In Brief

* * 1/2 Bash & Pop, “Friday Night Is Killing Me,” Sire/Reprise. Only on the raving “Fast and Hard” does frontman Tommy Stinson personify the reckless image he carried as bassist for the Replacements. He still flaunts plenty of attitude, but it’s his knack for melody and verbal wit that makes this album intriguing. If it all sounds too familiar, that’s only because Paul Westerberg’s influence has rubbed off so well.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).