I have little to add that hasn't already been said … it's been years since I saw the movie, but I have rarely felt such heartbreak for a character as I did for Levene.

It's harder to rage-quit albums, because usually you can't just "walk out" the first time through (like a movie) and fairly assess it.

It's harder to rage-quit albums, because usually you can't just "walk out" the first time through (like a movie) and fairly assess it.

Strange thing is, Westerberg had already written several such "hits" prior to his solo years. "Skyway" comes to mind. You could throw "Achin' to Be" in there, too.

Strange thing is, Westerberg had already written several such "hits" prior to his solo years. "Skyway" comes to mind. You could throw "Achin' to Be" in there, too.

I don't watch much AV Club video (beyond AV Undercover) … this is truly cool.

I don't watch much AV Club video (beyond AV Undercover) … this is truly cool.

Goo Goo Dolls reference is apt, because I think that backlash is similar to Soul Asylum, although a year or two later, and more directly overplay of the ballads (Name, Iris) that were fish-out-of-water to its core sound — which didn't sit well with listeners who knew their body of work, and people who liked those hits…

Goo Goo Dolls reference is apt, because I think that backlash is similar to Soul Asylum, although a year or two later, and more directly overplay of the ballads (Name, Iris) that were fish-out-of-water to its core sound — which didn't sit well with listeners who knew their body of work, and people who liked those hits…

And make no mistake, "Runaway Train" was a dud, regardless of overkill. Unfortunate first-foot-forward into semi-stardom, taken in context of prior output.

And make no mistake, "Runaway Train" was a dud, regardless of overkill. Unfortunate first-foot-forward into semi-stardom, taken in context of prior output.

Not sure what it's like now, but got to live in the Cities for about five years '88 to '93 … got to see so many excellent shows, no particular order: Meat Puppets, Camper Van Beethoven, Too Much Joy, Jayhawks, Trip Shakespeare, Soul Asylum (f*** the h8ters, that band was a live juggernaut back then).

Not sure what it's like now, but got to live in the Cities for about five years '88 to '93 … got to see so many excellent shows, no particular order: Meat Puppets, Camper Van Beethoven, Too Much Joy, Jayhawks, Trip Shakespeare, Soul Asylum (f*** the h8ters, that band was a live juggernaut back then).

Maybe so. But I saw Soul Asylum 3 times at First Ave, several years before the 
"Runaway Backlash" and each was a killer show.

Maybe so. But I saw Soul Asylum 3 times at First Ave, several years before the 
"Runaway Backlash" and each was a killer show.

I've long felt Soul Asylum got tagged with the "one-hit" tag via bad (or was it good?) timing.

I've long felt Soul Asylum got tagged with the "one-hit" tag via bad (or was it good?) timing.

I know he dissed a lot of his Beatles songs in the Rolling Stone interview in about '71.

I know he dissed a lot of his Beatles songs in the Rolling Stone interview in about '71.

Didn't Gene rate all the Kiss albums at one point in the '90s, 1 to 5 stars? (and "Elder" with like 1.5 or something).