Paul Westerberg's 49:00 Costs 49 Cents

It's only 44 minutes long, though, so something doesn't add up with that title. Paul's manager tells Billboard only Amazon.com would agree to to the price point, so that's where you can find it, as one single MP3 track. The project, which was completed just one week ago, mixes new cuts with a few old songs ("Out Of My System," "Everyone's Stupid") and a mash-up of classic rock covers. Billboard notes:

Westerberg played all the instruments on the decidedly lo-fi recordings, which often feature two songs playing at once for a few seconds and short snippets that abruptly cut off. "It's almost like you're scanning a radio dial," Hill says. "You're getting a glimpse inside of Paul's head here."

Without revealing specifics, Hill says "49" is "just the tip of a really large creative iceberg. Paul has been writing and recording at a furious pace." However, he adds that "there are no plans or talk of doing any performances at the moment."

Westerberg has only performed once since severely injuring his fretting hand in 2006 while trying to remove candle wax with a screwdriver.

Ouch. Here, from that performance last September, is the debut of "Everyone's Stupid," a song about a kid whose parents are getting divorced. It takes about 49 seconds to get going.

Rhino is re-releasing all the Replacements' Sire albums (with bonus tracks) 9/23.

Posted at 3:57 PM by Scott in Video
Tags: Paul Westerberg

6 Comments

Only 2 stores would agree to sell it at the price the artist wanted to sell it at? And they wonder why people have issues buying music.

Posted by: John at 07/21/08 5:22 PM  | Reply
Score = 3

There's nothing beter than un-polished Westerberg tunes!

Posted by: Toby Record at 07/21/08 5:36 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

I'm halfway through this right now, and I've fallen in love with this guy all over again. Its just fucking great. I knew he still had it in him.

Posted by: karl at 07/22/08 12:57 AM  | Reply
Score = 1

Congratulations, Paul. You just got yourself a new fan.

Posted by: The Other Matthew at 07/22/08 9:49 PM  | Reply
Score = 1

Let's see, I'm trying to buy it at the 2! places it's supposed to be available and I can't - nice job. Luckily it IS available at the typical places I get FREE music from. Sorry Paul, no 50c from me.

Posted by: jerkoffs at 08/02/08 2:19 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

I absolutely love this, it's in my top ten records of 2008. Worth way more than 49 cents!

Posted by: Deb at 11/25/08 7:36 PM  | Reply
Score = 0