Remember Husker Du? Sugar? Did you know Bob Mould has 15 studio albums, including recent releases. He is indeed still rocking…loudly, and even bringing sunshine to his music.
Husker Du formed in 1979 in St. Paul with Bob Mould on guitar/vocals, Grant Hart on drums/vocals, and Greg Norton on bass/vocals. After a few early punk albums, they released Zen Arcade in 1984, still with a loud punk edge, but with some softer moments. Along with alternating vocals between Mould’s baritone and Hart’s higher pitch, the melodic punk was a unique and irresistible combination. Zen Arcade consistently lands on the lists of the ’80’s best albums. The band would continue to balance melody and noise in four more LPs until their break-up in 1988. Take a listen below to “I Apologize” off of one of those albums, New Day Rising.
The first of Bob Mould’s solo stints followed in 1989 with Workbook. It’s quite a change. The acoustic guitar is the instrument of choice with some nice mandolin and cello, as well. It’s a personal, beautiful sounding album and a career highlight. The single “See a Little Light” and “Brasilia Crossed with Trenton” are noteworthy songs.
After an additional solo album in 1990, Bob Mould formed another rock band, Sugar. Copper Blue in 1992 would turn out to be the best-selling album of his career. It’s a knockout rock album from start to finish. “A Good Idea,” “Changes,” “Helpless,” and “Hoover Dam,” are all so catchy you can see why the album is regarded as one of the best of the ’90s. Check out “A Good Idea” below. There was one more Sugar album before he went back to a solo career.
In the late ’90s and early-mid 2000s, there were more solo albums, a break, and even a WTF dance/electronica experiment. In 2008, Bob Mould started a remarkable string of consistent work by releasing a new album every year or two right up to 2020. Take your pick: District Line, Life and Times, Silver Age, Beauty & Ruin, Patch the Sky, Sunshine Rock, or Blue Hearts. You can’t go wrong with any of them; all are fast, guitar-oriented rock. This era of work is so consistent it’s difficult to distinguish one from another. They do all sound the same. That’s why I thought I’d focus on the one that is a little bit refreshingly different: Sunshine Rock. Even the title foretells something a little lighter and brighter.
In addition to the title song, Sunshine Rock includes “Sunny Love Song” and “Camp Sunshine.” Indeed, a softer shining sound and songs about summer love and summer camp. Keyboards, strings, and cello accompany the usual buzzsaw guitar providing some pleasing melodies. There’s still plenty of surging, loud guitar on the punk “I Fought” and rockers “What Do You Want Me To Do” (listen below) and “Irrational Poison.” There’s also a trashy cover of Dutch band Shocking Blue’s “Send Me a Postcard.” (Shocking Blue…mostly known for the 1969 classic song “Venus.”)
I saw him in concert in March, 2019 at The Teragram Ballroom in L.A. First time for the artist and the venue. It was a non-stop deluge of pedal-to-the-metal guitar. At 61 years old (in 2021), the guy is still a punk rocker. The wall of guitar sound was LOUD. I think it surpassed my heretofore loudest concert: Boston in 1976 at the Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara (with Sparks as the opener now the subject of a rockumentary). I typically don’t wear earplugs, but something must have told to me to for Bob Mould.
D² Rating of Sunshine Rock ◼◼◼◩☐
Trivia ? – Bob Mould has two stars (one for his solo work and one for Husker Du) on the outside mural of the famous rock nightclub in Minneapolis. What is the name of this influential venue?
Answer: First Avenue