Husker Du : Classic or Dud, Search and Destroy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hb4r1bCpJw

Thanks so much Dan!

I love talking about this era. What I remember of it anyway...

First: It's been eons since I listened to "New Day Rising," just because there's too much music and too few hours. While I never got to see Husker Du live (though got to see Hart and have seen Mould a bunch), weirdly enough I don't regret it, since the advantage of Spot's production is that I feel it captures the energy and aaaargh of group live, at least based on the bootlegs I've heard. This is kinda true about a lot of SST stuff, too. The Minutemen, for example, I feel most of their albums do a pretty good job offering a snapshot of what the group must have been like live, based on what I've heard.

Second: My memory was primed for "Books About UFOs," but I somehow totally forgot about "Terms of Psychic Warfare." What a great tune. Why don't people cover Husker Du?

When I first heard "Terms of Psychic Warfare," I honestly thought it could've come from the mid-'90s, and that it would've been a massive hit that sounded great on the radio ten years after it was actually released.

I saw them on the New Day Rising tour after hearing the album (plus Zen Arcade) and my recollection is that they were somewhat louder and more saturated-sounding than expected. It was a fairly small room though.

https://i.imgur.com/MxLfp4j.jpg

"Nord-strom riii-sing ... "

A song from Grant's first solo LP, performed by Hüsker Dü during their last tour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnxQeivVLHY

Similarly, "See a Little Light" from Mould's first solo LP was vastly improved by the electric trio arrangement he came up with later on. Wish they held it together for one more album, but I don't think there was a chance in hell that would've happened.

I love "See a Little Light" the way it is: the cello, the jangle of that guitar.

Tbh I don’t really like the way he plays distorted rock guitar live versions of stuff that was acoustic/clean in the studio - I’ve passed on seeing the electric solo live mostly for that reason

I did grow to like Workbook, but I don't share that impression about his live shows at all - whenever his current trio comes through town, I've been blown away. One of the greatest shows I've ever seen was the first one he did after Grant died - he was also supporting Sunshine Rock, which is probably my favorite of his solo albums, but the setlist (which was enormous) covered a LOT of ground and everything sounded tremendous. I will say his electric trio shows are markedly better than his electric solo shows - Narducy and Wurster do add a lot to his shows.

speaking of, i have been thinking about how i am dying to write a 33 1/3 about Metal Circus when i checked to see if there were already a glut of those books about HD and found this! https://333sound.com/introducing-our-33-13-on-bob-moulds-workbook/

does not sound very much to my liking, which is good because i want to write more about Grant/his songs anyway.

i loved Workbook when I was 19 or so, See A Little Light still makes my heart sing tbh

It's a great song - it ought to be a standard and reinterpreted in myriad ways.

i just searched the lyrics and realized "listen there's music in the air" not "listen there's music in me, yeah"

loooooool i am always so close

Is it a challops to say I prefer Grant’s body of work? I think his solo records blow Bob’s away.

not on ILM!!

(I mostly agree)

Solo albums, yes. I love those two and a half Sugar albums though.

Me too

Is it a challops to say I prefer Grant’s body of work? I think his solo records blow Bob’s away.

I've always felt, in HD, Bob was more constant, Grant's highs were higher - but I'm not so sure anymore. As I grow older the bravery of Too Far Down and the maturity of Hardly Getting Over It put a lot of Grant's stuff in the shade, though my favourite HD song is probably still Pink Turns To Blue. And I think there are some remarkable, brilliant Grant solo songs (and Nova Mob, too), but again I don't feel like any of them are consistently brilliant, where Bob has Workbook, Copper Blue and Beaster, which are brilliant throughout.

Whether you prefer one or the other, the amazing thing is that we have both — two truly gifted songwriters in one loud tiny three person package (no shade to Greg)

There's definitely a good bit of stuff I like from their post-Hüsker Dü careers, especially Sugar, but otherwise I found their solo work to be extremely uneven (moreso Mould). I love Sunshine Rock but if it's my favorite Mould solo album, it didn't really have much competition. I was hoping they'd both get a well-curated anthology covering their respective careers. Mould did get one of his post-Hüsker, pre-Sugar years that's sort of okay (not a lot of ground covered though), and several years ago he put out that gargantuan box set that's way too much.

I listened to New Day Rising today just for fun and would like to report that Greg brings A LOT to this band, so absolutely no shade on him whatsoever.

totally, Greg rules, also the most stylish member

Absolutely - it's possible he's the most accessible element in their music. Like he'll come up with a really tuneful hook or just make something that much more danceable.

Like here - his bass part is the earworm of this number:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7gbdTJxWFs

Yes, that song specifically!! he adds the bounce and the groove -- love Greg <3

"two truly gifted songwriters in one loud tiny three person package..."

Been trying to reply with a joke response to this of GN shaking his fist and going "Every time, I tell ya!", but not sure if the way it sounds in my head fits the context here.

and several years ago he put out that gargantuan box set that's way too much.

I mean tbf it's absolutely everything.

I still really like a lot of "hubcap", a particularly sour and satisfying Mould breakup album.

This is an excellent overview of Bob's solo career: https://www.discogs.com/release/19496299-Bob-Mould-Distortion-The-Best-Of-1989-2019

haha someone posted this on a vinyl group I hang out in #onethread

https://i.imgur.com/4qtCWjXl.jpg

This is an excellent overview of Bob's solo career: https://www.discogs.com/release/19496299-Bob-Mould-Distortion-The-Best-Of-1989-2019

Thanks! Will check that out