Husker Du- "New Day Rising"

Husker Du
"New Day Rising"
SST Records
1985

Personally, I don't know most bands. That would be impossible. But I feel that most bands, after releasing a bloated 23 song double concept album would go a little flat for a while. You know; hit the road to promote, run into both physical and mental exhaustion, find that the creative well had run dry. And then, 3 years later, still no new record. However, when "Zen Arcade" hit shelves, Husker Du not only hit the road, but they hit the studio to recording their follow-up. WHAT?! No rest for the wicked, indeed.

What they came out with only plays on the strengths of "Zen Arcade" (i.e. "pop doesn't suck"), finding Mould and Hart honing their individual song writing sensibilities, escaping from the confines of hardcore. Yet, the band was still capable of churning out ball-stomping anger jams (?). "New Day Rising" opens with the bass-snare-bass-snare stomp of the title track, repetitive and climactic. True garage band hypnotism, but with an attitude. Mould's guitar spirals in and out, like psychedelic shrapnel played with razor blades.

As mentioned, Mould and Hart continue to duel in the song writing department (the ol' "my song's better than your song"). There's Hart's "Terms of Psychic Warfare," a bouncy number just dirtied up enough to miss being commissioned by Sesame Street. How 'bout Mould's, "I Apologize," a song as equally pissed off as it is catchy? But wait, what about Hart's "Books About UFOs," with its skipping down the street piano lead-in that just bubblegums the shit out of "I Apologize" in a good way? Whoa then, hold on. Just turn the record back to Side-A for Mould's "Celebrated Summer", and don't tell me it's not the anthem to end all... uhh, summers. Forget "Pomp and Circumstance." Kids, petition to get "Celebrated Summer" at your graduations instead. And these are only a few on the best tracks on here!

After all this reveling in what would be known as "alternative rock," the album closes with three oddballs (the drugged out "How to Skin a Cat," the short-lived dip back into the hardcore jacuzzi with "Watcha Drinkin," and the Motorhead-esque guitar-riff driven "Plans I Make"). It's a dizzying, and weak finish to such a strong album, but still has the power to kind of fascinate. Ehhh, nevermind. "How to Skin a Cat" is a waste of my minutes.

Where "New Day Rising" falls short, is its TERRIBLE production. Recorded by SST Records' house engineer, SPOT, one can only discern there was a serious lack of money and time after "Zen Arcade's" marathon sessions less than a year earlier. "Powerline" and "Perfect Example" are two tracks with some great fuzzed out guitar jangle that suffer from whatever the fuck the vocals are supposed to be doing. Are they hidden, and drop in and out on purpose? I think not. Speaking of fuzzed out, Mould's guitar just sounds like it's being trebbled to death, and Greg Norton's bass is in serious need of a volume boost in many sections. But such disarray in fidelity almost adds to the band's desire to get these songs out NOW, and makes the album that much more enjoyable!

Has their been a band since The Beatles that had tried something so daring as releasing two flourishing albums in under a year that didn't age poorly over time? I mean, I'm sure you can argue Clapton or Pearl Jam or someone did it, but come on now. Don't be silly.

10/10