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Album Details

• Artist: Paul Westerberg
• Album: 49:00
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: Peter Kearns on 2009-04-04
• Viewed: 385 times

I would actually spend 49 minutes listening to Westerberg gargle water.

Thankfully, thanks to his new release 49:00 I won't have to. Hot off the digital download, 49:00 is Westerberg's new album, available at the bargain basement price of $0.49, one penny per minute (even though iTunes clocks it in at only 43:55).

49:00 is a set of home studio recordings in ilk of his Stereo/Mono and Come Feel Me Tremble albums. And as such it's rough around the edges. Which with Paul Westerberg is a very very good thing. He really is in his element and therefore, at his very very best.

The album comes as one long 49 minute MP3, and the songs tend to bleed into one another, even at times playing on top of each other. In the virtual "liner notes", Westerberg states for his fans that "This product is not faulty- All sounds are intentional and valid as a work of art".

However, most of the songs are remarkable. They span the wide range of Westerberg tunes, from ragged Replacements rockers to aching ballads to ramshackle yet catchy Americana ditties. We even get a covers medley near the end which includes "I Think I Love You", "Born To Be Wild", "Rocket Man", and "Hello, Goodbye" among others.

All in all, this is a daring and non-commercial statement from one of the greatest songwriters of my lifetime.

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on 2009-04-06 dscanland Said:

Sounds like Westerberg has made a nice return to form after the last horrendous album. I'll have to track this one down. Thanks!
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