If you go back today and listen to the first few
records from The Replacements (the aptly titled Stink!
and Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash), you gain
an understanding of at least two things: First, how
terribly powerful that band was even when it was drunk
and ready to fall apart before your very ears.
Secondly, that Paul Westerberg was a tender-hearted
acerbic writing (in many cases) great songs, he hadn't
yet hooked up with the angel that would whisper his
best work into his ear.
The same can thing be said for Living Things lyricist
Lillian Berlin, who, on this Steve Albini-recorded EP
is in fine form, spewing venom and blood at corrupt
establishment-types with a passion and articulateness
that would make Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett proud.
Whatever faults are evident here (it would be a shame
if these guys didn't progress musically in future
years and expand their sound a little here and there
without losing their edge), Turn In Your Friends And
Neighbors is priceless for the fact that it introduces
us to a new, meaningful voice in American rock.
Let's hope that the world is cruel enough for Berlin
(and his brothers Eve and Bosh) to continue writing
these gritty, intelligent songs but not so cruel that
it takes him away from us before his time.
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