Do you ever get into one of those modes where you can’t seem to stop listening to a certain song?
I do. Today it’s “Kiss Me on the Bus.” I don’t know what it is about the song that’s clicking with me today, but it is. I am going to boldy state that this is the most underrated of the ‘Mats love songs (right before Customer).
What do you think? Pop trash or underrated genius?
(P.S. I lost my job so expect a lot more annoying inanity up in these parts)
You mentioned two of my favorite “love” songs by the early ‘mats. I think what makes those selections so endearing is that they’re so…innocent, especially when you compare the lyrical content with the reputation the boys had at that point in time.
So, to answer the question, I’d have to say that their both perfect cross between pop trash and underrated genius, if there is a way to straddle that line.
BTW – Although I don’t know you personally, I’m sorry to hear about your employment circumstances. Hopefully this stinky economy will gather some forward momentum soon…
I would go with underrated genius. I love both those songs and I think If a song is simple and to the point that is great. If someone can sift though all the bullshit and come up with a symbol answer to love then that is truly genius. It’s westerberg so the genius is already implied. And I am sorry to hear about the job….Glad to hear more from you but sorry to hear you are jobless. you need a god damn job.(someone had to do it) But seriously I hope things turn around for you.
It was never a favorite of mine until just a few months back—twenty + years after first hearing it—when a pal pointed out how much more sophisticated the wordplay is than what any other band of the time was doing. It’s almost Cole Porter-like in that regard.
You touched on both. It’s pop genius. It has all the trademark Paul wordgame lyrics that made the Mats songs so amazing to digest and decipher, but it also shows off a pop side of the band that they were finally starting to embrace. When I hear stuff that the Goo Goo Dolls did a decade later, stuff that borrows remarkably from Tim and Pleased To Meet Me but never comes within a square mile of the depth of those songs, it makes me sad. “Kiss Me On The Bus” would have been a major hit if released 8 years later. Same for “Alex Chilton,” “Left of the Dial, and “Unsatisified.”
I guess the good news is we still get the Mats to ourselves in all their brilliant and ragged glory. The bad news is that anyone who got into the Goo Goos or Offspring or Bush years later SHOULD have been introduced to the Replacements. But probably weren’t.
Paul’s best song involving pleas for exhibitionism. (“They’re all watching us.”)
Kiss Me is Cole Porter, you’re right the Other Scott. Also my fave mats song, love or otherwise. World: Hire Jodi.
i love the live in studio version on the re-issue.
so rocking. sounds more let it be…would have fit very well right after favorite thing- which is by far the most overlooked and i say top 3 best mats songs ever. Booyah.
But im nothing. solo out…..
I agree about Favorite Thing, Jay – Tommy’s simple rapid-fire bass line on that is awesome, where they sing the chorus over it. Bar Nothing.
Jodi – Wasn’t Kiss me on the Bus the song they played in that sadly hilarious 80s teen music show clip you linked to awhile back? Thanks a lot – now I’ve got images of bad 80s dancin’ in my head!
Former Mullet-head out…
kiss me on the bus is one of my favorite paul songs to cover. I always wanted to see chuck berry take a swing at it. I also agree with Jay on Favorite thing. Would definitely be in my top 5 mats songs. Paul really has a flair for these type of poppy innocent songs and they tend to be my favorites. Other examples are are I’m in trouble, skyway, and As far as I know though each has their own distinct style.
I always loved the song 500% since the day I first heard it.
And about a week later, I decided I loved “Dose Of Thunder” too. (The first few times I heard it, I didn’t hate it, but I had to let it digest, I guess. I still don’t know why more people don’t love that one too. But anyway, Bus is one of the best songs ever.
Word play, bouncy beat, and an authentic teenage yearning feel — maybe not GENIUS, but better’n almost anyone else