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FOLKER
Paul Westerberg
(Vagrant/Universal)
Even a chronic underachiever is doomed to succeed every now and then. Just look at George Dubya. Or, more to the point, Paul W. -- as in Westerberg.
From his years fronting punk-rock wastrels The Replacements to his lackadaisical solo albums, Westerberg has had a career best described as hit-and-miss -- except without a hit. But that hasn't stopped him from writing and recording some of the most truthful and revealing music of his generation from time to time.
Folker, thankfully, is one of those times. It's not that he's changed his style -- these 13 cuts toggle between the scrappy, shambling Stones-rock and world-weary acoustic yearning he's been dishing up for ages (although a couple of Beatle-popish tracks creep into the mix this time). It's not that he's changed his attitude -- Paul still mood-swings his way between smirking cynicism ("This is my single, this is my jingle / Buy it now, buy it now") and wistful, hopeless romanticism ("Compared to your eyes, the stars in the skies are dull"). And it's certainly not that he's becoming more proficient -- Paul still mumbles and stumbles through songs, sounding like he spends less on studio time than he does on whiskey and cigarettes.
But compared to the dishevelment of last year's Come Feel me Tremble, there is a noticeable difference: Westerberg is trying a little harder this time. So the melodies are a little stronger, the choruses are a little catchier, the lyrics are a little more crafted, and the songs don't all sound like they were taped as they were written.
For Westerberg, those little changes spell the difference between a miss and a hit -- and confirm once again that he has made the trip from young punk to old folker with his dignity intact.
Track Listing
1. Jingle
2. When Will We Arrive?
3. My Dad
4. Looking Up In Heaven
5. Anyway's All Right
6. $100 Groom
7. 23 Years Ago
8. As Far As I Know
9. What About Mine?
10. How Can You Like Him?
11. New Life
12. Gun Shy
13. Folk Star