Don't Tell A Soul
by The Replacements

Pleased to Meet Me, the strongest Replacements record, was a momentous achievement. Don't Tell a Soul is such a drastic shift in sound from its predecessor that it is often dismissed as the group's nadir. But the polished production actually enables Paul Westerberg and company to do deliver a mature and accessible set, all with the ragged edge they had become known for. The track I'll Be You even earned them the #51 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Pleased To Meet Me and Don't Tell a Soul have the distinction of having a refined sound with no throw-away tracks. In fact, this record has a little more to offer, from the unique Inherit the Earth to the charming and bluesy I Won't. Asking Me Lies sounds like a more likable Mellencamp, while Rock n Roll Ghost sounds like Wilco. In fact, this album is nearly solely responsible for many groups that were associated with the alt-country moniker in the 90s.

Westerberg's sweet songwriting is nicely complimented by his ragged and authentic vocals. Do tell a soul (or many) that this one is not to be missed.

Essential.

Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: I'll Be You
B-Side: Aching to Be (Edited)

From Brad1770 TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/02/2018 10:41 | #217632 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Widely considered the worst of The Replacements albums 'Don't Tell A Soul' isn't as bad as it's reputation suggests , but isn't as good as it's defender's insist

Clearly a stab at commercial success the album unfortunately has too many tracks that quite frankly are forgettable such as the ham-fisted "Asking Me Lies" and "Back to Back"

Not all is hopeless though , "Rock 'N' Roll Ghost " is sweet , whilst "Portland" and the punk styled "Wake Up" both off the expanded 2008 remaster edition could have and should have been included on the album proper

In closing I'd like to defend the much maligned Track 3 "We'll Inherit the Earth" pilloried to within-in an inch of its life . Given , this track is not The Replacements finest moment BUT lyrically it sums up the band perfectly ... "We'll Inherit the Earth But We Don't Want It" , The Replacements could have been anything but self sabotage stymied any ambitions they had , in other words they didn't want success , they knocked on the success door but then ran away giggling (Edited)

From TheDude85 04/09/2019 15:49 | #234679 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Put me in the camp that believes this is an unappreciated hidden treasure among The Replacements catelogue. Most of this album's detractors describe this as "The Replacements 'Sell Out' Album.", but I view it as the natural maturation of the band and its members. Sure I can appreciate and celebrate their history of showing up to gigs too messed up to perform, teetering on the edge of chaos - but also acknowledge that their youthful indiscretions had to reach an end eventually. This change in lifestyles is reflected in the music of DTAS. Worth a listen or ten.

From Larcx13 01/28/2023 22:52 | #293348 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Gets better with time. Let the hype of how good the last 3 albums were come down... listen to something else for a bit. Come back every now and again. A fair amount of these tracks might just grow on you unexpectedly.

I'll Be You, Talent Show, Anywhere's Better Than Here... even Achin' To Be is alright once you forgive a few aspects of it.

B (Edited)

A sad career nadir. (Edited)