Many critics and reviewers have been calling The Replacements’ new LP, “All Shook Down,” a return to their brash garage roots. Well, those people obviously haven’t heard “Kids Don’t Follow” for a while, but “All Shook Down” is thoroughly cool regardless.

As a matter of fact, the record contains the band’s most consistently great songwriting since their 1986 masterpiece “Tim”. While that album was more energetic and loud, “All Shook Down” somehow seems more together and cohesive. This is rather strange since by all reports the band is on the verge of a breakup, and singer/songwriter Paul Westerberg is the only member to play on all of the album’s tracks.

The first single, “Merry Go Round,” is as happy and loose as anyone could want. Several others, most notably “Happy Town,” follow the same mold – the upbeat pop style Westerberg has specialized in on the last few records.

But the record’s true highlight is the acoustic ballad “Sadly Beautiful.” The Replacements’ past acoustic outings, songs like “If Only You Were Lonely” and “Here Comes A Regular,” have always been great, and “Beautiful” is no exception. As Westerberg quietly growls out the lyrics over a lone acoustic guitar, you realize that the band has gone full circle since their first LP’s mish-mash of guitars and screams, and you aren’t disappointed either. And as the song slowly draws to a close, visions of a Westerberg solo album dance in your head.

If this really if The Replacements’ goodbye, fans should be happy that they finished it off in style. Here’s hoping that as the band’s members go their separate ways, their musical future will be as enlightening and wonderful as The Replacements’ has been.