![]() ![]() Sugar split in 1995, since when Bob Mould has focused on his solo career a mix of guitar rock but also more electronic records. Sugar were also my gateway into Husker Du, so I’ll always have a certain affection for them. Sugar were particularly successful, with 1992’s Creation released debut LP “Copper Blue” named as NME’s album of that year. However, Husker Du split later in 1987, with increasing tensions surfacing due to Grant Hart’s heroin use and all three members veering in different directions, as Bob Mould had recently quit drinking and Greg Norton was newly married.īob Mould and Grant Hart both embarked on solo careers as well as forming new bands in the early 90s, with Mould’s Sugar more notable than Hart’s Nova Mob. Slightly glossier than their predecessors but still with sufficient Husker Du heft, both are crammed full of more classic tunes, notably “Don’t What To Know If You Are Lonely” and “Could You Be The One?”. Signing to major label Warner Bros after “Flip Your Wig”, two more fantastic albums followed: 1986’s “Candy Apple Grey” and 1987 swansong “Warehouse: Songs And Stories” (another double). Anchored by Grant Hart’s uniquely economical drumming and Bob Mould’s slicing guitar, topped off with a mid Beatlesque tune, “Makes No Sense At All” is a perfect distillation of prime Husker Du. Both are great melodic noise pop records, but it’s “Flip Your Wig” that is my personal favourite Husker Du LP, which also happens to include “Makes No Sense At All”. ![]() Insanely productive at the time, two more albums followed the next year, 1985’s “New Day Rising” and “Flip Your Wig”. “Dreams Reoccuring”) plus more familiar power pop stormers like the opening “Something I Learned Today”, “Zen Arcade” was a truly unique step forward – in Rolling Stone, David Fricke described the album as “ the closest hardcore will ever get to an opera …a kind of thrash Quadrophenia.” Just prior to “Zen Arcade,” Husker Du had also released a single covering “Eight Miles High” by Bob Mould’s beloved Byrds, a reverent thrash that is amongst the greatest alternative versions of all time. I don’t know what it’s going to be, we have to work that out, but it’s going to go beyond the whole idea of ‘punk rock’ or whatever”.įeaturing acoustic tunes such as the beautiful “Never Talking To You Again” alongside instrumental experiments (e.g. Branching out from Husker Du’s hardcore roots and laying strong “indie rock” foundations, Bob Mould told the ever-present Steve Albini in 1983: “ We’re going to try to do something bigger than anything like rock & roll and the whole puny touring band idea. Hugely critically acclaimed, “Zen Arcade” is a sprawling 23 song concept album about running away from home. Husker Du started to develop a more melodic sound, notably on 1983’s “Metal Circus” EP, before signing to renowned US indie label SST and unleashing 1984’s masterful “Zen Arcade” double LP. Emerging out of Saint Paul, Minnesota (for Hold Steady fans, the other “Twin City” to the more familiar Minneapolis) in 1979, Husker Du’s core line-up consisted of twin songwriters – guitarist Bob Mould and singing drummer Grant Hart – plus bassist Greg Norton.Įarly shows and records were fast aggressive hardcore punk, perhaps setting their stall out by naming their first release “Land Speed Record”, a live album from 1982. Kim Deal famously joined Pixies after seeing Black Francis’ classified ad seeking a female bassist who liked both Peter, Paul & Mary and Husker Du, while Krist Novoselic said that Nirvana’s musical style was “ nothing new Husker Du did it before us”. Across to the Twin Cities in my B100 favourite songs list for “Makes No Sense At All” by influential 80s rock legends Husker Du.Īnother band where I’m spoilt for choice in picking a favourite song, Minnesota noiseniks turned twisted pop geniuses Husker Du are arguably the most influential US guitar band of the 80s alongside Sonic Youth. ![]()
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