Snob's Music: Album Review: Paul Westerberg- 49:00

One of the true greats of rock n' roll over the last 25 years is undoubtedly Paul Westerberg. With and without The Replacements, he has written some of the best songs you could ever hear.

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.

American fans can download the album here.

International fans (like us here in Canadia) can download it here.

Apparently the people over at www.paulwesterberg.net have more time on their hands than I do. They made up an unofficial track listing for the album (some of these are as short as 6 seconds):