Paul Westerberg may well be the most influential songwriter that you've never heard of. In his hay-day as frontman for the Replacements he enjoyed almost universal critical praise, but the Mats never quite crossed over into the mainstream like other bands of their ilk. Still among songwriters and musicians he is deeply beloved.

Like a cross between John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Steve Earle, Westerberg has a wicked sense of irony and can drive it home with a tunesmanship that captures the sad beauty of the forlorn characters that populate his songs. Stereo is his fourth album since his departure from the Replacements, and though not his best solo effort, I like it better than most of the old Replacements work. Many of the songs are spare and achingly raw and his gift for turning a phrase is still very much in tact. Lines such as "the only lie worth telling, is that I'm in love with you," and "Let the bad times roll," are on par with his best stuff ever. This is one of those records that fans will love and those unfamiliar with his work may not understand. But Westerberg is a genius who's still in touch with his morbid and amusing muse.