Husker Du- "Metal Cirucs" EP

Husker Du
"Metal Circus" EP
SST Records
1983


For all those familiar with X-mas anticipation, I've got scenario for ya'. Your 9 years old and it's Christmas Eve. December 23rd kind of fucking dragged, but in retrospect you kind of enjoyed the build up. You know tomorrow, Christmas will fucking rule to high heaven, religious references to heaven not withstanding. So your family comes over and you're shitting your pants over receiving pre-gifts. It's become a bonus fun day. But then you unwrap it all to find out you now own one kick ass toy and five itchy sweaters. If you're of other celebratory faiths, I implore you to take in a holiday film or two. If you know what I mean, you can get an idea behind the essence of “Metal Circus.” By this point, Bob, Grant, and Greg cemented their reputation as a relentless touring band that could steamroll out both power-chord rants, and releases. This 7 song EP falls between the nervous "Everything Falls Apart" LP and the right around the corner opus, "Zen Arcade."

"Metal Circus," the band's first on SST Records, takes further baby steps toward poppier territory, much more than the small glimpses on “Everything Falls Apart.” The pop aspect is more prevalent through Grant Hart, delivering two songs of his own among Bob Mould’s typical fury. Unbeknownst, an indie Lennon/McCartney feud came to fruition on this EP.

The A-side blasts through four great songs. "Real World" opens the mini-album with an aggressive punk push that folds into bouncy guitar lines that you can whistle along to, or something snazzy-like. Grant Hart's "It's Not Funny Anymore" is not only his first shining moment in Husker Du, but the band's poppiest songs to date. And "First of the Last Calls" is a downright scalding piece of pogo-worthy rage with a guitar line lifted from fellow Minnesota indie legends, The Replacements and their song, "Kids Don't Follow." But who gives a shit, really?

The B-side, in comparison, really blows. "Lifeline" sounds like an outtake left off of "Everything Falls Apart" for sounding as boring as the song’s title. Grant Hart's "Diane" is 4 and a half minutes of downtrodden hooklessness, a true tale about a murdered St. Paul waitress that goes nowhere. "Out on a Limb" closes this phoned-in side. We're left with a bunch of mumbling that give way to screeching vocals over squealing guitar slop solos. The song’s about as interesting as advanced geology on a Sunday. So yea, way to get us all exited with the A-side Huskers. But fear not. The true surprises were soon coming for the listeners on their next release.

6/10