Details
Track Listing
1. It's a Wonderful Lie
2. Self-Defense
3. Best Thing That Never Happened
4. Lookin' Out Forever
5. Born For Me
6. Final Hurrah
7. Tears Rolling up Our Sleeves
8. Fugitive Kind
9. Sunrise Always Listens
10. Whatever Makes You Happy
11. Actor in the Street
12. Bookmark
Album Notes
Personnel: Paul Westerberg (vocals, various instruments, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, melodica, keyboards, acoustic & electric basses, percussion); Shawn Colvin (vocals); Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar); Suzie Katayama (cello, accordion); Richard Todd (French horn); Benmont Tench (piano, keyboards); Don Was (acoustic & electric basses, percussion); Jim Keltner (drums, percussion); Josh Freese, Abe Laboriel Jr., Steve Ferrone (drums); Dave Pirner, Laura Kanani (background vocals).
Engineers include: Paul Westerberg, John Siket, Alan Sanderson.
Westerberg, former leader of '80s pop-punk band the Replacements, penned and recorded most of this album at his Minneapolis home after returning from a lengthy 1996 US tour. Variously described as the "godfather of grunge" and "rock & roll madman," Westerberg is often found in a painfully quiet and introspective mood here. That isn't to say that he's not capable of launching into full-blown rock. Just check out "Lookin' out Forever" and "Final Hurrah."
SUICAINE GRATIFICATION bears all the hallmarks of Westerberg's most obvious talents. His habit of coming up with stunningly simple but effective tunes combines with often wittily morose lyrics. Even with producer Don Was at the helm, the singer's organic approach to performance is refreshing. The rough edges are just as rough as they should be, and the guitars still jangle more than they grunt. There's not a weak track in the bunch.
Industry Reviews
...the former Replacements leader returns to basement basics on this loose and lovely lo-fi effort....Alternating rave-up rockers with wistful piano ballads about doomed romantics, GRATIFICATION is a reminder of why Westerberg's songwriting first provided such a jolt. - Rating: A-
3 Stars (out of 5) - ...an album where nothing gets in the way of the 12 self-penned tunes....Some are quiet and acoustic...some are a bit more barroom rock...but they're all good songs played from the heart...
Q (05/01/1999)
Stars (out of 5) - ...more than offsets its handful of rockers with spare, delicately arranged acoustic numbers...
Rolling Stone (03/04/1999)
...SUICAINE GRATIFICATION bears all the halmarks of his modest genius - a habit of writing stunningly obvious tunes, a knack for wittily morose lyrics...
4 stars out of 5 - ...Summer-night-open-window hold-on-to-yourself-and-shiver music. You can never have enough.
Melody Maker (04/17/1999)
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