In preparation for tonight's The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting book release at First Avenue, which will feature guest performances and 'Mats covers by over a dozen prominent local bands, Reveille asked the contributing bands the following questions: What is your favorite Replacements song, and what makes the 'Mats so goddamn special anyway?

Here's what we found out:

Today it's Little Mascara, but who knows by tomorrow....

And the Replacements....their records are the wiseass older brother I never had.

The Replacements embody something to me so undeniably rock 'n' roll; something akin to a close up of the middle finger of the carefully manicured hand of a long-healed burn victim. The mortified, tuned-out accidental listener would probably think that these guys simply don't give a shit, and in a sense they're right. But there's a passion inherent in the music, words, melody and attitude that off-hand I can really only compare to Nirvana. Few have ever come close. It's just genius.

They were able to create, when they wanted to—especially on Let It Be, in my opinion—a fresh sound scape...a sort of bent nostalgia for something you've never seen or been through yourself, but which you knew you wanted and belonged to. Anyway, I had to choose "Unsatisfied." Maybe because it's the first Replacements song I remember hearing, or maybe it has something to do with what I just rambled on about. It's a beautiful song, in any context. Paul was and is a fantastic guitar player and had a knack for weaving parts in and out of each other much like a baroque composer. For awhile I had decided (at a very early age, mind you) that I wanted that played at my funeral. I wonder what my family would say.

– Dan Dragich, songwriter

1. Kiss Me On the Bus

2. In short, the Replacements taught me what a real pop song sounds like: smart, catchy and just fucking loud as hell.

– Ian Anderson, lead singer of One For The Team, owner of Afternoon Records

So many great songs...."Left of the Dial," "Kids Don't Follow," and "Bastards of Young" are all near the top.....but if forced to choose, I'd say "If Only You Were Lonely" is my favorite. When it was released (as a B-side on the single "I'm in Trouble"), it made me feel like I had a lot more in common with this crazy band than "Sorry Ma" had originally led me to believe. It made me listen to the first album - and the band - from a different perspective.

To me, the band is a massive font of inspiration, a source of vicarious pride, a cautionary tale, and a constant reminder to not take myself or the music I play too seriously.

– Terry Walsh, songwriter

Favorite 'Mats song? “Left of the Dial,” “Hello Dolly,” “Kids Don't Follow,” “Answering Machine.”

What do The Replacements mean to me? They showed the world that middle-class white kids from the bumfuck Midwest actually thought about the world they lived in. they may have been in the right place at the right time but they actually left a pretty big imprint on the music world in their wake. they winked at us through their sloppy, drunken shenanigans, showing us that anything was possible. They represented all of us in the Midwest so well around the world—they were self-effacing, authentic, had a great sense of humor and perspective about being "rock stars" that lacked the ridiculous pomposity of so many others of their era. I am not alone when i say that there would not have been a Kurt Cobain without Paul Westerberg.

– Adam Levy, The Honeydogs

If I had to pick one song I'd have to go with “Unsatisfied” with “Favorite Thing” a close second—probably depends on my mood.

The Replacements definitely gave us an underdog to root for. If you were growing up in '84-'85 and all you saw were big hair and make-up bands with synthesizers and really bad hair metal, they were about the only real band you could find. And they were right in our own backyard. I got to play with Bob Stinson for a couple years in my first band the Bleeding Hearts so I got sorta a trial by fire I guess.

BTW - if anyone wants to see us get there early, we're on at 7:55P!

– Mike Leonard, Red Flags

Favorite song would have to be Rattlesssssnake.
People credit them with a lot... I don't think they give a shit.

– The Falls

As a band I think we all have our favs, but  it would be safe to say that all of them are our favs. Like, how can you say that "Favorite Thing" is any better than "Hold My Life"? They're both destroyers. Although, Josh doesn't like "I Don't Know," but then again we don't really know about Josh.

Again, they mean something to everyone in the band in different ways, but for me The Replacements exeplify everything that is rock 'n roll. They are honesty in every sense of the word and that is something that I feel has really died in music these days. Although, I think that's beginning to change. People are getting tired of the gimmics  and the make up and going back to the basics. Back to the beer, cigarettes, the music and The Replacements... picking up where they left off.

– Jason Miller, The Evening Rig