

By their fifth studio album, The Replacements had cemented themselves as punk icons and decided to mix it up a bit. They sound like they’re having as much fun as ever with the handclapping doo-wop of “Alex Chilton” and the tight horns and strings of “Can’t Hardly Wait”. A streak of jazz enters the sound palette with “Nightclub Jitters”, awash in smoky bass, languorous hi-hat and sultry piano. And the sparse, acoustic “Skyway”, one of the band’s most beautiful efforts, highlights Paul Westerberg’s vocal prowess.