Their debut release 'Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash' displayed a mixture of punk, trash rock and hardcore, which saw them compared to contemporaries and fellow legends Husker Du. A live Ramones-alike EP 'Stink' followed but it was 'Hootenanny', which saw them mature a little, taking on influences such as folk, country and blues. The title refers to a live, one-off performance of songs that is never repeated the same way again, and the band took this literally by recording the album effectively live in the studio without overdubs (to varied results).
'Let It Be' showed both a more mature songwriting style beginning to flower (see 'Sixteen Blue' and 'Answering Machine') and a continuing immature streak left over from their early days (see 'Gary's Got A Boner'). The humour of the latter tendency was more refined for their subsequent major label releases on Sire Records, with 'Tim' (produced by ex-Ramone Tommy Erdelyi) and 'Pleased To Meet Me' pushing them closer to mainstream success on both sides of the Atlantic.
A rebellious streak remained, however, with a veiled message to their record label and road managers in the opening song 'I.O.U.' from 'Pleased To Meet Me' claiming that although they had signed 'on the dotted line', that didn't give them the right to the respect (and good behaviour) of the band. They were booked to play on the national T.V. entertainment show, Saturday Night Live, but were a drunken shambles for the most part, with Westerberg choosing to swear into the camera. Other antics included the video for 'Bastards of Young', which featured the song being played on a stereo for the entire length of the song, with no other visuals whatsoever.
Bob Stinson chose to leave (or was fired) before their greatest moment, 'Pleased To Meet Me', allegedly due to his worsening alcoholism. Further popularity seemed to slip from their reach with the slick production of 'Don't Tell A Soul' removing their rougher edges, which was also a sign that all was not well within the Replacements camp. Years of touring and excess were taking their toll, and the final album 'All Shook Down' was effectively a solo effort from Westerberg in all but name - he had asked the label if he could release a solo album and they refused, so he recorded it anyway and told them it was a group album.
Following the split, Mars was the first to release new material, whilst Tommy Stinson formed Bash and Pop. His brother Bobby died of a suspected drugs overdose in 1995.
Westerberg has continued to constant critical acclaim (but not much commercial success) as a solo artist, beginning with the single 'World Class Fad', which referred to the grunge explosion of the early '90's. His ongoing releases have seen a more relaxed and mature songwriter emerge, and in recent times, a reunion with Tommy Stinson (who spent a short time with Guns n' Roses - now effectively an Axl Rose solo project) has inflamed constant rumours that the Replacements are about to reform.
Artists like Ryan Adams and Wilco have recently hit the mainstream utilising the same mixture of rock and roll & country peppered with attitude and humour that made the Replacements so special.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE THE REPLACEMENTS: Big Star, New York Dolls, Husker Du, Teenage Fanclub, The Pixies, Ryan Adams, R.E.M., Soul Asylum, The Lemonheads, The Only Ones, The Rolling Stones, The Ramones, The Faces, Buffalo Tom, Rocket from the Crypt, Wilco.