SOUNDTRACK: THE REPLACEMENTS-Tim (1985).
Many people consider this to be the best Replacements album. It features one of their best songs “Bastards of Young” (which has one of the best anti-videos ever created (available here)).
For me, I think the second side (how quaint) is stronger than the first. And, it’s not quite as diverse stylistically as Let It Be. I think there’s something to do with the production that makes it a bit more polished-sounding. And yet, despite all of this seeming Tim-bashing, it is still a fantastic record.
“Kiss Me on the Bus,” continues Westerberg’s streak of catchy poppy indie rock. “Left of the Dial” is an awesome tribute to college radio stations. And “Little Mascara” is another great, simple rocker.
Tim also contains a few ballads, “Here Comes a Regular” is another great TomWaitsian bar song. And “Waitress in the Sky” is a sweetly depressing song.
All signs indicate that The Replacements matured on this record (which makes this one seem less teenagery than Let It Be). And after recording this, they kicked out Bob Stinson, founding member and brother of the bassist, for being too drunk and reckless for the band (for THIS band!). In fact, their next album will be even more “mature” (but I like that one more).
But Tim stands as one of the 80’s classic indie rock albums.
[READ: June 8, 2009] “The Book of Genesis”
As a general rule, I don’t like R. Crumb’s drawing style. He’s a little too rough, a little too crass for my tastes. This is no to say that I don’t appreciate his iconic images and the fact that his style is so recognizable. I just don’t happen 
to like it all that much. (Although I think his original characters are all pretty cool–the Keep On Truckin’ guy, of course).
Having said this, I appreciated his somewhat toned-down style in this excerpt. Crumb decided to do a faithful, respectful illustration of the Bible (or at least the Book of Genesis). And so he did. The illustrations are really striking and, as is crumb’s way, he doesn’t hold back.
I’m not about to critique The Book of Genesis. If you don’t know it…well, I’m surprised. You know, beginning of the world and all of that. In fact there’s TWO versions of the beginning of the world, so you know it’s go to be true.
In the introduction his says that although he does turn to Ecclesiastes or
the Gospel of Thomas for inspiration, he finds Genesis “too primitive” to be of any use.
Here’s the cover of the book.
I Just Read About That... 
Let it be was the ‘Mats best work. Tim had some great moments. “kiss me on the bus” is always on our ipod.
HUGE fan of Crumb! great bio pic out there worth watching.
Woody,
I’ve seen the movie Crumb. I enjoyed it very much. And I will forever have the image of him easting rope in my head (and wondering if it works). I like Crumb himself, and I like a lot of the things he writes about, there’s just something about his drawing style that I don’t like.
And, yea, I like Let it Be better than Tim. This is going to be a heresy I’m sure but I like Pleased to Meet Me best, but that’s because that’s the disc that introduced me to the ‘Mats and the one I listened to most.