The sparkling bling of the corporate gentleman on the cover sits alongside 1960’s film poster font and across from a ragged artist. The creative world of The Replacements interacted with expectations of modern success and an almost perverse artistic flair. A certain silliness makes it difficult to know what the band wanted—hearing their fetish for subversion rugby tackle their surplus of talent is a unique musical joy, frustrating as it may be. ‘Pleased To Meet Me’ rolls as well as it rocks, thrashing with a slick, appealing sound that ought to have cartwheeled around the radio and beyond.
29/30
A favourite: ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’