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HÜSKER DÜ- Amusement 7″ (Reflex Records, USA, 1980)
One of the mightiest trios in music - Grant Hart, Greg Norton and Bob Mould’s HÜSKER DÜ were one of the bands that you just couldn’t ignore in the 80s and probably one of the most influental rock bands ever. Who wouldn’t remember the endless debates over “New Day Rising” («Is this still Punk????») or “Candy Apple Grey” («Major labels support nuclear war!!!!!»). At least for me, things were always very clear: The “fastest record in the world” never impressed me too much (”Land Speed Record”), though “Everything falls apart” was like a punch in the testicles. But to me, “New Day Rising” has been one of my all time fave albums since it came out (and the euro tour that followed was fantastic too!). And “Candy Apple Grey” is one milestone too, couldn’t count the times that “Eifel Tower high” or “Don’t wanna know if you’re lonely” saved my life.
In fact, looking back over the band’s career, it’s kinda obvious that the HC days weren’t the “true” HüDü at all - as you can hear, it started pretty experimental with this one, then it got fast and faster, before things got really exciting. When you listen to the later Hüsker Dü, it makes you wonder how “Grunge” could have been reviewed as a refreshing style in the 90s. Dammit, they all owe to Hüsker Dü!
These two songs may not be my favourite pick when it comes to the Hüskers, but I still ove this record. Everything seems like in a fetal state here: The song writing, the musicianship, even the production by later super-knob-turner Steve Fjelstad: They all were still learning, so it seems. Maybe that’s what always makes me compare this with the first BIG BLACK 12″. As amateurish (never forget - the adjective come from the latin verb “amare” which means “to love”!) as this may sound, it’s totally HÜSKER DÜ already, you will recognize it at once, I’m sure.
Peter - KBD Records wrote:
You gotta respect them for releasing this since they’ve most’ve had like a dozens of really great punk songs laying around. I never got into this but for some reason I let it roll as soon as I listen to it. About the Land Speed Record. Goddamn Erich it’s a classic! First time hearing it I didn’t get a thing. What the fuck is this noise. After some spins a structure suddenly appeared. Loved it since.
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 1:58 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Okay, okay - I like “Land Speed Record”, but compared to “New Day Rising” ….. You know, it’s like comparing the Dalai Lama to Bon Scott.
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 2:03 pm | Permalink
Pedro Carvalho wrote:
There’s a story about this firs single being as “experimental” and slow as it is as a popularity measure to win the college radio crowd because bands like PIL were the rage at the time.
Makes sense I guess, because the early demos sound much more like the Ramones or even like their own subsequent records than this EP.
So I guess this is not the “true Dü” after all. Maybe there isn’t one, hehe.
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
Frank Mossi wrote:
I don’t like this 7″. But I think it’s just INCREDIBLE to see all the rare records Peter and you are posting. I’m so JEALOUS!!!!
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 3:20 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Yes Pedro - totally agree. Talking about “true” music is in fact rather idiotic. Of course, I only meant that I prefer the latter HüDü. Didn’t know that the band picked these songs in order to sound different. The early demos do sound totally different.
Frank: Never forget - Peter and I have unmonster cocks. I guess that explains it all.
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 3:23 pm | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
Well, since nobody’s mentioning Zen arcade, I do. I loved that one, too.
I think “Amusement” has some Joy Division in it (check, say, Means to an end from Closer), maybe this confirms a bit what Pedro said. Yeah, the demos sound so different. Eric from SILT had this great post full of rarities, there’s a gig from ca 7/81 that, if memory serves, sounds more like this single, but it was recorded around the same time as Land speed record. So, probably these guys played a totally different repertoire depending of… who knows what.
As for true music… Der Jargon der Eigentlichkeit or what? haha. But then it may have still some meaning, as (quite obviously methinks) one can lie with / thru music
Saludos
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 4:59 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
How can you lie with / thru music, Fernando?
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 12:04 am | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
I guess the easiest answer comes taking ‘music’ in a wide meaning, like pop music, which is a complex, vielseitiger form of art, that includes lyrics, theatrics and pose and even clothes and hairdos, haha. The lie wouldn’t be the music itself then, but the lyrics, the pose. Like retropunk, hahaha.
Besides that, pure music can be used to give a false image like, say, when Bach’s Brandenburgischer concerts are used on TV to glorify the parades of power, implying its deep harmony.
Moreover, if music is expression, feeling, or language, there’s always a theoretical possibility of faking all that, isn’t it.
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 1:51 am | Permalink
Jan wrote:
ah, HÜSKA! thanks for this great post.
wonderful band and an extreme good lucking band when watching their (promo) photos, ha ha.
i remember with age 15 or 16 listening to everything falls apart with my then girl friend and she laughed about me because i wasnt able to open her bra. ha! nothing felt apart.
oh yeah, always love this “in a free land”, the lang speed record for sure, aber i think i am on erich side. metal circus is so fantastic but new day rising is also my favorite one.
i mean, girl who lives an heaven hill or i apologize…
does anyone also likes the Flip your Wig Record? love that too…makes no sense at all.
too young to saw them live, is that true that bob mould played from the beginning (or at least on the european tours) on that flying v guitar?
cheers
jan
P:S: erich, you will get sth. in the post in 2 weeks
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 4:39 am | Permalink
justin wrote:
First the Worst and now Husker Du, you and Peter really know how to tag team don’t you? You guys have reminded me of my appreciation for this band. “amare” huh, I can go with that. Thanx for another terrific post.
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 8:54 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Fernando: So you still believe in concepts such as “truth”. I see.
Yeah Justin - Peter and I are the duo infernale of blogging!
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 10:14 am | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
“Fernando: So you still believe in concepts such as “truth”. I see.”
Of course! Plato rules
And the Hüskers agree; otherwise what’s “The biggest lie” about?
Posted on 27-Mar-08 at 7:59 am | Permalink
hunter wrote:
12 angry men has been one of my favourite movies since i was 13
Posted on 27-Mar-08 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
Chris wrote:
Did Husker Du ever say what kind of band they themselves were?
I remember getting the Zen Arcde double out of the local library many years ago and being disappointed all the songs weren’t like “The Biggest Lie” or “Makes No Sense At All”
Appreciate it more now days.
Posted on 29-Mar-08 at 1:29 am | Permalink