Paul Westerberg – 14 Songs …album review

Everyone knows I’m a huge Replacements fan. In the 1980s, I leaned more toward them than mainstream bands. They would produce music that I always hoped the mainstream would, but that didn’t happen. They broke up on July 4, 1991. Westerberg released his debut album, 14 Songs, two years later in 1993. I’ve never explored his solo albums a bunch, but now it’s time.

The album doesn’t sound like a Replacements record, and it doesn’t go after anything modern for the time. It sounds like Westerberg was finding his way without the baggage of the Replacements. With this album, he did find his way just fine.

The album moves between loose home recordings and more finished studio tracks, and that contrast works. Songs like Love You in the Fall and Runaway Wind sound close and personal, almost like letters instead of songs. Westerberg keeps the arrangements simple, letting the songs breathe and sometimes wobble. The roughness isn’t fixed because it doesn’t need to be. The opening song, Knockin’ On Mine (live version here), kicks the door in with a rough, cool, welcoming riff.

He tried some different styles with this album, like Black Eyed Susan and Even Here We Are, with a slight folk feel. The song that really won me over is A Few Minutes of Silence. It’s punchy and powerful, and Westerberg’s voice is on target. Dice Behind Your Shades and Mannequin Shop are two rocking songs that spoke to me right off the bat. 

I also noticed on this album that his voice is slightly different. I always loved his voice for the human feel and the roughness. He doesn’t lose that with this album, but it’s more concise and not all over the place…it seems more focused.

What holds 14 Songs together is the writing. Westerberg writes in everyday language and trusts the melody to do the rest. There’s humor, regret, and acceptance, often in the same verse, which again shows his songwriting skills. I always thought that Westerberg was one of the best songwriters of the 1980s, and he didn’t disappoint on this one.

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

20 thoughts on “Paul Westerberg – 14 Songs …album review”

  1. I am liking both of those songs and I don’t recall listening to any solo songs from him. But there’s a familiar sound here. If you can write a song with mannequin in it and have it sound like that, very impressive skills.

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  2. I feel just like Big Star, pretty much everything I know about The Replacements and Paul Westerberg is because of you – a great example why I enjoy music blogging as much as I do.

    You won’t be shocked I’ve yet to explore Westerberg’s solo work. Based on sampling some of the tracks, “14 Songs” sounds very promising. Keep ’em coming, Max! 🙂

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    1. Thanks for giving it a try Christian. I’m not a great album reviewer because I’m not critical enough…but hell…I’m a fan and that is why I don’t review albums much.

      There is only so much time we have for new music to us…so I get it.

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  3. Pingback: Paul Westerberg – 14 Songs …album review – MobsterTiger

    1. It really suprised me…and he kept from sounding like The Replacements as much. This is very accessible…probably more than The Replacements but he still kept that edge. I should have mentioned that about Sliver Naked Ladies.

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    1. Oh I didn’t know that. I like that song because it’s so true and people looking for perfection…I love the quick line “You’re looking great,You’re losing face, You’re looking fine, My little Frankenstein”

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