Oh The Replacements. The ultimate half drunk bar band. The sloppy poppy left of the middle (left of the dial) left overs of the night before. They slept in their clothes and broke their hearts every night so you didn’t have to.
Just as there was a symbiosis between my beloved Motörhead and The Ramones and between yesterdays Punk and Reggae. There is a similar inseparable nature to The Mats and Big Star’s Alex Chilton.
“If he was from Venus, would he feed us with a spoon? If he was from Mars, wouldn’t that be cool? Standing right on campus, would he stamp us in a file? Hangin’ down in Memphis all the while”
Westerberg and the boys imagine a better world from their bar stools. One where Big Star were actually big stars and #1 Record was a number 1 record. In the looking glass behind the optics of their favourite dive bar they see Rick Astley eclipsed by Alex Chilton and all is well with the world.
“Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes ’round. They sing “I’m in love. What’s that song?” I’m in love with that song.”
You know we love one band singing songs about another band on SteveForTheDeaf. This ones right up there. They’re celebrating a local hero (I’ve never been to Minneapolis but my record collection sure is familiar with the place). They’re dreaming big and they’re making a glorious racket in the process.
File alongside Ginger Wildheart’s 29 x The Pain and Mary Lou Lord’s His Indie World. Tuck it along side Todd Snider’s Ballad Of The Kingsmen and pay homage to Brand New’s Mixtape.
“I never travel far, without a little Big Star”
Steve For The Deaf 
Aye. I like this, Steve. Don’t know too much Replacements, so I’m not aware this existed.
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