17 songs clocking in at a little over 26 minutes, Hüsker Dü's 1982 live LP "Land Speed Record" catches the band at their hardcore best. Admittedly, its taken me 20 odd years and several dozens tries to fully appreciate "Land Speed Record". Initially, I came across Hüsker Dü much later in their discography, and those later records when compared to "Land Speed Record" are as different as night and day. But with age comes wisdom, and I now recognize "Land Speed Record" for what it is; the early work of a band trying to find their sound. Hüsker Dü was always about building that sonic wall around each song while still allowing the words to take front and center. "Land Speed Record" is all about the wall, if you catch any of the words good for you.
The bands first full-length record, "Land Speed Record" was recorded live at the 7th Street Entry, a small club in Minneapolis, on August 15, 1981. The first time you listen to the disc you get the feeling that you've stuck your head out of the car window going 75 miles-per-hour. Air blasting you in the face, your skin rippling all while trying to keep you're eyes open so you can see where you're going. Hüsker Dü was first and foremost a hardcore band and "Land Speed Record" confirms it. There are several songs that do foreshadow the bands sound yet to come, notably "Data Control" and "Don't Try To Call". But as for the rest, its all two minutes (or less) and a cloud of dust. The murky and somewhat muffled sound quality gives the disc the appearance of being bootlegged, but in fact was recorded directly from the soundboard.
Once recorded, the band realized they didn't have the money needed to release the tape and sought the help of fellow punk upstarts The Minutemen, who released the record on their own New Alliance label. The association with The Minutemen and fellow West Coast hardcore outfit Black Flag led to Hüsker Dü being signed to their first recording contract by SST Records.
Hüsker Dü was formed in 1979 in Minneapolis when Bob Mould began to frequent a record store where Grant Hart worked. Hart would later bring bassist Greg Norton into the fold and by 1980 the trio was playing gigs in and around Minneapolis. As with "Land Speed Record", throughout the bands career Hart and Mould were the primary songwriters, with each singing the individual songs they had written. "You sing your songs, I'll sing my songs"…foreshadowing for what lay ahead between the two. Mould came from a much darker place lyrically, writing songs with much more emotion and feeling while Hart tended to have the better sense of humor of the two. The band had an impressive level of output during their brief 8 year recording career, releasing 4 studio LP's, 2 double studio LP's, 1 live album and 5 EP's. They were the first 80's underground, alternative band of note to sign to a major label, inking a deal with Warner Bros Records in 1986 that produced their final two LP's, 1986's "Candy Apple Grey" and 1987's double LP "Warehouse: Songs and Stories". But alas, heroin enters the picture, as Hart's escalating use of the drug further intensified his already stormy relationship with Mould and by 1988 the band was history.
Bob Mould has continued on with an impressive career, both solo and fronting his first post-Hüsker band Sugar. Hart formed the band Nova Mob shortly after Hüsker Dü, recording several albums before that band broke up in the early 90's. Greg Norton has been in and out of music while becoming a chef and opening a restaurant in Wisconsin.
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Thanks to whoever traded in the CD "Survival of the Fittest", a compilation disc issued by Ryko Records in 1990. On a recent trip through my favorite used record store, Half Price Books, I came across the disc. What a find, featuring a host of barely heard and obscure Australian bands (for anyone in the United States) from the mid to late 80's that recorded for the Rattlesnake and Survival record labels. Here's a quick peek at some of my favorites:
The Screaming Tribesmen : "Left In The Dark", "Casualty of Love" and "Mess With You" - The Tribesmen are the best known of the artists on the disk,
with their song "I've Got A Feeling" receiving heavy play on MTV's 120 Minutes and KROQ in 1988.Tall Tales and True: "7 = 7 Is" and "Cyclone Sally" - Tall Tales bring a Cramps-like swamp and bluesy atmosphere to the songs, with definite influences from the Paisley Underground bands like Gun Club and Dream Syndicate.
The Hitmen: "Oh No" and "I Don't Mind" - You can definitely hear the influence of the founding fathers of Aussie Punk, Radio Birdman, in these songs (which is always a good thing).
Ya Ya Choral: "Hit" - Best described as Post-Punk Pop, Aussie style.
Mick Blood & the Pushtwangers: "Hung Up" - Blood, leader of the legendary Aussie band The Lime Spiders, fronts the Swedish band The Pushtwangers here with a screaming rock-a-billy number.
Cosmic Psychos (below): "Lost Cause" - The best song on the disc, featuring the best line... "She's a lost cause, She's only 19, I'm a has-bean".
Damien Lovelock: "Harper's Bazaar" and "Ghostown" - Lovelock, lead singer of legendary Aussie band Celibate Rifles is solo here, with material much different than his work with the Rifles, adding more rootsy, jangle pop sound.
