Search - Grandpaboy :: Dead Man Shake

Maybe the best Westerberg solo album yet?

D. Mauer | Los Angeles, CA United States | 10/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's impressive that Westerberg's Come Feel Me Tremeble and the Grandpaboy album Dead Man Shake (which is also Paul Westerberg) have come out on the same day. For people like me that believe Paul is a fine songwriter, that's good news. Still, it seems his love of the "first take" has led to more than a few half-cooked songs over the past couple of years. I guess it's understandable when you remember how overproduced and over-labored upon records like Dont Tell A Soul and Suicaine Gratification were. Those songs often seemed to have the air sucked out of them, and probably suffered frm over-production, and way too many takes and overdubs... Now, left to his own devices and two indie labels - Fat Possum & Vaugrant - Paul seems to be making records by himself and in his basement, which leads to a homey sloppiness. I dont mind that. The looseness of the Replacements and of some of their contemporaries (Husker Du, Soul Asylum) and their influences (Faces, Stones, NY Dolls) was one of their strongest attributes. There are some wonderful songs here - but the tone of Come Feel Me Tremble feels too similar to the Mono/Stereo albums to me. Dead Man Shake by Paul's Grandpaboy persona seems just different enough to make it a more interesting album. Perhaps having the framework of setting out to make a (kind of) blues album for a (kind of) blues record label gave him enough structure to make something a little more different than we would have otherwise. And being different, it's also more interesting. And much as I dig Paul's take on the Jackson Browne song "These Days" on CFMT, the covers here by Hank Williams and John Prine on Dead Man Shake are, again, better. While the music industry just collpases in on itself, it's good to know that Paul Westerberg is oblivious to it all, just cranking out songs from somewhere in Minnesota, not giving a damn about fashion or what's cool or that downloads are killing the business. More power to him for it."

Low-tech, rough-edged, and a hoot.

JoeS | San Diego, CA United States | 09/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you like early Replacements more than their later stuff, or if you like the Stones more than the Beatles, or if you like unpretentious barroom blues/rock, you'll like this.



No, it's not a landmark disc, and it's not going to change the world. It is what it is: A few guys plugging in, letting loose, and having a good time. That said, it DOES sound like it was recorded in someone's basement.



Some albums have all the life and cajones produced right out of 'em with Phil-Spector like walls of sound. This ain't one of 'em.



ps: Note that one of the earlier reviewers -- a gentleman who gave this album one star -- had this to say: "i understand he is a member of the replacements?? the other band members in the replacements should consider replacing paul." 'Nuff said."

Fun and Messy

The MacGuffin | Alexandria, VA United States | 09/21/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is Paul at his loosest. Having fun with blues based rock. Not the best album he can do, but a good album to throw on while drinking at night. Enjoyable, but my hair doesn't stand on end like it can when Westerberg is at his peak. For an example of that, go listen to "Come Feel Me Tremble", released at the same time as this (or "Stereo/Mono" which is even better)."