49:00

Paul Westerberg49:00“Devil raised a good boy,” growls a rowdy-as-ever Paul Westerberg on 49:00, his just-released album - just one of countless zingers spat over a collection of quickly self-recorded garage rock riffs. Appearing almost out of nowhere, 49:00, a release truly like no other, was announced only a few days before its Internet-only release. An unofficial press release appeared on Westerberg’s website that claimed that he would release a new album on June 49, 2008 - aka July 19. The press release claimed that the album would cost 49 cents and clock in at 49 minutes. No other real info was given aside from a note from Westerberg himself, which read as follows: “Do not listen while operating a motor vehicle. This product is not faulty - all sounds are intentional and valid as a work of art.”

Then, on July 19, a second “press release” appeared. The album was pushed back to “June 29+2” (Paul’s words). Finally, on July 21, the album appeared online. You could download it in some strange alien format for 49 cents, as planned, or as a regular MP3 file for 89 cents. (I opted for both, but only because I couldn’t figure out the 49 cent download after paying.) That inaccuracy, coupled with the release date change and the fact that the “album” is one 45 - not 49 - minute track, is pure Westerberg folly. He does this stuff. The details don’t matter; what matters is that the album - a tossed together sampling of the countless lo-fi songs Westerberg has recorded in his basement over the last few years - is here, and its friggin’ great. Buried in the rock n’ roll mess is surely an album or three, cut to pieces and spliced together with bits of other songs - all sounding as if they were recorded in one long, possibly-still-going session. It’s an annoying mess that is very regularly jaw dropping.

Those familiar with Westerberg’s two still-recent underrated gems, Mono and Come Feel Me Tremble (two of my favorite albums of the decade), will find much to love here. Really, anyone who likes anything Westerberg has released - be it solo or with The Replacements - will enjoy 49:00, as it does offer much of the loose bloody-fingered fury his Mats work is known for. Enjoy it, that is, if they know what they’re getting into. 49:00 is, as Westerberg noted, an artistic statement - a new era Metal Machine Music of sorts due to the unapologetic listening experience it offers. That said, unlike Metal, 49:00 works, demanding that the listener be patient. All the conventions of a normal album are thrown out the window here in favor of a unique listening experience. The material, luckily for the listener, is more than good enough to warrant the attention needed to hear all 45 minutes. They’re really just normal rock n’ roll songs thrown together somewhat haphazardly.

As for the “experience” angle of this record … well … in many cases a new song will kick in before the one playing can end or even get to a second verse. Songs fade in and out, sometimes as a montage, sometimes playing on top of each other and sometimes playing seemingly in full, sans any clean cuts. A tease? A test? A taste of more to come? Either way, this warning shot of an album proves that Westerberg has been - as he’s long claimed - working on new material in his basement, writing and recording dozens of songs all by his lonesome.

As far as I know, the man doesn’t currently have a record deal. Does he care? Probably not - why else would he sell all these great tunes for 89 - I mean 49 - cents? The greatness throughout 49:00 implies that Westerberg hasn’t yet hit the peak of his second - already great - era. He’s brimming with new ideas on how to expand his simple recording and writing formula. It’s not rocket science, but it does rock. In fact, 49:00 rocks better and with more energy than anything I’ve heard in a very long time. If you don’t mind a sometimes ringtone-like (we often only hear snippets of hooks) cut-and-paste listening experience, Westerberg’s latest dose might work well for you. But, really, no album like this exists, so who knows, maybe you’ll hate it for it’s sleepy-eyed concept. Forty-nine cents is all it takes to find out for yourself - just be sure that you know what you’re getting into.   9.5/10

Written by G. William Locke