April 22, 2008 1:27 PM PDT

The Replacements: four fantastic early albums reissued

Posted by CNET Download Music Staff

Replacement fans have four serious reasons to celebrate today, as the band's first four Twin/Tone releases--debut Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash, EP Stink, and seminal albums Hootenanny and Let It Be--are all getting reissued today from Rhino in remastered versions, each with a bunch of bonus material. And as if that wasn't enough, rumors also floated today (via Billboard) that Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson are "open" to the idea of a reunion tour.

We'll let the rumors sort themselves out (or not). As for the reissues, though, they're a real treat, and they sound great. Stink and Sorry Ma haven't made it off my record shelves in years, so it's a sweet surprise to find how well songs like "Kids Don't Follow" and "Raised in the City" hold up. (Same goes without saying for Hootenanny and Let It Be hits like "Color Me Impressed, "I Will Dare," and "Unsatisfied.")

And the bonus material? A bunch of demos, outtakes, rehearsal tapes, and a few live cuts--most isn't 'essential' (did you really expect otherwise?), but it's certainly fun. I mean, who can resist hearing a "solo home demo" of "Answering Machine" or an "alternate vocal" take of "Sixteen Blue"? Best of the bonus material is actually "If Only You Were Lonely," which did get proper release long ago as the B-side of an early single.

Rhino put together a listening party--links are below--with the following tracks:

I Will Dare - Let It Be
Take Me Down to the Hospital - Hootenanny
Kick Your Door Down - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
Dope Smokin' Moron - Stink
Hootenanny - Hootenanny
Johnny's Gonna Die - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
Sixteen Blue - Let It Be
Kids Don't Follow - Stink
Within Your Reach - Hootenanny
Unsatisfied - Let It Be
Shiftless When Idle - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
Stuck in the Middle - Stink