During the mid-1980s, Hüsker Dü kept me sane. Tossing out three minute fire bombs, that were anchored by both rage and melody, the Twin Cities trio dished out fury that you could sing along with. I was going through a difficult time in my life and the band’s glorious self-righteous indignation was exactly what my psyche needed. Hüsker Dü was my poverty level Prozac.
After Hüsker imploded, Bob and I went our separate ways. Mould has made forays into the singer/songwriter world, led another fine three piece punk inspired band (Sugar), made forays into electronic music, and – I am not making this up – worked as a scriptwriter for World Championship Wrestling. Bob and I didn’t have a bitter breakup, we just went on different paths in life’s ebb and flow.
Mould is back with a new album titled Silver Age. It’s quite brilliant. Mould is back to doing what he does best, fiercely rocking in a three piece band format, this time with bassist Jason Narducy (Verbow) and drummer Jon Wurster. Wurster will forever be the only drummer to play with Superchunk, the Mountain Goats, Katy Perry, and Charlie Daniels. Narducy has a long association with Mould, giving the trio the sound of an established band versus a one-time studio collaboration.
“I heard a melody so pure/I felt an echo so familiar,” Mould voices on “Briefest Moment.” The echo is the sound of Bob’s past, but he’s not living in it. He’s partying like it’s 1985, but with new found energy and emotion. Lyrically, Bob tills in his field of generalizations, accusations, and put downs. Vocally, he still has that viciously angry fist in his larynx, ready to obliterate anyone in his way.
There are no African dance rhythms, guest rappers, or love songs on this album. Mould simply shows how the old school punk rock house was built, raining sheets of sonic guitar blasts that rip potholes into the linings of your brainpan and then searing spackle into the remaining crevices. Faves include “Round the City Square,” which includes a brief almost psychedelic sounding solo, the glorious bombast of “Steam of Hercules,” and “The Descent,” where the momentum of the song contrasts against the vulnerability of the lyric. You can skip the last song, “First Time Joy,” but there are no real clinkers on this record. Mould knows how to lead a three piece punk rock band better than anyone else and he’s showing off (in a good way) for the Silver Age.
Welcome back, Bob. Sometimes nothing feels better than a hug from an old friend.
Grade: A