"I don't know what's what in the world or where or when
Soon as I do, then I'll go from the start again"
"Everyone's Stupid" from 49:00 (Paul Westerberg digital album, 2008)
The saga of Paul Westerberg's solo music in the 21st century is... confusing ... confounding... maddening... revelatory ...pick your adjective. There's no easy way to chart Westerberg's artistic journey over the last three decades, especially since by 2007 he had ditched what was then the conventional way of releasing music - apparently for good. According to word from his manager a few years ago, Paul seems to have now left the biz altogether, seemingly finalizing a career detachment whose seeds were planted almost 20 years ago.
For Westerberg's artistic output in this century, what we're left with is a patchwork quilt of mostly digital releases, a rogue's gallery of pseudonyms and a guerrilla release strategy that can best be described as "unconventional" - unannounced release dates, use of multiple platforms, discount pricing, lack of transparency - all seemingly done at random. And that's just how this music was unleashed on the world; the breadth of creativity that these off the radar releases encompass - ranging from absurd mayhem to absolute brilliance - is a whole different story, one that warrants continued study and an abundance of patience.... and that's assuming one is able to track everything down. Even by the standards of someone who has largely thumbed his nose at convention since bursting on the scene with The Replacements in 1980, navigating Paul Westerberg's discography in the 21st century is one wild ride.
Four years after the release of Westerberg's third solo album, Suicaine Gratifaction in 1998, the new century started out in fairly conventional albeit accelerated fashion for Westerberg, with a flurry of 5+ albums worth of material being released in less than 3 years. Stereo and Mono came first in 2002 - both loved by fans and considered by many to represent high water marks in Westerberg's work post-Suicaine. Mono was initially included as a bonus disc in the first pressings of Stereo and later was released by itself. Mono reprised the "Grandpa Boy" moniker for the first time since a pair of obscure releases in 1997: a 2 song single and a 5 song EP that introduced the world to yet another classic Westerberg nom de plume, Winthrope Marion Purvical V, and, in retrospect, presaged his shenanigans in the next century (see Grandpa Boy discography below).
2003 saw a Grandpa Boy follow up, the cover heavy Dead Man Shake (released on Fat Possum / Epitaph; the CD contained 2 more tracks than the LP) and the underrated, fascinating Come Feel Me Tremble, issued both as a standalone CD and an accompanying DVD documentary with an abundance of additional material (see chart below). The CFMT documentary contains both "studio" and live recordings from a long solo tour Westerberg did in early 2002. As he told an interviewer at the time, "I kind of used the whole movie thing as an excuse to put out another record without having to get off my ass and tour again."
Paul's last conventional album released under his name, Folker, came out in 2004 to generally very favorable reviews but no corresponding touring. Except for Dead Man Shake, these 2002-2004 releases were all on Vagrant, a Massachusetts-based punk/indie label.
Two years after Folker, 8 original Westerberg compositions, with Tommy Stinson contributing bass and backing vocals to 2 tracks, were released on the soundtrack album to Open Season (Lost Highway, 2006), an animated comedy (a now rare 10 inch vinyl mini album was also released featuring 5 of Westerberg's soundtrack songs from the CD + 2 tracks unique to this release: an alternate version of 1 song and a "Replacements version" of a non PW song originally performed by Deathray on the soundtrack).
Then Paul seemingly pulled the plug connecting him to what we know as the "music industry."
This burst of activity from 2002-2006 also marked the beginning of what some fans have called "the basement era." Suicaine Gratifaction appears to be the last full Westerberg solo album recorded in a professional studio. For solo / Grandpa Boy releases this century, Westerberg has relied mostly on his basement home studio - recording, performing and producing everything on his own. This informal, at times ramshackle, approach has greatly informed all of his releases from 2002-2017 and seems to sync with Westerberg's reclusive lifestyle.
Westerberg 21st century work in "real" recording studios mostly involved sessions with a reconstituted Replacements, and most of these sessions occurred at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis, started in the late 90s by the late Ed Ackerson. Westerberg recorded 2 new songs with Ackerson for a 2006 Replacements compilation at Flowers, during a time when the Westerberg "basement era" was in full swing. In 2012 he was back at Flowers to record the Replacements' contributions to the Songs for Slim project, released in January 2013. Around this time he also produced and contributed to a 2013 album and single for The Silks, both done at Flowers (see below). During the Replacements reunion era (2013-15), there was a one-off session in a Massachusetts studio for the bizarre "Poke Me in My Cage" release (see below) and there was also a rumored ultra-secret, exploratory session at Flowers for prospective new Replacements material of which little is publicly known (some of the material attempted may or may not have shown up on subsequent Tommy Stinson releases).
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Concurrent with this early 21st century creative renewal were Westerberg's first live tours since 1996 (there were no live shows to support Suicaine Gratifaction). In 2002, Westerberg undertook probably his most ambitious solo tour, including about a dozen record store performances. These 30 odd shows represent some of the most memorable live outings of Westerberg's post-Replacements career. Aside from the diverse setlists - including many songs covered in this article (see chart below) - one of the more notable aspects of this tour was the amount of fan interaction he conducted on a regular basis, something hard to fathom given his previous behavior in the department. The Come Feel Me Tremble video documents this period with some remarkable insight and access.
2003 and 2004 were relatively quiet. He did a a few one off shows in 2004 (including a solo set at the "Rock for Karl" benefit at Prince's old club in downtown Minneapolis for Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller which featured a few songs from the "basement era" as well as Westerberg fronting a quasi-Golden Smog lineup for a cover of the Stones' "Dead Flowers"). In November 2004, Westerberg performed 3 full band shows over 3 nights in Minneapolis with Michael Bland, Kevin Bowe and Jim Boquist - a band Westerberg dubbed during one of the shows as "Paul Westerberg and his Only Friends." This was a preview for a couple of dozen dates with The Only Friends from February - May 2005. These full band shows were energetic, frenetic, spontaneous and, at times, chaotic. They often ran well over 2 hours, sporting wildly diverse setlists, and frequently channeled the kind of devil may care / off the rails mayhem that became notorious two decades earlier with The Replacements.
The 2005 tour wrapped up on May 8 at a House of Blues in Orlando, FLA and that marked the end of Westerberg's touring life until the Replacements reboot almost a decade later.
In September 2006 Westerberg performed 3 songs with Tommy Stinson at the Open Season premiere in Hollywood. There were two gigs in 2007, both somewhat unusual. In June he participated in a live Fakebook event at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul (then the home of Prairie Home Companion) put on by Minnesota indie radio titan The Current to celebrate his then wife Laurie Lindeen's book Petal Pusher. The event was emceed by Westerberg's sister, Mary Lucia, who was a DJ at The Current at the time. Lucia interviewed Lindeen, who also did some readings from her book. Westerberg performed during the musical segments with a band made up of local luminaries and key figures from Lindeen's past. In August he did a private beer company show at First Ave in Minneapolis, hosted by his old pal Warren Zanes and featuring 10 songs that covered Westerberg's entire career, from early Replacements to a preview of 49:00, released a year after this show and still largely unknown to the public to this day despite its masterpiece status. This beer gig was Westerberg's last known public performance as a solo artist.
Six years later, from 2013-2015, the reborn Replacements played 33 shows (and one late night TV hit), defying all expectations and thrilling fans old and new alike, including many who had never seen the band perform in its original incarnation. The Riot Fest festival provided the catalyst for the reunion and the band (which included Josh Freese and Dave Minehan) ended up doing everything from club shows to huge festivals on a tour dubbed "Back By Unpopular Demand." The final Mats gig of the reunion era was on June 5, 2015 at the NOS Primavera Festival in Portugal. That's the last time Westerberg has performed on stage in public.
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One of the primary goals of this article is an attempt to make sense of Westerberg-related releases following Open Season in 2006, up to the final Dry Wood Garage digital release in September 2017, the last time the world has heard from Westerberg in any meaningful fashion. * This period of underground studio work was also devoid of any significant live solo activity, although Westerberg's public profile was, of course, as high as it ever was when the Replacements reunited from 2013-2015. This (last?) chapter of Westerberg's profesional life kicked off on a high note with 49:00, one of his greatest creations and possibly his best post-Mats release.
* UPDATE: Westerberg designed the artwork for a limited edition 7-inch single that was released in April 2018 in conjunction with Juliana Hatfield's Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton John album.
(any additional info will be updated as needed - last update 3/19/25)
PAUL WESTERBERG RELEASES 2008-2017
comprehensive pre-2008 Paul Westerberg discography HERE
49:00 Of Your Time Life (full length – audio collage – 1 continuous track; 43:55)
01. 00:00 Who You Gonna Marry? (3:57)
02. 03:57 With or Without Her (Kentucky Risin’) (3:00)
03. 06:57 Something in My Life is Missing (3:41)
04. 10:38 Visitor’s Day (3:36)
05. 14:14 Thoroughbred (0:14)
06. 14:28 Devil Raised a Good Boy (3:10)
07. 17:38 You’re My Girl (0:26)
08. 18:04 Everyone’s Stupid (2:37) **
09. 20:42 You're My Girl (reprise) (0:06)
10. 20:48 What Do You Want (0:19)
11. 21:07 Never Coming Back (0:45)
12. 21:52 Goodnight, Sweet Prince (3:55)
13. 25:47 Guess I’ll Be Going Then (0:07)
14. 25:54 Outta My System (3:22) ***
15. 29:16 C'mon, Be My Darling (3:45)
16. 33:01 Down On the Farm (0:12)
17. 33:12 100,000 Pieces (1:12)
18. 34:24 I’m Clean (1:11)
19. 35:35 Your Sister (0:08)
20. 35:43 It’ll Never Die (4:03)
21. 39:46 Cover Medley * (0:55)
22. 40:41 I Think I Love You (1:05) (The Partridge Family cover)
23. 41:46 Oh Yeah! (2:09)
Total time = 43:55
* Includes snippets of “Hello Goodybe” - The Beatles; “Lost Highway” - Hank Williams; “Born to be Wild” - Steppenwolf; “Stupid Girl” - Rolling Stones; “I'm Eighteen” - Alice Cooper; “I'm a Rock” - Simon and Garfunkel; “Rocket Man” - Elton John; “Dandy” - The Kinks
** Also performed live in 2007.
Note: Some song titles are guesses that have circulated through fan world. Official song titles were never announced. Track splits were done for convenience; original release was one single MP3 with no track indexes and some of the tracks overlap with each other.
Copyright info (in metadata): Dry Wood Music 2008
Released digitally July 19, 2008 on Amazon Digital and Tunecore. Withdrawn August 1, 2008, apparently due to licensing issues with the cover medley. Currently streaming on Paul's Soundcloud page. CDR promo copies were reportedly distributed. Available on YouTube (minus the cover medley) with 5:05 included at the end.
In a 2016 Spin interview, Westerberg talks about 49:00:
If I drop dead tomorrow, that’s my masterpiece. I’m so tempted to [make a record like that one] again, but I can’t go through it again. It was absolute insanity and I was so frightened when I made it that people would think I was schizophrenic.
Post about 49:00 on the Teenage Dogs In Trouble blog.
Released digitally August 5, 2008 on Tunecore, 3 weeks after the release of 49:00. The 5:05 apparently refers to the "missing" time from 49:00, which clocks in with a running time of 43:55.
No longer available. Currently streaming on Paul's Soundcloud page. Also available on YouTube. (link dead as of 1/12/25). 5:05 is added to the end of 49:00 here.
3oclockreep (2 songs; 23:32)
3oclockreep (audio collage – 1 continuous track) (20:02)
00:00 Tell 'Em All, Go to Hell (2:49)
02:49 Mash of outtakes (0:44)
03:33 It's Ridiculous, Everybody Wants to Be Famous (2:49)
06:22 Only Excuse Is (2:14)
08:36 You're Still Mine (1:03)
09:39 If Only You Were Lonely (0:45) * #
10:24 Studio ramblings (1:56) *
12:20 We Know the Night (2:47) *
15:07 Lowdown Monkey Blues (4:55) *
* - recorded 1988 with Tom Waits
Finally Here Once (3:29)
Bored of Edukation (1 song; 4:46)
Released digitally Sept 13, 2008 on Amazon Digital and Tunecore. Still available from Amazon for streaming and download. Also available on YouTube.
D.G.T. ( 3 songs; 9:33)
Away in a Manger (2:43)
Streets of Laredo (3:14)
D.G.T. (3:43)
PW & the Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys (6 songs; 24:11)
Ghost on the Canvas (3:41) *
Drop Them Gloves (3:44)
Good As the Cat (3:43)
Love on the Wing (5:28)
Gimme Little Joy (4:11)
Dangerous Boys (3:24)
Mr. F 45 (2 songs; 5:25)
This Machine (2:49)
Foolish Hand Shake (2:36)
Grandpaboy's Last Stand (audio collage – 1 continuous track) (35:41)
00:00 Getting My MBA
01:57 Doing Me Wrong
03:32 Mystery Train
07:41 Love You in Reverse
10:45 Anybody Looking For God (aka Save Elrod Puce)
16:18 Don't Shoot or I'll Move
20:16 Be My Tennis Shoe
21:54 Mr. Cigarette (take 1)
24:26 Mr. Cigarette (take 2)
28:48 Love You in Reverse (disco version)
32:23 Grandpabboy meets his maker (dialog)
Grandpaboy's Last Stand (epilogue) (2:06)
My Road Now (1 song; 3:32)
Released digitally Sept 21, 2012. Originally available as a free download on the I Will Dare blog. Also available on YouTube
Down at the Heel / One More Try [The Silks] (2 songs; 5:27)
Released on 7 inch vinyl and digital, May 25, 2013 in a limited edition of 300 copies (220 black / 80 white). (Smash & Grab SAG04)
Produced by Paul Westerberg. B-side features PW on lead vocals and guitar. Cover art by Paul Westerberg.
Recorded by Ed Ackerson at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis (note: this is where the 2 new songs - “Message to the Boys” and “Pool & Dive” - released on The Replacements' Don't You Know Who You Think I Was? 2006 compilation were recorded).
B-side is a cover of an obscure, R&B-ish Rolling Stones song written by Jagger/Richards and originally released on the US version of the Out of Their Heads LP in 1965 (it wasn't released in the UK until 1971 when it appeared on Stone Age, a Decca compilation which the band strongly disavowed).
A-side was also released on The Silks 2013 album Last American Band (CD/LP, self-released) which was also recorded at Flowers and produced by PW.
Poke Me In My Cage [The Replacements] (1 song; 24:22)
Released digitally Dec 17, 2014 on The Replacements Soundcloud page. Recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, MA on October 28, 2014. Engineered by David Minehan, assisted by Matt Jones. Written by Paul Westerberg & Tommy Stinson & Josh Freese. © 2014. Available on YouTube.
Wild Stab [The I Don't Cares] (16 songs)
2. Wear Me Out Loud (2:41)
3. Born For Me (4:08) *
4. 1/2 2P (2:44)
5. Sorry For Tomorrow Night (2:41)
6. Dance To The Fight (2:16)
7. Kissing Break (3:18)
8. Just A Phase (3:26)
9. Outta My System (3:40) **
10. Need The Guys (2:27)
11. Love Out Loud (2:14)
12. King of America (3:29) ***
13. Little People (1:42)
14. Whole Lotta Nothin' (3:51)
15. Done Done Done (2:18)
16. Hands Together (6:51)
** Paul Westerberg version on 49:00 - see note.
*** Originally an Eventually-era outtake which was released on a promo CDR. Also performed live circa 1996.
- Hawk Ripping at Your Throat (3:58) – released 7/8/17 #
- Got It Made (3:04) – released 7/15/17 #
- Feelin' Good (2:44) – released 7/22/17 #
Note: with Tim O'Reagan (bg vox) & Keely Lane (drums) - Dead Sick Of (2:17) – released 7/29/17 #
- Someday You'll Call My Name (2:58) – released 7/29/17 #
Note: Hank Williams cover - Oompa (3:36) – released 8/5/17 #
- Come Hither (3:42) – released 8/9/17 #
- Surrounded by Morons (2:58) – released 8/12/17 * &
- What the Gym Couldn't Do (2:08) – released 8/29/17 * &
- Country Boy (4:38) – released 9/3/17 * &
- Mrs. Beethoven (3:21) – released 9/9/17 * &
- September (3:16) – released 9/20/17 #
Note: this song has been performed live at least twice before: Minneapolis Nov 2004 & Boston Sept 2005
& = originally posted on on the Dry Wood Garage Bandcamp page (still there as of 1/12/25) and the Nimbit Dry Wood Garage page (page active at least through 8/28/20; apparently dead now)
BONUS GRANDPA BOY DISCOGRAPHY
variation: Grandpaboy
2. Undone (2:59)
- Artwork - Grandpaboy
- Layout - Bill Expectorate
- Mastered by Tony Dawsey
- Songwriter – Winthrope Marion Purcival V
Grandpa Boy EP (5 songs)
1. Hot Un
2. Ain't Done Much
3. Psychopharmacology
4. Lush and Green
5. Homelesssexual
Released on CD EP in 1997 on Soundproof / Monolyth. Catalog # 1315.
Credits (mostly PW pseudonyms)
- Artwork [All Drawings And Collages] - Grandpaboy
- Bass – Zeke Pine
- Drums – Henry Twiddle
- Guitar, Vocals – Grandpaboy
- Handclaps, Backing Vocals – Elrod Puce
- Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
- Photography By [Photo] – Sen. Jim Dracula
- Recorded By – Rory Gilligan
- Saxophone – Thaddeus Moonbeam
- Songwriter – Winthrope Marion Purcival V
- High Time (3:01)
- Anything But That (3:13)
- Let's Not Belong Together (3:51)
- Silent Film Star (3:26)
- Knock It Right Out (2:25)
- 2 Days 'Til Tomorrow (3:27)
- Eyes Like Sparks (2:32)
- Footsteps (3:25)
- Kickin' the Stall (2:56)
- Between Love & Like (3:21)
- AAA (3:10)
Stereo / Mono was reissued on 2LP for Record Store Day in 2019 (two songs from Stereo were omitted for the vinyl reissue).
Bass – Zeke Pine
Design – Joby J Ford
Drums – Henry Twiddle
Guitar, Vocals – Grandpa Boy
Lead Guitar [Superfluous Lead Guitar] - Luther Covington
- MPLS
- Do Right In Your Eyes
- Vampires & Failures
- No Matter What You Say *
- Take Out Some Insurance (written by Charles Singleton & Waldense J Hall)
- Cleaning House
- Natural Mean Lover (written by Elrod Puce aka PW)
- Get a Move On
- Bad Boy Blues
- Souvenirs (written by John Prine)
- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (written by Hank Williams)
- O.D. Blues *
- Dead Man Shake
- What Kind of Fool Am I? (written by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse)
- Outta My System (3:33)
- Making Me Go (2:59)
- As Far As I Know (3:02)
- Diary aka Shopping Bag (4:18)
- Only Lie Worth Telling (4:18)
- Let's Not Belong Together (3:30)
- Let the Bad Times Roll (3:40)
- Between Love and Like (3:19)
2 released on Come Feel Me Tremble
3 released on Folker
4 unreleased song
5,7 released on Stereo
6,8 released on Mono
