Paul Westerberg Offers MP3 Only ‘49’ For 49 Cents

Count Paul Westerberg as the latest artist to follow in the footsteps of Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and most recently Bruce Springsteen and offer his new music exclusively online.

Westerberg’s latest release, a 44 minute collection of songs called 49, went on sale this past weekend as an MP3 download (after being completed by the artist just a week ago) in an arrangement between the artist’s website and internet retailer Amazon.com.. The retail price being asked for the dozen plus songs is just 49 cents.

"It's just wonderful that you can actually do this.” Westerberg’s manager Darren Hill told Billboard.com. “The freedom an artist can enjoy these days is fantastic. Can you imagine me pitching this idea to a label?"

Westerberg is of course best known for his eighties work with the seminal alternative rock band the Replacements. There is no track list for 49, and in fact a number of the tracks included don’t even appear to be complete, while others blend together, or stop and start abruptly.

"It's almost like you're scanning a radio dial," Hill told Billboard. "You're getting a glimpse inside of Paul's head here." Song titles (at least in as much as there are any actual titles) include "Everyone's Stupid," as well as a new version of the previously released "Out of My System." 49 also includes an interesting blend of both cover versions and “mash-ups” of songs by artists ranging from the Partridge Family to Steppenwolf to Elton John to Simon & Garfunkel.

Rhino Records meanwhile will continue their expanded reissues of the Replacements back catalog, by concentrating on the band’s major label output. Those expanded albums will be available in stores beginning September 23.


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