Highly recommended.

As a band who've historically been placed among the top dogs of the punk herd, it's predictable that fans of The Replacements earlier material hate this break from the pack solely on principal. But taken away from those preconceptions, Don't Tell a Soul is a is blatantly commercial, adult-rock winner that continues to highlight Westerberg's talents as an excellent songwriter. The collapsing band turn in engaging, effortlessly heartbroken melodies on songs like "Back to Back," "Asking Me Lies," and the almost contemporary country-flavored "Achin' to Be," while "I'll Be You" and "Talent Show" are hooky as hell. Only "I Won't" flops as an unnecessary attempt to get rowdy like the old Replacements. If this is selling out, sign me up.