"Their 1984 masterpiece Let It Be-a joke title, but also a boast, a dare-is already in that firmament. It is the band's most celebrated record, the one where they trained their homegrown Midwestern punk sensibilities on Paul Westerberg's most mature songs yet, creating in the process an enduring template for what would come to be called indie rock. It captured the band on the precipice of a major transition."
"They didn't know at the time, but it would be their last record on the local Twin/Tone label before signing with Sire, distributed by Warner. It would also effectively conclude their run as a democratic quartet, as madcap guitarist Bob Stinson drifted into addiction and became disillusioned with the band's evolution from the hard and fast into the songwriterly and craftsmanlike."
A decade of archival Replacements releases has revealed live sets and remastered material that elevate the band's legacy. The 1984 album Let It Be represents the group's most celebrated work, combining Midwestern punk vigor with Paul Westerberg's more mature songwriting and helping to define indie rock. The record arrived as the band neared a major transition: it was their final release on Twin/Tone before signing to Sire/Warner and it marked the end of the quartet's democratic creative era. Guitarist Bob Stinson's descent into addiction coincided with the band's move toward a songwriterly, craftsmanlike approach, while the album balances raucous throwaways with standout songs like "I Will Dare" and "Androgynous."
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