Paul Westerberg: Stereo/Mono

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * )

Former Replacement Westerberg went to ground three years ago, stayed home looking after the family and regularly headed to the basement studio. This double disc is a split between Stereo (rawly recorded, singer-songwriter stuff) and Mono (Replacements-like rawk'n'roll under his Grandpa Boy pseudonym).

But the overriding impression of Stereo is there's no particular virtue in "real" recordings where the mistakes are left in, and some promising material seems undernourished or thrown away. Mono is more forgivable for its ruggedness, but even here you could spend time playing "spot the filching" as he melodically plunders his earlier solo work and the Replacements. Still, Westerberg is a classic pop'n'roll songwriter of the old style and this isn't without its charms. Longtime fans will enjoy its casual familiarity.

Label: FMR