Paul Westerberg, the once revered frontman for The Replacements, doesn’t need to be part of a band – he is the band.

Gaining critical acclaim with his songwriting skills as the god of indie rock in his previous ensemble, Westerberg proves that he’s still got what it takes with his first release in four years, “Stereo.”

But wait – there’s more!

Since Westerberg has had so much time on his hands, he recorded a second CD – under his alter-ego, Grandpaboy – titled “Mono.”

Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

The first song off of “Stereo,” called “Baby Learns To Crawl,” opens with a prime example of Westerberg’s genius. The first sentence uttered – “Baby learns to crawl watching daddy’s skin” – is sung in such a way that you would think it was a love song. But it’s not. In fact, not even Westerberg’s love songs are love songs. This is a song about a girl who learns to be dysfunctional by watching her parents. And who among us can’t relate to that?

“Nothing To No One,” a slow and simple song hidden in the middle of the disc, contains simple guitar chords and mediocre vocals, but is brilliant. A brief infiltration of the ears that could easily be sung in a dirty bar somewhere off a highway, its lyrics contain a thoughtful message that are meant to nudge, not push.

“I am nothing to no one/ A button to sew on,” Westerberg moans. And it’s easy to moan along with him.

After one song makes you hang your head, “Mr. Rabbit” comes along and makes you want to shake your leg. I would listen to this song if I were getting ready to go hustle someone in a pool game, and I think you should too.

Track two of Grandpaboy’s “Mono,” titled “Anything But That,” sounds like an early Replacements song sung by a really old man. The backup band used for this side project leaves something to be desired, and Westerberg’s vocals have been better.

However, “Silent Film Star,” which follows closely after, makes me want to kiss someone. If you are looking for a perfect intro to Westerberg’s style, this song would be an ideal jumping-off spot.

“You oughta be a silent film star/ Keep that pretty little trap shut.”

So cheeky!