’ “Rock Bottom” (that band’s “Black Diamond” is covered on “Let it Be”), it sets the stage for a pretty little number. What you get instead is Westerberg mumbling, ranting, and crying for help.
90 percent of the lyrics in the song are right here: “Look me in the eye then tell me that I’m satisfied / Hey, are you satisfied?” It’s more than a statement, it’s a taunt. Summing up the listless feeling of youth and uncertainty about the future isn’t easy to do in language that plain-spoken, but Westerberg does it. And the delivery sells it.
Even with all the bright and pretty guitars, the band (Bob Stinson on guitar, his 17-year old brother Tommy on bass, Chris Mars on the drums) plays it reckless, like a punk rock tune. The song is mostly chorus, but the second verse goes something like this: “Everything goes, anything goes, all of the time / Everything you dream of is right in front of you / And everything is a lie” I’m not actually sure about that last line; never have been. It means what I want it to mean.
At the end, the song devolves: “I’m so , I’m so…unsatisfied.” There have been certain times in my life where nothing has seemed so poetic as this song. It’s cathartic for sure, but it’s better than John Lennon’s “primal scream therapy” stuff because there’s a melodic sense to it that thrives and lives through the chaos. I wonder sometimes where voices like this are for the younger generations right now. I wonder who it is that speaks to them like Westerberg and The ‘Mats speak to me.
The Great Songs series so far:
The Great Songs: Big Star – Thirteen
The Great Songs: The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset
The Great Songs: The Jayhawks – Blue
The Great Songs: Pavement – Summer Babe
The Great Songs: The Zombies – Care of Cell 44
The Great Songs: The O’Jays – Back Stabbers
The Great Songs: Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
The Great Songs: George Jones – He Stopped Loving Her Today
The Great Songs: Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Great Songs: The Flying Burrito Brothers – Hot Burrito #1
The Great Songs: The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize??
The Great Songs: Pink Floyd – Astronomy Domine
The Great Songs: The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up
The Great Songs: Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get it On
The Great Songs: Slayer – Angel of Death
The Great Songs: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Beyond Belief
Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com and writes for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome write-up, Eric. A great song, classic album…overrated band? Sorry. This is my Huskers allegiance coming out. But seriously, the song is chills-inducing, and I can’t think of a better ‘tear in my beer’ anthem I’ve ever heard. Keep ’em coming.
P.S. “Celebrated Summer” for inclusion!
I’d have to say that my favorite would be either this or Bastards of Young, although Left of the Dial would be pretty close too. I’ve always preferred sugar to Husker Du as well, copper blue is one of my favorite albums of all time
Cletus- Glad you dig it. In reaction to the term ‘overrated,’ I would say no. I am a huge fan of Husker Du (and Soul Asylum for that matter), but that in no way diminishes my love for the ‘Mats! If I was to choose a Husker song, that would probably be the one!
Xavier- Wow. Bastards and Left of the Dial are definitely in my Top 10 maybe even 5 ‘Mats tunes–nice! Although, Sugar > Husker Du? Crazy talk!
Its just how I feel, copper blue is one of my favorite albums and If I Can’t Change Your Mind is one of my favorite songs
I Can’t Change Your Mind is a great tune!
I don’t know maybe I’d be willing to conceed that Husker Du are better than Sugar overall, but I do think that Copper Blue is better than any single album that Husker Du released
Nice job Bobbie! Very poetic indeed. I was always partial to “Answering Machine” if I had to pick just one from this album. There is no voice for this generation. That may be the problem. Just check my Daughter’s MP3 player. What is on it? The Beatles, The Replacements, The Clash, Ramones, NIrvana etc…
Awesome, awesome note on my favorite Replacements song – very well-expressed Melin! I’d say my second fav would be Answering Machine (hi Yarges!), but it’s close – in terms of delivery and sentiment, they’re similar, in my opinion. Anyway, you nailed this one, Melin! =D
(I listen to the Replacements comp that you made me about 4 years ago ALL the time!)
Thanks!