Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash
by The Replacements

From HoldenM 09/23/2023 21:03 | #299216

Whereas the hardcore scene of Black Flag, X, Circle Jerks, Catholic Discipline, Hüsker Dü etc.--basically any contemporary featured in Our Band Could Be Your Life or The Decline of Western Civilization--were so much more political and angry, The Replacements arrive with the rambunctious energy of six-year-olds. You can see a band like Green Day riffing on the same no-fucks-given ethos a decade later. Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash is bursting with the hooks and chaotic bliss that define The 'Mats. The record is all personality, and greater than the sum of its parts. If one track doesn't work for you, there's another ready to blitz.

This debut LP from The Replacements would have fit in with the early releases on Slash Records, including Los Angeles by X, Walk Among Us by The Misfits and The Blasters self-titled album. All were hardcore punk albums that embraced creative experimentation, traditional melodies and rock'n'roll riffs instead of noise and rebellious angst, and therefore they have a lasting influence on music that lasts to this day.

Once you crack the hardcore shell of Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash, you'll find a savory nut of emotion and teenage fervor. The band was known for having a heart, and even when the performances were rough and sloppy, the message hits right where it matters. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Johnny's Gonna Die, a mid-tempo song that tells a story. It's a rarity on a punk album from this era, and it's the biggest indicator of what would immediate follow this debut.

Above Average.

Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Shiftless When I'm Idle
B-Side: Johnny's Gonna Die.

From Brad1770 08/04/2018 05:01 | #219168 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

The Replacements 1981 album 'Sorry Ma , ...' which features a 15 yo Tommy Stinston (!!!!) has 18 rollicking punk tracks within its 36:47 length , 9 of which clock in at less than 2 minutes . Blink and you'll miss it

Some Replacements fans still argue this is their best album , I dispute this but there sure are some memorable tracks within none the less and lead by the 1:29 masterpiece "Customer" about a crush on a store girl with these classic lyrics:

"Yeah, can I get change?
Where're the twinkies?
What's on sale?
I'm a customer
I'm a customer
I'm a customer
I love you "

Side B opens nicely with an ode to Johnny Thunders "Johnny's Gonna Die" which drips with sarcasm , followed by "Shiftless When Ide" and "More Cigarettes" which is exactly what it says

A special mention to the rather superb track "If Only You Were Lonely " which appears as a bonus track on the deluxe edition . It's a country and western tinged track with typical self deprecating looser lyrics from Westerberg , well worth your time seeking out if your a Mats fan

Short but oh so sweet

60/100

From Kingturtle 06/30/2017 05:00 | #193456

Best punk LP of 1981.

The debut album by The Replacements is a rip roaring punk rock record that fizzes by in a flash. Sorry Ma, is a superb record full of energy and hunger. Some tracks, or at least moments sound uncannily like The Clash or the Sex Pistols, but at the end of the day it's still the Replacements. Thrilling stuff.

Great album!

Even if they adopted hardcore to align themselves with the times, The Replacements hardly ever sounded better than when they first emerged from the Stinsons' garage. Confident, fierce, and funny this is among the most assured indie debuts of its era.

Amazing album! Really fast but not on the same way harcore punks done.. Sound like the Thunders bands indeed but putted in a original way! A must have for long drunk nights with friends and stuff

Irk! Irritating teenagers! Irritating Talking Heads wannabees! Coming out of their bedrooms and trying to get their own heads plastered on all the others. Take heed that reality tv is not the way to go. Get in the van we're taking a ride. First things first before all others. 'Sorry Ma, Forgot to take out the trash'? Could be their own take on this primal scream teenage dirge of an album. Fine they can have it their way. Oh... this album is huge by the way. I mean like really big. 18 tracks. Thankfully most are littleuns so we are not passing the hour mark. We barely reach half an hour. Right, the music. Heavy, fast and shouty. 'Careless' and 'Otto' are slap in face sing along drunk that were probably wrote while intoxicated. 'I Hate Music' has the terror and nakedness of a Plastic Ono Band gone wrong. The centrepiece for me has to be 'Johnny's Gonna Die'. The lets cut the racket kids and talk about drugs for a moment. It is quite a sad song though and really do believe it to be heartfelt. Has a rough 'Heaven' by Talking Heads vibe to it. Like the big hit for the album is the interlude, the album then plumets back into Cheap trick on whisky. Actually... forget the Johnny song being a hit, 'Shiftless When Idle' and 'I'm in Trouble' are much catchy. A fun ride indeed. Don't take it too seriously. And don't call back the guys who were going to play originally, this lot's staying on thank you very much.