Suicaine Gratifaction

Suicaine Gratifaction
Studio album by Paul Westerberg
Released	February 23, 1999
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	45:08
Label	Capitol
Producer	Paul Westerberg, Don Was
Paul Westerberg chronology
Eventually (1996) Suicaine Gratifaction (1999) Stereo (2002)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Suicaine Gratifaction is the third solo album from former Replacements leader Paul Westerberg.

Co-producer Don Was had admired Westerberg for years. He used Westerberg's solo debut, 14 Songs, as daily inspiration while producing the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge.[2] Westerberg once claimed that he had originally been interested in working with Quincy Jones.[3]

Regarding the album's strange title, Westerberg said, "I don't want to think about it too deeply other than the fact that it seems wrong, and therefore it's attractive to me."[4]

The piano solo in the middle of "Born for Me" is the subject of a chapter within Nick Hornby's Songbook, where its simply played, undemonstrative character, of a piece with the song as a whole, is contrasted with virtuosic solos that use the underlying song as a jumping-off point to some unrelated destination. Hornby describes Westerberg as a "born musician" and suggests that he's "a man who thinks and feels and loves and speaks in music."[5] "Born for Me" was rerecorded on I Don't Cares' 2016 album, Wild Stab.

Track listing

1. "It's a Wonderful Lie" – 2:47
2. "Self-Defense" – 3:15
3. "Best Thing That Never Happened" – 4:31
4. "Lookin' Out Forever" – 3:41
5. "Born for Me" – 4:00
6. "Final Hurrah" – 3:27
7. "Tears Rolling Up Our Sleeves" – 3:26
8. "Fugitive Kind" – 5:54
9. "Sunrise Always Listens" – 4:17
10. "Whatever Makes You Happy" – 3:15
11. "Actor in the Street" – 3:24
12. "Bookmark" – 3:11

Bonus Track Europe

“Wonderful Copenhagen”

Bonus Track Japan

“33rd of July" – 3:00

Personnel

• Paul Westerberg – guitar, vocals
• Shawn Colvin – vocals
• Don Was – bass
• Steve Ferrone – drums
• Josh Freese – drums
• Suzie Katayama – accordion, cello
• Jim Keltner – drums, percussion
• Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
• Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar
• Benmont Tench – keyboards
• Richard Todd – French horn
• Dave Pirner – backing vocals

References

1. AllMusic review
2. VH1: Paul Westerberg Goes It Alone With Suicaine Gratifaction. Accessed June 30, 2008
3. Mountain Xpress interview. Accessed June 30, 2008.
4. MTV: Paul Westerberg Lines Up Suicaine Gratifaction for 1999 Accessed June 30, 2008.
5. Nick Hornby (2003). "Chapter 12". Songbook. Penguin. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-57322-356-0. Retrieved 21 January 2012.