Friday Night Is Killing Me – Expanded 2CD Reissue

Bash & Pop

Omnivore Records

On the back of this year’s well-received Anything Could Happen Tommy Stinson’s band re-release their 1993 debut in expanded form. To the original 11 track CD Omnivore have now added a further 18 tracks of demos, outtakes and other rare material plus informative new liner notes from Bob (Trouble Boys) Mehr. The original release remains a total cracker, the best record made by any of the Replacements since their demise – indeed a record that rocks harder and better than the final two Replacement LPs. Evocative songwriting meets robust Faces/Stones grooves supported by various Heartbreakers and even an uncredited Paul Westerberg on Fast & Hard and Loose Ends – it’s a total blast from start to finish. The additional disc collates hard-to-find vinyl-only songs Situation and Harboring A Fugitive, but neither are great. Also present is the more forceful Making Me Sick from 1994’s soundtrack to Kevin Smith’s wonderful Clerks. The remaining tracks are mainly home demos or alternate version of the songs on Friday Night – interesting but not revelatory. The final track is an instrumental version of Terry Reid’s (via Cheap Trick) Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace. Sadly Tommy never got round to adding a vocal, a missed opportunity as the backing track really motors. Check out the Teenage Dogs In Trouble blogspot for a 1994 live version.