Is anyone as surprised as I am by the 7.1 Pitchfork gave 49:00? I’m having a tough time with this record. I enjoy it, especially the utter rawness. However, I am still wondering if it would have generated so much buzz had it not been a 49-cent downloadable album.
Is the marketing overpowering the music? What do you think? How do you Westernerds feel about this being Our Man Paul’s most popular record?
Hey, there’s at least 15 minutes of pretty valuable songsmithing going on 49:00 – that makes it a 7 in my book!
Westerberg is a cat who never sold himself out to the marketing machine…
you’re having a hard time with 49:00 cuz the price tag has given him some buzz? Fans should be bringin’ down the balloons.
No, I’m having a hard time with the pricetag garnering him attention when it should be the music. And hard time isn’t really it. Maybe it just rubs me weird. I’m thrilled that people are giving him a shot now, but it’s still weird.
And I’m sorry Jim Dracula, but I am not one of those fans who will think everything the person I admire does is sunshine and roses. I think honest criticism is totally worthwhile.
you simply misunderstood my point & no need to be sorry…
I’m all for constructive criticism; you’ve read my posts, yes?
I just don’t feel the debate is warranted on this one. Paulie delivers the goods, only it’s in a different package. I’m hoping he gets more press out of it…more of the public can tune in to his radio station & find what they been missing.
I don’t think the marketing is overpowering the music simply because everyone is talking about the music and not just the fact that it was released at 49 cents. The no fanfare, sneak attack release, cheap price and non-traditional song structure are getting people’s attention but they are talking about (and praising) the music and that’s the important part. I think it was brilliant of Paul to release this out of the blue because I think if it were announced that a new album was coming out the expectations would have been huge. Then upon getting this there would be a huge letdown because all would be expecting a “proper” album with songs and titles and everything that typically personifies an album. At 49 cents and no expectations it is hard to be disappointed with this album – the fact that there are lots of juicy tidbits, catchy music and lyrics makes it that much better. So, in long, I don’t think a 7.1 is out of hand nor do I mind PW getting some love. It’s long overdue in my opinion.
This is the best thing he has done in years! It is awesome in its power and I can’t stop listening to it.
Plus it is NUMBER ONE on Amazon this week! That means more people are listening to this than anything he has released in years. He’s absolutely brilliant doing it this way. If he shined these songs up and did the record the covnentional way, it wouldn’t be anywhere close.
This is a rock record that is getting heard — too bad he’s not making any money on this, but hell it is getting to the people.
I think we might finally see Paul get his due and maybe just maybe he will come out of his basement and we could maybe finally “get him back”. I only seen him at the petal pusher release live and i am dieing to see it again. He is my biggest influence musically (and Devon Williams from osker) so i am so excited to see him inching his way back to the stage. I truly think as much as he says he hates promoting music that he loves the stage and knows it is where he belongs. Can i get anyone’s proxy on this?
I recall Paul stating rock-n-roll is his one true love & whether he likes it or not, the stage is where he feels most alive…it’s his home.
Exactly …we will be seeing him soon…
who cares.. it’s new westerberg.
I would rather listen to Paul read a grocery list off-key than the honest attempts at heartfelt music most other artists attempt. Not to say that everything he does is gold, but I think he actually believes in everything he puts out. But the crap he deems as “not good enough” for anyone else to hear is probably 10 times better than a lot of other artist’s best attempts.
head on over to allmusic.com and check album of the day
While the “story” behind the album is definitely garnering it far more press than it otherwise would receive, at least the critics ARE actually discussing the music in their reviews, as opposed to Radiohead’s In Rainbows which everybody only wanted to talk about in terms of the impact it would have on the music industry and not in terms of it being a freakin’ terrific album. I also think that the Mats’ rereleases are a big factor in the coverage as well. If 49:00 had come out a year ago I don’t think it would have made nearly as much of a splash, but the Mats are “in” right now.
One thing that does strike me as curious is that many critics, who apparently aren’t familiar with Paul’s post SG solo work, are talking about the relationship between the sloppy home recording aspect and the price. I wonder if their opinions would change if they realized that this is not a new stylistic direction for Paul and that his other homegrown releases sold for full retail price.
I’m diggin’ 49:00 even got it advertised along with a COOL Paul guitar on Ebay right now!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=150276615792
Thank-Q!
Gregg
Poor Jim Dracula, misunderstood (under many guises) across the internet. It must get pretty tiring for you.
RJ, sounds like you got a bromance with me…heh…
“under many guises, across the internet”… think you’re just talkin’ about your “buddy” on this board lol