Customer Reviews: Read 48 more reviews...
 Jammin' September 14, 2008
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
By the first fifteen minutes of `49:00,' I was convinced I had heard some of the most worthwhile rock music in years. His voice immediately draws from Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Tom Petty, and, well, even in places, sounds like Paul Westerberg. There's even an indispensable Eric Burden (of the Animals) imitation that's authentic and celebratory. With addictive pop hooks that jingle jangle, including one that sounds like a fluid original Velvet's song (worthy like "Sweet Jane,"), Westerberg showcases an encyclopedic love of pop music.
And if you don't believe me--why wouldn't you?--then his brief tribute medley will. Doing short renditions of "Hello/Goodbye," "Born to Be Wild," "Rocket Man," "I Am a Rock," et al, Westerberg settles on The Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You" in a way that should settle any doubts of tongue-in-cheek mockery.
The structure of `49:00' is threaded by fragmented lyrics and songs that fuse together without a single pause (segue). Sounding like someone tuning a radio, especially in key places, he borrows from the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" in structure done in a way that throws away the dial "twiddling" [changes] for a more abrupt layout. (More like the channel changing for satellite radio.)
Of course he often elaborates, but lines like "Teri, Teri, who ya gonna marry?" "Something in My Life Is Missing," "Be My Darling," and "Everyone's Stupid," are repetitive, yet sustaining enough. We roughly get a new song every four minutes (although it's almost impossible to keep track).
Punk, folk, alternative, blues, and country are showcased and sometimes mixed for a truly terrific record. Best of all, everyone involved sounds like they're having a blast*.
There are drawbacks. After all, how do you get to your favorite part in a format that only registers as one long song? Only Windows Media Player works for me where you're able to drag the cursor along. The packaging doesn't really help matters, either. `49:00' has to have one of the ugliest sleeve designs in rock history. It proves the old adage, "You can't judge a C.D. by its cover." Was Westerberg only looking for the most sincere followers? It's a shame because this album deserves to be heard by alternative fans and Paul deserves some royalties. And what about the title? The time of the music is 43:55, but it is titled `49:00' and subtitled "...of your [line through] time (life). As if we needed more enigma for a venue with snatches of meaning about unrequited love, morphine addiction, alienation, and, you know, the rest...
Now this masterpiece is bound to become as obscure as the Velvets were in their time, which is truly as shame. Amazon isn't selling it right now, and knowing them, you'd never catch me accusing them of being pro-censorship or anti-capitalist. Something's gone wrong, but some have speculated that there were copyright infringements for his brief covers during the song medley.
Get this recording any way you can. (Although messy, it's deliberately so. I may have been stingy. Many other reviewers are giving `49:00' five stars, and I fully understand why.)
A J.P.'s Pick 4*'s = Very Good
*I have to retract this. I read a review after posting that says Paul Westerberg recorded all the instruments on his album. Sort of like a punk version of Paul McCartney's 'McCartney'.
 What the..? Can't buy it??? Amazon S.U.C.K.S. August 21, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Very frustrating. After quite a bit of time spent fumbling about trying to buy it, downloading the download software, etc -- I discovered by googling it (actually looking for another source to buy it from), that Amazon is NOT selling the music, despite the fact that it's listed here. There's no notice saying you can't buy it, just a deactivated price button. Nice job, Amazon. You could make it a bit clearer. Maybe a big banner saying CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE or something like that so that even a dumb monkey like me could figure it out. What a waste of my time. You guys suck. With a capital S.U.C.K.
 Review? August 20, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
How can I review this when I can't even purchase it, Amazon? Still, based on past albums I've given it a 5 Star rating. What gives with this Amazon? Are you aware that this download has a rave review in the current issue of Rolling Stone?
 Could have been a better record August 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm not going to rate this on the price, but as a long-time Replacements fan. There are a few bright spots on this recording, and the first 14 minutes work well enough, but the train wreck that follows spoiled a potentially fun listen. The transitions on this record were terrible. Multiple songs overlapping didn't work for me at all. Little snippets of ideas that weren't worked out seemed like wasted opportunities. Much of the record felt like listening to 2 or 3 radio stations at the same time and then having someone keep changing the stations. Or just turning one randomly off and on. Half the recordings sounded like Paul was drunk when he recorded them ... and mixed them. The sad thing is, it could have been a great record. If he releases a full-priced, standard mix of 49, it would be worth buying, but I can't recommend it as it is.
westerberg August 2, 2008
I loved the fact that it was offered for 49 cents...I even liked most of the music. I fantasize about having Paul over to my house to have lunch, but I didn't like the song over the other song thing. I also didn't like the lady and the kids screaming at the end. I don't have to pay any money to hear that.
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