Good morning!
Today we’re listening to Paul Westerberg’s “World Class Fad”
In the early 90’s someone found a wall in downtown Portland and spray-painted “Paul Westerberg is God” on it. We must’ve walked by it dozens of times while it was there (notably, it stayed up for a realllly long time).
I don’t know that I’d got that far, but I would say that when it comes to taking sincerity and cynicism and making it sound fantastic, Westerberg is definitely in rarefied air.
Westerberg of course was in The Replacements, a band I’ve yet to find anyone say an unkind word about. This track was off of his 1993 solo record, 14 Songs.
There was (is?) a pervasive myth that the lyrics are about Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. I doubt that’s true; for one, the song mentions a casket and came out while Cobain was still very much alive. Nevertheless, if that’s a rabbit hole you’d like to go down, there is no shortage of forums & subreddits discussing it to this day.
What is certain is that this is a fantastic track, overflowing with energy. And maybe that’s the genius of Westerberg; you’re having such a good time dancing to the music that it doesn’t much matter who it may/may not be about.
More:
Turning back to your new album, “World Class Fad” is its first single. Did you want to make sure that one of the rock songs got out there first?
Yeah. Maybe to reintroduce myself. Bottom line, I’m a rocker. I can write ballads, but I would rather be known as that than a balladeer that dabbles in uptempo music.
Read the rest of the Rolling Stone interview here.
Listen:
“World Class Fad,” by Paul Westerberg | 14 Songs, 1993
Click on the record to listen on the platform of your choice:
What’d you think of this track? Prefer The Replacements or Westerberg’s solo work?
Thanks for being here,
Kevin—
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The Replacements hit right when I got to college. And if there was ever a prototypical college band it was Westerberg's group. Funny enough, I became more of a fan when college was solidly in the rearview mirror. I don't know if you've heard this, but Paul and Juliana Hatfield did a little side project called The i Don't Cares a few years back. The album (called Wild Stab) is hit or miss, but this song is a standout. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4geuUkZzzig
Nice, Kevin! I tried so hard, back in the day, to be SO in on The Replacements & even Paul solo, but just couldn't...despite all my friends back then guaranteeing I'd love them, and they'd be right up my alley, etc! Not to mention the band's influences all pointed to me likely loving 'em, and all the rock scribes of the day screeching their praises (some of them, now here on Substack...Wayne Robins, Christgau, maybe another one or two)!
Your mention of Cobain makes me think that maybe Paul and his 'Placements were Nirvana before they could be. A lot of parallels, I think, between the drive and angst of Paul and Curt. And, I believe they had similar musical influences. And, for the record (to everyone painting on random walls), while Paul may be A god, Todd is, and always has been, God!