Since injuring one of his hands in a 2006 incident that involved candle wax and a screwdriver, 49-year-old former Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg has moseyed into the spotlight only once—at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame event in his honor. But Westerberg has been “writing and recording at a furious pace,” says his manager, and he made a bold move on Monday by releasing his new album 49:00 … Of Your Time/Life out of nowhere, and selling it on Amazon for 49 cents. (To obtain that rate, follow the link to Amazon from Westerberg’s Web site, Man Without Ties.)
The “album” is actually a single 49-minute long MP3, and Westerberg played all the instruments on the recording.
Westerberg’s manager Darren Hill told Billboard, “He finished it on Monday, sent it to me on Tuesday, and it was out this weekend. It’s just wonderful that you can finally do this. The freedom an artist can enjoy these days is fantastic. Can you imagine me pitching this idea to a label?”
Looking for a clue as to the sound of Westerberg’s new project? On his Web site, he warns, “Do not listen while operating a motor vehicle. This product is not faulty―all sounds are intentional and valid as a work of art.” — Ellen Mallernee