Paul Westerberg’s Major-Label Replacement

49:00
Paul Westerberg
(Amazon.com)

Paul Westerberg was never really cut out for the majors. So it figures that the former ringleader of the ramshackle band The Replacements would find a way to flourish in the current digital free-for-all that has brought us a name-your-own-price album from Radiohead (“In Rainbows”), a freebie from Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails’ “Ghosts, I-VI”) and countless artists selling tracks directly to fans through their MySpace pages. Although you wouldn’t expect him to jump headlong into any marketing trend, that’s pretty much what Westerberg has done. His latest release, “49:00,” isn’t free, but at 49 cents it’s pretty close.

That’s right, people: A 49-minute mp3 (actually 43 and change) for 49 cents at the Amazon.com download store. There are no song titles (though PaulWesterberg.net generated an unofficial track list, which should make it easier for fans to discuss the tunes), no lyric sheet and only the following two statements for liner notes:

“WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE”

“THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FAULTY – ALL SOUNDS ARE INTENTIONAL AND VALID AS A WORK OF ART”

Even if he was so inclined, Westerberg may not have had time to write more detailed notes.

“He finished it on Monday, sent it to me on Tuesday and it was out this weekend,” Westerberg’s manager, Darren Hill, told Billboard.com on Monday. “It’s just wonderful that you can actually do this. The freedom an artist can enjoy these days is fantastic. Can you imagine me pitching this idea for a label?”

I maybe could see Hill pitching it. But a label would never buy it. Even now, with desperation gripping the industry, it’s unlikely that a major would take a chance on 40-plus minutes of songs, fragments and sonic experiments packed into one track.

“49:00” continues the trend of lo-fi home recordings Westerberg started with his excellent 2002 releases, “Stereo” and “Mono.” Those basement tapes were released as conventional discs, though the feel was decidedly informal with some songs cutting off abruptly as if Westerberg had run out of tape. “49:00” also is jarring at times, and switches gears frequently. There are nine segments less than a minute in length; three of those last less than 10 seconds. Other times, the sound bleeds from one song into the next, as if the listener were turning a radio dial. Such is the case with a late medley that includes snippets of Westerberg covering The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You,” The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye,” Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “I Am a Rock,” Alice Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” The last track reportedly features vocals by Westerberg’s son, Johnny.

There’s plenty of conventional songcraft, too, largely in the vein of his most recent solo work. Getting to it just takes a little more patience than it did with past releases.

Given the construction of “49:00,” it’s hard to offer much in the way of a traditional review. Some will be put off by the haphazard, almost stream-of-consciousness nature of the recording, and others will be bummed that the tracks aren’t split. Longtime Westerberg fans are likely to dig right in and find the gems. Some of them will like it just the way it is. Almost all camps will agree that the price is right. It’s best to just download “49:00” and judge for yourself.