Don't Tell a Soul, the Replacements

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 1989.

Don't Tell a Soul, the Replacements, 1989, :38

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ 

1989! This was the year Madonna, 2 Live Crew, Sinead O'Connor, and Judas Priest all got into well-publicized legal troubles over artistic expression. Distracting people from wealth inequality is fun. Meanwhile, the 'Mats released this album, to very little legal trouble. It features the typical witty wordplay and sense of fun, but it's comparatively musically restrained.  I don't know how much of a cohesive unit the Replacements were at this point, but to me this album evokes Westerberg's solo album 14 Songs. I read that Westerberg wasn't very happy with the "radio-ready" mix. It's true it isn't as ragged as some of the more Replacements well-known stuff, but it's hardly glossy. In the end it's a decent album, but all I keep thinking is, this isn't as good as Tim.  Favorite tracks: "Asking Me Lies," "I'll Be You."

Soulforce Revolution, 7 Seconds

It’s Manic Monday! Wherein I listen to a rocker, a punker, or just a general banger.

Soulforce Revolution, 7 Seconds, 1989, :33

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

I've been a fan of 7 Seconds for some years, but only through hearing a song here and there.  Never listened to a whole album through.  I think the strength of this band is in its short, fast, positive, defiant statements.  At just over a half hour, this album feels long by the end.  However, the music on this album, a manic jangle-pop-punk with elements of surf, is more melodic than earlier 7 Seconds stuff.  Indeed, some of this music would not be called "punk" if you were expecting a typical jangle-pop '90s band like Guadalcanal Diary or the Rembrandts.  I was torn on rating this album.  I suppose it's three stars if you're expecting a musical punch in the face, but four stars if you're not.  Favorite tracks: "Satyagraha," "Tickets To a Better Place."