Two Current critics choose their favorite drinking songs

The Replacements’ “Here Comes a Regular”

Consider this the dark underbelly of Cheers. Singer Paul Westerberg describes the scene as “a picture on the fridge that’s never stocked with food.” Needless to say, the emptiness goes unfilled. Westerberg says he’s “sick of everything that my money can buy,” and characterizes himself as “the fool who wastes his life.” Stepping out of the bar, he turns his back “on a pay-you-back, last call.” The imagery’s bleak as autumnal leaves blow past, bearing the promise of coming snow. Pretty much the polar opposite of “Margaritaville,” it’s a powerful portraiture of booze’s desultory side. — CP

Black Flag’s “TV Party”

Black Flag raises a glass to everything our culture stands for: state-sanctioned agoraphobia. “We’ve got nothing better to do,” the gang chorus intones, “than watch TV and have a couple brews.” They wonder why even venture into public when it seems so frightful. “I wouldn’t be without my TV for a day or even a minute,” they sing. “Don’t bother to use my brain any more — there’s nothing left in it.” It’s a perfect sardonic spit take on suburban anomie over slashing spazz-punk guitar, writhing bass, and rabid handclaps. Only the names have changed, from That’s Incredible! and The Jeffersons to Survivor and Two and a Half Men. — CP

musicscribe@gmail.com
jswerzen@trinity.edu