The Best of Paul Westerberg

Published at 12:00 AM on April 1, 2005

By Paste Staff

Former Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg is set to release Besterberg on May 17, comprised of some of his strongest post-Mats material and rare, previously unreleased tracks spanning the songwriter’s solo career.

The tracks are taken from five of Westerberg's solo albums—14 Songs, Eventually, Suicaine Gratification, Stereo and Come Feel Me Tremble. In addition to album tracks, the album also contains rarities and songs that have appeared on soundtracks: "Dyslexic Heart" from Singles, "A Star Is Bored" from Melrose Place: The Music, "Stain Yer Blood," from Friends: Music From The TV Series and a cover of The Beatles' "Nowhere Man" from the I Am Sam soundtrack.

The album's liner notes include Westerberg’s track-by-track commentary. "This tune was written for a girl named Kelly from Boston to help launch her country-music career," writes Westerberg about "Dyslexic Heart." "Unfinished, it was a bit too cutesy for me. Nevertheless, when Cameron Crowe called, I added the 'na na na na's,' and he dug it for his film. So I lied and said I wrote it for Singles."

Besterberg: The Best of Paul Westerberg (track listing)

1. Dyslexic Heart
2. Knockin On Mine
3. World Class Fad
4. Runaway Wind
5. Things
6. Seein' Her
7. Man Without Ties
8. A Star Is Bored
9. Stain Yer Blood
10. Love Untold
11. Once Around the Weekend (Alternate Mix) *
12. Angels Walk
13. It’s a Wonderful Lie
14. Lookin' Out Forever
15. Nowhere Man
16. High Time–(Grandpaboy)
17. Let the Bad Times Roll
18. What a Day (For a Night)
19. All That I Had *
20. C'mon, C'mon, C'mon *
* previously un-issued