"Tim" is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band The Replacements, released in September 1985 on Sire Records. This album marked their debut on a major label and is notable for being the last album recorded by the original lineup of the band, as guitarist Bob Stinson was dismissed in late 1986.
The album received moderate mainstream success, peaking at number 183 on the Billboard Top 200, and was critically acclaimed. Tim was ranked 136th on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and was slightly repositioned to 137th in the 2012 revision. It also placed 4th in Alternative Press's Top 99 Albums of 1985–1995 and was included in PopMatters' 2014 list of "12 Essential Alternative Rock Albums from the 1980s."
The cover of Tim is distinctive for prominently featuring Bob Stinson's face, making him the only band member whose face is clearly visible on the album cover.
Tim by The Replacements showcases the diverse influences of frontman Paul Westerberg, reflecting a broad range of styles. Tracks like "Hold My Life" are reminiscent of Alex Chilton's Big Star, while "Swingin Party" channels the sounds of Roy Orbison and Duane Eddy. "Kiss Me on the Bus" bears the influence of Nick Lowe. Notably, the song "Can't Hardly Wait" was originally recorded for this album but wasn't included. It later appeared on Pleased to Meet Me, with one of the original guitar parts being replaced by a horn arrangement.
One of the standout tracks, "Bastards of Young," is known for its provocative music video—a single unbroken shot of a speaker, which is eventually kicked in by the person listening. This video has become iconic, and similar stylistic approaches were used for other songs from the album, including "Hold My Life," "Left of the Dial," and "Little Mascara."
"Left of the Dial" serves as an ode to college radio stations, which were typically found on the left side of the radio dial. The song has endured as a college radio anthem, ranking 265th on Rolling Stone's 2021 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 24th on their 2023 list of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980s.
The band's performance of "Bastards of Young" and "Kiss Me on the Bus" on Saturday Night Live on January 18, 1986, was a major moment for them, marking their most significant television appearance at the time. However, their behavior during the show, including swearing, led to a lifetime ban from SNL. Paul Westerberg would later return to perform solo.
The song "Here Comes a Regular" was inspired by the CC Club in south Minneapolis, a popular hangout for the band, located across the street from Oar Folkjokeopus, a key spot in the Minneapolis music scene.
"Bastards of Young" has remained influential, being featured in the opening credits of Greg Mottola's 2009 film Adventureland, the 2020 Marvel superhero horror film The New Mutants, and in the TV series The Bear (Season 2, Episode 5, "Pop").
