While you could argue that so much has changed from first to last, in many ways it's still the same band. Kicking against the pricks, angry at whatever you've got, not bothered if it's out of tune, cos you're cool. This feels very much like a last hurrah though, and there's a sense that perhaps if it wasn't going to happen with the previous two albums, maybe it was better just to stay true to the dream rather than carry on chipping away at the edges.

All of these songs instinctively sound better when you have the volume cranked up. There's no doubt about that. It's strange how that can work for a band like the Cribs, or the Vaccines, yet I don't feel 100% the same about the Lemonheads or Pavement. Husker Du - they have to be loud though.

Sadly Beautiful comes along though and suddenly the strings are out and it's closing time in downtown NYC in December... they are not as monochrome as I have them pegged, I don't think. Or maybe they're just getting older, regrets, I've had a few, and all that.

Someone Take the Wheel is back to that everyman, Bryan Adams/Hold Steady vibe that I find very appealing. Interesting to see it was originally a Westerberg solo effort - I'm not sure I find that idea too interesting to be honest.

I can see myself buying a Replacements album.