Behind the Sound: Replacements' 'Tim' gets a remix

American rock band The Replacement's major label debut album 'Tim' gets a much-anticipated remix. Listen to samples track-by-track, while Ed Stasium and Bob Mehr discuss the process. Video by: BRIAN JOHNSTON/ASBURY PARK PRESS.
MORE: www.app.com/story/entertainme...

[@owengrover1297]

The remixes are nothing short of a revelation. Like they're playing live, with every detail, guitar flourish, and growl shining through. So good!

[@lhooq27]

They truly are. Listening to Stasium's mix for the first time on a train ride from Trenton to NYC damn near had my heart racing. Hearing newly discovered (by me) nuances and dimensions to an album I've loved for over thirty years is one of the highlights of the past three months if not the entire year. No disrespect to Tommy Erdelyi, whom I admire immensely, but his production work on Tim was not his finest hour.

[@wheezvonklaw284]

I met Tommy Ramone once, and told him I loved "Tim". He just gave me a blank stare.

[@jadedwitness9840]

He's a schmuck

[@Sammyzuko]

Lolz

[@jeffeast7983]

He seemed oblivious to how important they were. Maybe it was too difficult to work with them, but he didn't seem to be much of a fan.

[@glory777]

Ed Stasium's mix is what should have been released originally. Good lord, it's breathed new life into it.

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

It’s absolutely wonderful. Been listening to it for most of my life. It now sounds complete.

[@guadalahonky4002]

Listening since I was 19.

[@nonconnahordeath]

'Tim' has always been my favorite Mats album, despite the common consensus that 'Let It Be' is their masterpiece. This remaster is seriously a contender for greatest remaster in history. Simply incredible.

[@JLeeeP]

The remastering means next to nothing. It’s the remix that’s transformative, and a remix is radically different from a remaster. The box set includes a remastered version without the remix and it’s the same old shit.

[@nonconnahordeath]

@@JLeeeP well excuse me for my erroneous phrasing then, Detective Pedantry

[@JLeeeP]

@@nonconnahordeath It isn't pedantry. It's not a minor detail. It's a fact. You were wrong. You essentially called a dog a cat and now you're trying to make me look like the bad guy because you're too insecure to admit when you've made a mistake. Grow up.

[@nonconnahordeath]

@@JLeeeP I actually admitted I was wrong but okay

[@OhanaFilms]

It finally sounds like a Replacements record

[@geraldhugley3618]

The new Tim is incredible. I bought the album the week it came out. Now I’m hearing things I’ve never heard before. At 3:38 on Hold My Life you can now hear Paul’s voice growl.

[@urrrccckostan]

If only these two could do this magic to more of my favorite albums from the 80s!!

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

Saw them on the "Tim" tour in New Orleans. Caught them on a good night.

[@aisle_of_view]

Same. Saw them in Columbus OH in Mar or April, freezing rain outside.

[@davidfrancis5514]

Remarkable. Tim's always been my favorite and I really had no idea that apparently, many thought the sound lacking. It just was what it was to me - a great record. You don't know what you don't know. When I first heard about this, was like, sure, just another ploy with some fancy packaging to get you to spend money on something you already have. But damn! This is really good! Guitars and drums definitely pop more. Thanks, Ed Stasium, for all the hard work on this and many other great records over the years.

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

My thoughts perfectly stated by you

[@TheMikemos]

Oh, I also give this remix 24 out of 24 cans of beer. This is my 1st case awarded to a reissue for me.

[@ebeyslough]

Been listening to the original mix of Tim for decades and now it’s like listening to it again after getting all my earwax cleared out.

[@geraldhugley3618]

I talked to Tommy Stinson. He said the mix suffered because Tommy Ramone mixed it on headphones.

[@geoffboycat8906]

'Westerberg was less impressed with the sounds [Erdelyi] was getting. "After about a week, Tommy [Stinson] and I sort of talked to each other on the side and said, 'Well, I guess it was Ed Stasium that we really wanted," said Westerberg.' (from the book 'Trouble Boys')

[@guadalahonky4002]

I was at the St. Paul stadium show and Tim is the best Mats album with Pleased To Meet Me second. From a lyricist's standpoint, nobody in the business produces lyrics by turning cliches onto their heads, and into memorable lines, other than Hibbing's Robert Zimmerman. 'Down on all fives' 'I'm not ready as I'll Ever Be' but the showstopper is: 'The ones who love us best, are the ones we'll to rest, and visit their graves on holidays at-best; The ones love us least, are the ones we'll die to please, and if it's any consolation I don't begin to understand them' #Mats America's High-Functioning Alcoholic band. I got to meet Tommy and shake his hand at a Cowboys show. :)

[@meesalikeu]

ACTUALLY LET IT BE IS BEST AND HOOTENANNY & STINK ARE TIED FOR SECOND AND SORRY MA IS THIRD AND SO TIM IS FOURTH AND PLEASED FIFTH

[@Pchristensen20]

I agree -- that line from Bastards of Young is the best lyric from any song I know. It has stuck with me since 1985

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

I’ve only listened to a few songs. Like Bob, “Little Mascara” was one of the first tracks I ran to. It rewrites history, in that it shows that Bob was still very, very important to the music that they were making at the time. Love it.

[@woodyreed2882]

They are the "American Clash" ... I mean that as a compliment ... ;)

[@curtconroy8789]

Ed’s mix gives the songs flesh and bone. It’s Emotional. I cried several times during the 1st listen. And I’ve heard Tim easily a 1000 times. This is an outstanding remix ( and the 1986 Metro Concert, Which I was at! , is transcendent )

[@danielmcevoy976]

Ed did an amazing job on this remix. WOW! Tim was probably my 20th favorite album of all time...now it's top 10 for sure.

[@shamupeterson2874]

Tommy Ramone’s ghost will haunt us all now

[@Riffmaster227]

😂😂😂

[@peakAV]

He did a bang up job for sure. So many other 80s records could use a similar tune up. The Stasium "Let It Bleed" mixes sound full, natural, and detailed.

[@jeffglass7348]

The remix is great. I think this is their best album. Thanks guys!!

[@paulfischer288]

I'm happy to hear that the band was fully involved and liked the new mix. We don't hear from Paul anymore sadly...

[@guitarslim56]

We don't hear from Bob Stinson either. He's been strangely quiet about the re-mix.

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

@@guitarslim56Ummm…..

[@Tusitala1967]

@@guitarslim56 He should have gone to the dentist. 😢

[@Riffmaster227]

@@guitarslim56😂😂😂

[@woodyreed2882]

THis remastering is fucking brilliant. Brilliant.

[@DanLaPlaca]

what a great great great redo....one of the best rock albums ever now sounds like it's supposed to. I cant stop listening. the end part of Little Mascara really gives me chills. Great mix. love it.

[@deanseales5538]

While I agree 100% the sound is amazing but as someone who’s listened to this album hundreds of times I prefer the original. I see so many comments saying “it sounds like a different album”, that’s not a good thing for me. Bob Mehr even mentions that people will think it’s new. I guess I’ll have to see them as 2 different albums.

[@Sonicblue1922]

Thank you for this and thank you Ed and Bob. Really enjoying the remix. A timeless record now even better!

[@placebosyndrome]

love the work Ed did on this, but my one beef is particularly with Rhino...these 1LP/4-CD hybrid configurations are bothersome to me. We need the option of all-LP sets, all-CD, whatever. Having all the tracks in one format is something I'm willing to pay more for, in most cases.

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

I just asked how this was available previously and I'm reading your comment incredulously, that's a big wtf... They don't offer a purchase it online option? Maybe their secret uploads here with the same high quality

[@alm5693]

This is great to hear. After the sound of Let It Be, Tim sounded to me like it was recorded in a high school gymnasium and I couldn't get past the production enough to ever really like Tim. I'll be making a trip to The Electric Fetus to pick up this new version for sure.

[@PMantle]

I honestly never noticed this and Tim is my favorite of theirs. I'm guessing I either have hearing loss or just not critical hearing. The song I generally hate the production of is Divine Hammer from The Breeders.

[@DomDizzler5053]

@@PMantle I absolutely agree with you. The production on Last Splash is almost unbearable.

[@MrPioneerlight2011]

Great interview....would LOVE to see the whole thing......

[@jeffglass7348]

I agree with Bob, Paul’s singing is fantastic on this album and with the new mix you can really hear it.

[@mskcrc]

Peak Paul

[@tlava66]

One of my favorite albums that ive listened to thousands of times...and oh my God this is incredible

[@joshyaleste]

My problem is the price of this box set!! I only want the LP!

[@OhJonahII]

Fantastic insight. Thanks for sharing! Might be worth updating the video title though because obviously a remix is much more significant than a remaster

[@christopherpaladin213]

Love the Mats and this is awesome! Ed was the perfect guy for the job!

[@DrawtheCurtains]

Love Bob Mehr's Tommy Keene banner. Hope we get some rereleases of his fantastic discography next!

[@darrell6800]

agreed

[@tenvolt]

Remixing and remastering are different things, although both were done here. It was the remixing that is talked about in the interviews.

[@stolatboy9058]

Great job Eddie , Love it !

[@popmastaa]

They did such a great job with this. Props fellas

[@chrisgonzalez1597]

My goodness, this sounds huuuge now! The guitars on Left of the Dial!

[@dadmadedinner5456]

80s mixing at its worst meet best remix ever. Love this record.

[@curtiswissler]

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! So fucking excited! Top 5 album all-time for me.

[@VictorRochaGaming]

You can really hear Bob's guitar. BTW Saw the Mats at The Stone Pony in '87

[@Tusitala1967]

You lucky sumbeech.

[@VictorRochaGaming]

Saw them two nights later at The Beacon. They were great at both shows. @@Tusitala1967

[@spiffy8576]

Ed Stasium did Hang Time for Soul Asylum too.

[@matthewjames206]

This was awesome. Everything I've heard from "Tim 2.0'' sounds great thus far. I'm looking forward to listening to it in its entirety 🍻

[@SecondaryAccount5899]

These Tim remixes are a revelation! The songs sound so much better. I got chills listening to the Hold My Life & Left Of The Dial remixes. Matt Wallace also did a fantastic job of remixing Don’t Tell A Soul. It’s called “Dead Man’s Pop”. Highly recommended.

[@8ackbiter434]

Fabulous remix. Hats off to Ed.

[@highergrounds8018]

Great job Ed!

[@rfran4348]

Wish there could be actual confirmation that Chris has had a listen to this latest effort and that he is pleased. It’s understandable you want nothing to do with all ‘mats things now, CM, but it can never be erased, nor should it, that you were a member of The Replacements.

[@jameslarson9583]

You mean to tell me there are drums on the album? I would have never known.

[@chrisknight3734]

Chris is an amazing visual artist and composer in his own right

[@ChadWork1]

I wish you would have done a few A/B comparisons with the old mix.

[@edwardgiovannelli5191]

That's a really good idea, but I wonder how much of a difference we'd actually hear after the sound has gone through KZbin's compression. Guess I'll have to go get the album and try it for myself. Oh darn!

[@ChadWork1]

@@edwardgiovannelli5191 I’m an audio engineer and though KZbin adds a small degree of mushiness to the very high frequencies it wouldn’t mask a full remix of a song. KZbin actually has sounded pretty good for the last 10 years. Much better than Facebook too.

[@edwardgiovannelli5191]

@@ChadWork1 I don't doubt your assessment, but to my untrained ear, I can definitely pick up a loss of detail between YT and a cd or something. Meh, maybe its my imagination, maybe it's my DAC? They're both going through the same amp and speakers.

[@ChadWork1]

@@edwardgiovannelli5191 like I said there is a degradation, but not so much that it would hide the difference between two different mixes, especially since both would have the same encoding.

[@paulwouters2025]

One of the best albums of the 80's and of course I have the vinyl record. I'm really happy with the remix but the point is that, here in Europe, I have to the full box with the LP and 4 CD''s. Costs: 109,00 Euro! It is not possible to buy only the LP. It's a lot of money, even for the Mats....

[@jswede1]

Tim was my first - and only - ‘mats album all through high school. Wasn’t til college I found more. Still the best, and definitely most meaningful to me.

[@Thinkforwardnow]

It’s been on repeat.

[@averyadrian1534]

ED!!! Remix Pleased to meet me and let it be !!!

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

I think the new mix is interesting, but I still prefer the original one. I think it had more energy despite Fjelstad never quite getting the drum sound right (similar to his engineering on Husker Du's mid-80's albums), the new mix is a lot fuller and more produced sounding, but just doesn't sound as energetic and fun to me.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

It does sound a bit more flat to me also.... And one reason I tend to dislike re-mixes is that they are made according to the standards of the time.... In other words, the album now sounds less like it was made in 1985 than it once did and there is something disturbingly George-Lucasy about that. I always have to give credit to Metallica for not releasing a "better" version of Ride the Lightning with less reverb or AjFA with more bass.🎉

[@aisle_of_view]

I like the Ed remixes so much more than the Tommy Ramone production.

[@awrogers3013]

Oh..so they changed it because THEY decided it should sound like this….love the Steve Wilson knows better syndrome

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

Are they going to release it digitally? sux about having to buy LPS and CDs

[@FleagleSangria]

I am not a fan of remixes usually. Chicago 2 by Steven Wilson is exceptional. King Crimson’s that Mr Wilson also worked on are very good but so many do not work. This Tim remix is AWESOME. Please let this man do more remixes that are needed! This is right up there with Chicago 2 remix. Bravo!

[@rkeil3145]

I went with a contrarian midset, expecting that they'd ruin a classic. I was wrong, the mix is fantastic!

[@randomhuman19]

Am I the only one now wondering what Ed could do with Sorry ma, Stink, Hoots and LIB?

[@Tusitala1967]

You are not alone...

[@VinceWhitacre]

Well, Sire didn't screw those up. The Twin/Tone albums are fine.

[@wheezvonklaw284]

Stink sounds FINE.

[@willcameron1860]

Not bad for a cable channel.

[@averyadrian1534]

Listening to hold my life - wow what an improvement

[@averyadrian1534]

Oh this makes me so happy I never liked the way the original Tim was mixed

[@kengyang1908]

Why,, leave the mess alone that's the why we heard it n like it,,stop making classic sound like rem junk

[@60zeller]

Get nervous when I see “ remastered” usually just means louder and no dynamic range. But, have not heard this yet.

[@Tusitala1967]

Like the 2008 remaster, sadly.

[@JLeeeP]

@60zeller @Tusitala1967 I wish people would take a second to learn what words actually mean. This new version is important because it was REMIXED not because it was remastered. They are very, very different things.

[@Tusitala1967]

@@JLeeeP You are correct. My comment was hasty and ill-considered. Thank you for pointing that out.

[@thekidfromiowa]

It's a classic, but it exhibited various 80s production cliches like gratuitous reverb. This remix is definitely an improvement.

[@tonys9102]

The remix turns an explosive, quirky-but-brilliant album into a well-manicured borefest. If Ed Stasium had been a plastic surgeon, he'd have been the one who "fixed" Jennifer Grey's nose. I'll stick with the original, thanks.

[@geraldhugley3618]

Don’t Tell a Soul is IMO their worst album. Dead Man’s Pop is one of their best.

[@joewess69]

Just leave shit alone….

[@neillindhorst7430]

Glossy and neutered.

[@erickziglar7967]

I may be a minority of 1, but I don't care for the remix.

[@mozboywi]

not thrilled with the sound of that remix

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

You prefer the original? Wow.

[@mozboywi]

@scottanthonyweidner8692 I've listened to that album probably at least 100 times over the last 38 years. Very difficult to get my head around such a radical redo. Needs more listening to figure it out.

[@chrisknight3734]

I thought the remix sounded a bit weird until I compared it directly to the original. Clearly an improvement

[@collinrust2641]

Tommy Ramone butchered that first attempt

[@jefferysteen1041]

It's a great album!Their best!

[@Trumptydumpty978]

I need this!

[@jerrywemhoff]

The vocals on the new mixes sound like they used a SM58. Sure, it's a time-tested workhorse that's sturdy and works great live, but I've never picked a 58 for its coloration. The original mix gets rid of a lot of the fat ass proximity effect from eating the mic and the new mix leaves it alone and it sticks out like a sore thumb.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

It is funny to me that a bunch of 60+ year old dudes think they have any business re-mixing or remastering anything... Not to be ageist but unfortunately hearing loss is a bitch. I think a big part of the loudness wars is aging Boomers still producing and mixing/mastering music.... Music was produced so much better before the 90's when younger people were doing it.

[@elevateaudioengineering4892]

@@ryanjacobson2508 Thanks for revealing just how little you know. Most of the industries most sought after mastering engineers are 50 +

[@ryanjacobson2508]

​​@@elevateaudioengineering4892Most mastering work since 1995 has been awful. Loud, compressed, distorted.

[@zippymufo9765]

​@@ryanjacobson2508Pretty moronic comment considering that the most sought after engineers back then were already in their 40s and 50s 😂 There were no "young people" making the technical decisions like you believe.