Go Westerberg, young man

Though I'm a bit loath to link to Billboard, the mag's site did announce that Paul Westerberg's first -- and coolest -- band, the Replacements, will see their albums reissued in the near future. Despite a link to Westerberg's site that doesn't really take you anywhere, the story also reveals something more about the former 'Mats lead singer/guitarist:

Paul Westerberg will be the subject of a solo retrospective this spring via Rhino. According to the artist's official Web site, the 20-track set will feature two new songs, B-sides and rare tracks, Westerberg's soundtrack contributions and highlights from his post-Replacements releases.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. My initial reaction was to scoff at another unwarranted and truthfully unnecessary compilation/best-of/box set/whatever-the-fuck. But if Toto can get the magic treatment, why not Paul, arguably one of the 10 best band leaders in rock history? Hell, everyone likes 14 Songs. I'd argue, though, that Westerberg's most innovative post-Replacements work doesn't even feature his name. Do yourself a favor and check out his wonderfully stripped-down work with pseudo-rock outfit Grandpaboy. Westerberg plays all the instruments, sure, but this is the closest he's come to reigniting the glory that was The Replacements.

And for those on the pointless reunion watch, Westerberg recently revealed he'd written a song with former 'Mats bassist Tommy Stinson for the film Elizabethtown.

But I wouldn't hold your breath:

And while the likelihood of a Replacements reunion remains slim ("It can't be the Replacements without Chris [Mars] the drummer, and he's moved on into art and doesn't really want to come back," Westerberg told Jones), a host of reissues are in the works.