PAUL WESTERBERG

'5:05'

So, as of a week ago, it seems like the incredibly weird return of Paul Westerberg got a little weirder. If you recall my review of '49:00' posted on the same day, I noted that the album disappeared almost as quickly as it was up on Amazon for purchase. Well, it seems that the snippets of a dozen or so cover songs ranging from everybody from the Beatles to Bowie to Alice Cooper to the Partridge Family raised the ire of a lawyer somewhere out there and the album was pulled due to copyright infringement.

Personally, as the Mats/Westy sound has been ripped off by countless bands over the past few decades, I think he should have gotten a free pass on this one. However, that does not seem to be the case and prompted a sonic rebuttal of sorts in the 'missing' 5+ minutes from '49:00'...aptly titled '5:05'.

A whacked-out single that starts out w/ a snippet from a sped-up recording of an old Hitler speech until it breaks into an actual tune w/ the following chorus...

'If they wanna sue me

Can’t see through me

Bring on a lawsuit

I’ll bring the swimsuit

All you girls and guys

Make some noise

And join the 5:05'

...and ends up rounded out by a few Fuck-You's to what I can only assume is the litigious artist/label in question. Really, much like the offending album that started the brouhaha, you just have to hear it to understand.

This go around, you can buy it at TuneCore for either $0.99 or $5.05. I ponied up the fiver to help w/ Paul's legal defense fund and think you should do the same. He's the freaking Godfather for chrissakes!