The Replacements' first record is unadultered punk rock hitting on themes that dated as far back as Chuck Berry, but transferred to the 80s. A true adolescent album, it details the inglorious adolescent life in the late 70s and early 80s: getting a crush ("Customer"), buying pot at an arena show ("I Bought a Headache"), getting wasted and driving around ("Takin' a Ride", which sounds like the Dazed and Confused movie's musical summary). They were apathetic and lazy, and embraced all the adult stereotypes of teenagers: very punk to celebrate the insult one throw at ya, innit? They also hinted at some of the poetic lines they would become famous for, and while musically, this needs some very serious refinement, in terms of attitude these young blokes already had it all by 1981.
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