4Play

Feb. 1, 2009

The Replacements - Tim (Reissue) - Rhino/Rykodisc
Re-released both on CD and on vinyl for both Replacements classic fans and for those who have yet to discover this influential band, Tim stops back for a visit to showcase the ‘Mats as they were approaching the height of both their popularity and songwriting skill. Paul Westerberg is in excellent form here, cranking out ’80s pop tunes that stayed away from the typically cheesy sound of the era, instead bringing in a grit similar to that of the ’90s Seattle movement. The sadly thoughtful “Here Comes a Regular,” the jubilant “Kiss me on the Bus,” and the set’s poignant paean to the working-class man are all here and sounding just as relevant as when the album was new.

Collective Soul - Afterwords - El Music Group
First released as an album exclusive only to Target stores (in September 2007), this Collective Soul set has now been re-issued for the non-Target masses, complete with 3 new songs by singer Ed Roland that are now exclusive to this pressing of the disc. The songs here stick mostly to the patented Collective Soul modern rock formula, which isn’t a bad thing, although it would be interesting to hear them try a few risks, since they are talented musicians (especially impressive live); but for now, fans will at least have these tracks to be happy with. First single “Hollywood” is perhaps the catchiest of the bunch, but others of note include “Adored,” “Persuasion of You,” and “All That I Know.”

All-American Rejects - When the World Comes Down - Geffen
All-American Rejects’ previous songs, like “Move Along” and “It Ends Tonight” were all over pop radio several years ago, mostly due to their top-notch and unavoidable catchiness, since the musicianship of the band is fairly average, if enthusiastic. But they obviously had a knack for a good pop hook, so one would hope they’d improve on their luck and work a little on their songcraft. Unfortunately, it didn’t really happen this time around. The hooks on tunes like “Real World” and “Back to Me” are uneven at best, making this a sometimes flat set of more blend-in emo-pop. It’s not that it’s horrible - and they’re to be credited for writing all the songs themselves - but it’s just not terribly gripping.

Blenderhead - Figureheads on the Forefront of Pop Culture - Tooth and Nail
Blenderhead’s got a decent knack for both melodic, ear-catching tunes and song titles that often humorously draw on some of the more obscure bits of pop culture that are floating around. Two of the best of these are “I Gave Her My Heart, She Gave Me a Pen” (name that movie quote! Okay, we’ll tell you - it’s John Cusack’s Say Anything) and “Versatile Solutions for Modern Living,” which could probably be seen on any average day on the Home Shopping Network. Titles aside, the songs are pretty good too - these are basic, often pretty pop songs that lean towards the emo side of things, but they seem to try harder and are (thankfully) often more clever than the average emo band of today.