Albums that are important to me:
Paul Westerberg - "Stereo"
There are a couple of free mp3s from "Stereo" available at Vagrant's official site for the album here
Paul, on stage at the Showbox, Seattle WA, February 2005 |
I didn't develop an appreciation for the Replacements until long after they had broken up.
My ex-boss, Aaron introduced me to their music, and over time I started to realise why they were so fantastic. Well, "Stereo" was the first album of material from Paul Westerberg that came out AFTER I recognized his name. "Stereo" is an incredibly honest, raw album. It has made a gigantic impact on me as a songwriter. It's an album that I listen to as a form of musical therapy. As a musician, I second guess myself all too often, and this was the album that made me realise that a song doesn't have to be difficult to play, or a flawless performance to be great. In fact, there are times when the imperfections are actually part of WHY the song is so good. When I heard that Paul was going to play a show in Seattle for the Folker tour, I decided to race the clock, and record my own 'Cover Album' of "Stereo" as a way of saying "Thanks for making this masterpiece of an album." |
| My friend Chris is very good with photoshop, so I asked him to make the artwork for the project, and he did.
I was able to complete the album in time, and a bouncer from the venue got a copy of it to Paul. When I met Paul at the tour bus, and I told him that I was the guy who had made the CD, he said "Oh... YOU'RE the guy.." and then half kiddingly raised his index fingers into the form of a cross with a 'get away from me' look on his face, before cracking a smile. When I explained that it was probably the equivalent of him meeting Dylan, he said that he actually had met Bob in a bar, and they talked about the weather. Paul signed my guitar, a couple of pictures were taken, and that was that. |
Me, with Paul, by the front steps of the tour bus. |
I am making this 'cover album' available for free download.
I hope you will check out the album that inspired it, if you like what you hear.
If you are already a fan of Paul's work, I hope you enjoy my interpretations of these songs.
Glenn Case
"Stereo"
(A Paul Westerberg tribute album)
1. Baby Learns To Crawl
2. Dirt To Mud
3. Only Lie Worth Telling
4. Got You Down
5. No Place For You
6. Boring Enormous
7. Nothing To No One
8. We May Be The Ones
9. Don't Want Never
10. Untitled (Strike Down the Band)
11. Mr. Rabbit
12. Let the Bad Times Roll
13. Call That Gone?