But in 1984 the 23-year-old frontman of The Replacements was full of unbridled energy and intensity — traits that served his post-punk band well on its defining album, Let It Be.

Along with Bob Stinson on lead guitar, Tommy Stinston on bass and Chris Mars on drums, the forward-thinking Westerberg screams The Replacements through several two-minute anthems, like "We're Comin' Out" and "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out," in a complete frenzy.

Other tracks, like the hilarious piano ballad "Androgynous" and the teenaged-angst ridden rocker "Sixteen Blue," showcase the band's ability to go beyond its punk origins. Twenty years later, the still-relevant Let It Be is the best introduction to the first half of Westerberg's storied career.

~Dave Rossetti