Pleased to Meet Me [180-Gram Vinyl LP]

The Replacements: Paul Westerberg (vocals, guitar); Tommy Stinson (bass); Chris Mars (drums).
The Replacements' brand of brash, dirty rock & roll reached its apex on PLEASED TO MEET ME. A stomping collection of blistering, no-bull compositions and performances, this album represents a wild, angry, and ultimately beautiful marriage of inspired songcraft and punk rock abandon. The album's biggest hit, "Alex Chilton," is a swinging, stomping homage to the pop stylist to whom the Replacements were so deeply indebted, with plenty of the stadium-sized power-chords that comprise the groups less-fashionable influences (Kiss's "Black Diamond" was one of their better-known covers).
The rollicking "Red Red Wine" is an homage of another sort--the Replacements were a band fueled by alcohol; live gigs were always unpredictable, well-lubricated affairs. The disarming acoustic ballad "Skyway" has a timeless feel, expertly performed and evocatively delivered. The album's closer, "Can't Hardly Wait," provided the 'Mats with another signature tune; Paul Westerberg is at his raspy, poetic best, while idol Alex Chilton is credited with guitar.