I've never listened to a note composed by these guys, but I'd like to give a shot. Just from reading various sources, they sound like a band I could into.

Does anybody have tips on where to start? Their best album? Comparison to other bands?

Any things would be appreciated.

Vypa, their "classic" album is Zen Arcade which I think is overrated. I'd kick off with New Day Rising and Warehouse Songs and Stories.

Then proceed to Bob Mould's band, Sugar, for Copper Blue and File Under Easy Listening

You might also try Grant Hart's Nova Mob and The Last Days of Pompeii or (I think it's called) Intolerance (haven't heard that one).

quote:

Comparison to other bands?

The Huskers didn't sound very much like other bands. Their contemporaries were The Minutemen and The Replacements, whom they didn't have a whole lot in common with. I'm honestly at a bit of loss. Anyone else have a suggestion?

I agree with Duke, definitely go out and pick up New Day Rising. New Day Rising has the right balance of their hardcore punk elements and their pop elements. It's not too abrasive or too sugary. Then get Flip Your Wig, Candy Apple Grey, and Warehouse.

Zen Arcade is a pretty good album, but it can be a bit rough and it's very long. It's hard for me to sit through the whole thing.

The only album I would avoid is Land Speed Record. It's almost unlistenable.

Husker Du is one band I never really got into. After reading a decade's worth of high praise for Zen Arcade, I checked it out from my local library and pretty much hated it. I decided to give them another shot by picking up a used copy of Candy Apple Grey. Again, I thought there were a couple of okay songs, but I still wasn't super impressed. I have not heard Flip Your Wig or Warehouse: Songs and Stories and I've only heard bits of New Day Rising.

Oddly, I've enjoyed albums from both Bob Mould and Grant Hart's solo careers. Maybe I'll give the Du another shot someday.

Zen Arcade

Candy Apple Grey

New Day Rising

....and I'm never talking to you again..

The band Husker Du remind me of more than any other is The Beatles believe it or not, especially Revolver era John Lennon (backwards guitars, sweet melodies). It's probably just me mind.

I have always enjoyed Candy Apple Grey best, but common consensus places this at the bottom of the top five list (usually New Day Rising or Zen Arcade at the top). Sugar's Copper Blue is great and would probably be the best place to test the water. For my money, it's held up better than Nevermind, which was released in the same year.

I've been in a pretty big Husker Du funk lately. I pretty much dig everything they've done aside from Land Speed Record. I'm starting to think they deserve a much higher place in my pantheon of great bands-- probably a top ten position.

I also love solo Bob Mould (except Modulate which was absolutely terrible) and Sugar and all the Nova Mob and Grant Hart solo stuff.

Where to start. Unfortunately, the Huskers output on SST is in desperate need of remastering. I remember hearing Flip Your Wig when it came out and thinking it sounded awful. I've since grown to appreciate it, but modern listeners certainly have a problem with it. Due to this, I would suggest starting with their Warner Brothers output. Candy Apple Grey and Warehouse: Songs and Stories are both superb, in my opinion (which is contrary to what most experts would lead you to believe). The sound is still a little tinny, but the songs are so good you should be able to get past the production. Ericg, I hope you don't give up on them.

Avoid the early stuff (Land Speed, Everything Falls Apart, and Metal Circus). Other than that, all of their albums from 84-87 are worth a listen. If I was going to try to get someone into Husker Du I would ease them into it by getting them to listen to some of their best songs, like "Pink Turns to Blue" "Turn on the News" "Books About UFO's" "Terms of Psychic Warfare" "Makes Sense at All" or my favorites, "Celebrated Summer" and "Don't Want to Know if You're Lonely."

I <3 Metal Circus

Husker Du are very high in my pantheon of great bands

last year i had the chance to see Grant Hart in a little bar alone with his guitar playing his tunes and lots of Husker Du songs too

it was a blast

quote:

Originally posted by ajar:
Husker Du are very high in my pantheon of great bands

last year i had the chance to see Grant Hart in a little bar alone with his guitar playing his tunes and lots of Husker Du songs too

it was a blast

I saw Grant Hart perform a similar show in Knoxville several years ago. A local band, Flesh Vehicle, opened for them. Flesh Vehicle is Tom Pappas' post-Superdrag project. In this particular incarnation of Flesh Vehicle, John Davis (the front man of Superdrag) was on bass and Don Coffey (also Superdrag) was on drums. Superdrag had recorded a cover of "Diane" (from Metal Circus!) in their early days, so when they told Hart of this he insisted that they play a full on electric version of it with him to end the night. It was probably my favorite rock moment of all-time. John Davis is quite a chameleon, he can manipulate his voice to sound like anyone. When they harmonized, It was uncanny how much it sounded like Husker Du.

Husker Du is what happens when tormented hardcore punks realize that they can write songs like the Beatles. One of the great all time bands. Very under-appreciated.

I'll buy into your definition. I like 'em a lot too.

I have a real soft spot for Candy Apple Grey - it was the first album I listened to that got me thinking 'maybe the stuff John Peel plays isn't all rubbish after all'. I've never looked back....and rarely play my old Elton John records either!

As others have mentioned, Husker Du are very closely related to Revolver era Beatles, especially on Candy Apple Grey and Flip Your Wig. Listen to the backwards guitars on All This I've Done For You. Having fallen in love with Candy Apple Grey I next purchased Warehouse and was initially disappointed. It was too homogenous and lacked the variety in tone that made Candy Apple Grey such a great listen. I like it now but it's not my favourite. New Day Rising is great, a transition from hardcore into pop. I'd put their albums in this order:

Candy Apple Grey
Flip Your Wig
New Day Rising
Zen Arcade & Warehouse

(I haven't heard the early stuff)

Whilst different to Husker Du's output, Sugar's Copper Blue is also fantastic and has probably the best Pixie's song ever on it!?!

Actually the transition point is Metal Circus-- I'll keep lobbying for it, a fantastic EP. Mould's "Real World," although clearly grounded in hardcore, hints at the Revolver-esque brilliance of their later records. Then Two songs by Hart, "It's Not Funny Anymore" (showcases his pop side) and "Diane" (slows things way down). That's the moment Husker Du matured into a great band.

Am I the only one that likes Land Speed Record? Coming from a hardcore/punk background I was always in search of something harder and faster and I think despite some people being turned off by that, it is a good record. I also really like Everything Falls Apart, the early 7" collection, especially "MIC." The Huskers were quite brutal early on. I love Zen Arcade and I'll tell you right now that I pretty much don't care for New Day Rising and especially not Warehouse. The songs from those records sound better on their live album The Living End where you can hear them in all their fire-bomb fuzzed out glory and not the cowed album versions. I'm sure I'll get shit for this, but hey you guys talked shit about Zen Arcade so.... ha ha ha

quote:

Originally posted by jonathanbrisby:
Am I the only one that likes Land Speed Record?

Yes

Anyone else see the new TIAA CREF commercial? It features Bob Mould's classic "See A Little Light." If you are a fan of Sugar or Husker Du, skip those two Bob Mould albums sandwiched by his better known bands at your peril. Anyway, I found a Promo Video for "See A Little Light" on YouTube, enjoy!

A few favorites:

Zen Arcade- Chartered Trips (love that ringing, anthemic guitar), Something I Learned Today, Never Talking To You Again

Metal Circus- First Of The Last Calls

Flip Your Wig- Green Eyes (one of my all-time favorite power-pop ballads. more kick-tush guitar)