Replacements, The Vinyl Records
Striking an imprecise balance of recklessness and heart, the Replacements were one of the most beloved bands to emerge from the American rock & roll underground of the 1980s. Hailing from Minneapolis, the Replacements careened through their early years on Twin/Tone Records, earning a reputation for beer-soaked concerts and sloppily recorded albums that sometimes disguised the sardonic wit and empathy of Paul Westerberg, their singer/songwriter and de facto leader. After winning the hearts of critics and college radio, the Replacements made a stab at the big time, signing with Sire Records and shedding founding guitarist Bob Stinson in an attempt to streamline their sound. Major commercial success never came, but their cult following remained loyal, and they reunited to the largest audiences of their career in 2014.