Replacements remain superior to Soul Asylum

Unfortunately, we live in divisive times. Sometimes, people get so incensed with others' differences that they have a hard time coping and say things like, "You're dead to me!"

Perhaps no other current, up-to-date debate boils arguers' blood more than this: Who's better, the Replacements or Soul Asylum?

Uh, wait, what? Nah, you heard me. Most likely, the most salacious and contentious debate nowadays is which Minneapolis-based alt-rock band is superior — the Replacements or Soul Asylum.

OK, I jest, of course. Pretty much nobody in the world is having this debate right now. However, I remember being locked into an intense argument in 1991 about this topic.

I was on the Replacements' side. Are you kidding me? Soul Asylum, a mid band, in the same sentence as the mighty Replacements?!? The debate could be dismissed in my eyes. Paul Freakin' Westerberg vs. Pretty Boy Dave Pirner? No contest. Westerberg was, and is, superior. Case closed.

Plus, Bob Stinson was the lead guitarist with the Replacements for its first four albums and masterpieces Let It Be (1984) and Tim (1985). Apparently, he had constant power struggles with Westerberg that turned their music into art. Stinson was an addict who was kicked out of the band in '86 and died a tragic rock star's death at age 35. His brother, Tommy Stinson, was awesome on bass, and then with Chris Mars on drums, the Replacements simply were a super group and American treasure.

If ... it's a temporary lull. Why am I bored outta my skull? Man, I'm dressin' sharp and feelin' dull.

Of course, it's not proper to talk Minneapolis bands without mentioning Prince and Husker Du/Bob Mould — major talents there. Yet I might argue that the Replacements were the closest group the United States ever got to the Beatles, and maybe it's a nice thing they never got wildly famous. They displayed slick, meaningful songwriting over and over, and songs like Waitress in the Sky, Skyway, I Will Dare, Alex Chilton, Within Your Reach and many, many more are freaking amazing.

Lonely, I guess that's where I'm from. If I was from Canada, then I'd best be called lonesome.

Comparatively, what did Soul Asylum have in 1991? They had a couple OK albums with Hang Time (1988) leading the way. Back then and even now, I can't relate to having this debate with a friend who insisted Pirner's outfit was superior to Westerberg's.

Then, Soul Asylum completely knocked itself out of the debate when their '92 album Grave Diggers Union got way too commercially successful. It went double platinum, meaning it sold more than 2 million copies. In contrast, the highest selling Replacements album ever was Don't Tell a Soul (1989) that sold 300,000.

A dream too tired to come true left a rebel without a clue. And I'm searching for something to do.

Off Grave Diggers Union, Soul Asylum boasted the mega-popular hit Runaway Train, a song I loathed that won the Grammy for "Best Rock Song" in '94. Even though the song sucks, the video featured actual runaways, and according to the video's director, 26 runaways were found from the video. While Soul Asylum was on the right side of history with that video, I simply can't stand the song.

Ultimately, Soul Asylum is Pirner with the rest of the band often rotating in and out. This good-looking dude dated Winona Ryder from '93 to '96. Soul Asylum also did the song Can't Even Tell for Kevin Smith's '94 movie Clerks. I love that song, by the way.

Apparently, Pirner has kept Soul Asylum alive this whole time. The group released a live single this year, and a full album two years ago. And, dude, check this out: Former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson played in Soul Asylum from 2005 to 2012. No way!

Oh yeah, I'll tell what we could do. You be me for a while, and I'll be you.

The Replacements have basically been defunct since '91, but they had two stints when they got together and tried to be a band again. Westerberg remains an exceptional songwriter and has had a solid solo career. He hasn't really done much of note for 20 years, but so what? He and the Replacements' legacy should be secure.

The Replacements had seven exceptional albums from 1981 to '90. When Rolling Stone released its Top 500 Albums of All-Time in 2003, it had Tim at No. 136 and Let It Be at No. 239. The magazine redid the list in 2023 and took Tim out of it while moving Let It Be to No. 156. Whatevs. Listening back on the albums, they're all exceptional, and Pleased to Meet Me (1987) is a contender as their best work.

In my opinion, the Replacements are in the conversation for "Greatest American Band of All-Time." The legacy is set, and maybe it's a good thing that the band just ended and didn't do a zillion tours like a lot of old timey rockers.

To be fair to Soul Asylum, I went back and listened more to them. Better than I remembered — as long as I'm allowed to disregard Runaway Train. Pirner is much more than a pretty boy. Maybe time has allowed me to add a little respect to Soul Asylum, but whatever, the words I thought I brought, I left behind, so never mind.