an anthem for college dropouts, freeloaders, and misfits alike!
the replacements were a punk rock band from minneapolis, minnesota, formed in 1979. its best-known lineup consisted of paul westerberg (guitar/vocals), bob stinson (guitar), tommy stinson (bass), and chris mars (drums). before the band was formed, paul westerberg was working as a janitor. chris mars was a high school dropout. tommy stinson joined the band when he was just twelve years old: his brother bob gave him the bass when he was eleven so he wouldn’t have to live on the streets.
now, the replacements were a punk rock band through and through, at least for their first few years, known for their raw and energetic style. in the mid-80s, they pivoted towards more of a post-punk/indie/alternative style with their two most famous albums, 1984’s let it be and 1985’s tim. let it be was a more melodic, complex album compared to the band’s previous albums, while tim went for a more eclectic but accessible tone as the replacement’s first major-label release. still, staying true to their punk rock roots, the band stayed, for the most part, out of the mainstream.
“Bastards of Young” is one of their most famous songs from tim. as the name might suggest, the song has to do with disillusioned youth. the whole song is very straightforward. it’s a punk rock song defined by gritty power chords and westerburg’s hoarse, relatable descriptions of alienation and hopelessness. my favorite part of westerburg’s lyrics have to be the fact that he uses completely mundane topics to portray something as grand as a whole generation’s struggles. he sings about “income tax deduction”, “the ladder of success”, and visiting relatives’ graves “on holidays at best”, which makes the song feel observational and personal. even though this song was addressed to generation x, an alienated youth at this point is a feature of any generation, which makes this economical song age like a fine wine worth half your paycheck.
sure, it’s simple and incredibly straightforward. but simplicity is the kind of thing that reaches millions of people. it’s the kind of thing that becomes an enduring pop hit. it’s surprising how “Bastards of Young” didn’t become a “Born in the U.S.A.” or a “Smells Like Teen Spirit“. it seriously deserved more mainstream recognition.
