New Day Rising

Performer: Hüsker Dü
Engineer: Spot; Steve Kielstad; Husker Du; Steve Fjelstad
Producer: Spot; Husker Du
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Husker Du: Bob Mould (vocals, guitar); Grant Hart (vocals, drums); Greg Norton (bass). Personnel: Bob Mould (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, percussion, background vocals); Grant Hart (vocals, piano, drums, percussion, background vocals); Greg Norton (background vocals). Recording information: Nicollet Studios, Minneapolis, MN (07/1984). Beginning with its incendiary title track--a battle cry consisting of three chords and three howled words (guess which)--1985's NEW DAY RISING is an audio hand grenade showcasing the increasing might of Husker Du. The record has the hallmarks of the mid- to late-period Husker records: impassioned vocals, Mould's buzzsaw guitar, Hart's crisp, trebly drumming and not a whole lot of bottom. Bob Mould sounds as angry as ever. His primal, sour-toned vocals seem to come straight from his viscera on such explosive numbers as "I Apologize" and "Powerline," but he also shows unexpected tenderness in moments like the hushed middle section and coda of the anthemic "Celebrated Summer." Grant Hart continues to present a slightly sunnier counterpoint to Mould's dark obsessions, especially on the incongruously cheerful "Books About UFOs" and the bouncy rocker "Terms of Psychic Warfare," but he still seethes on powerful cuts like "If I Told You" and "The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill." Slices of gleeful chaos like "How to Skin a Cat" and ""Whatcha Drinkin'" show the group's fondness for noise for noise's sake, and the closing "Plans I Make" is nothing short of a sonic meltdown.

Spin (5/01, p.108) - Ranked #8 in Spin's "50 Most Essential Punk Records" - "...Sunday-morning punk....like going from January to May in a single afternoon..." Alternative Press (7/95, p.77) - Ranked #8 in AP's list of the `Top 99 Of '85-'95' - "...The beauty [of NEW DAY RISING] is that the yearning in Mould's voice and the belly-button picking self-esteem of Hart's characters were perfect fodder for adolescent absorption. Husker Du were our Beach Boys. Only surf was definitely not up in the '80s, but splitting a 12-pack in a Minneapolis basement did just fine..."

In a relatively brief career that began in 1979 and ended in 1987, Husker Du left an indelible mark, making a great impact on subsequent rock trends including grunge, alternative, and emo. The Minneapolis trio had its first major success on the fabled SST label, playing thrashy hardcore. Soon the band began to leaven its fierce attack with melodic hooks and harmony vocals. Through uncompromising records and relentless touring, Husker Du earned critical plaudits and built up a reputation among rock aficionados before its acrimonious breakup. Singer Bob Mould went on to success with Sugar and as a solo artist.

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