SUGAR Gee Angel EP 1995

 

Discogs

Sugar Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

After two solo albums, ex-Hüsker Dü guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould formed Sugar in 1992, with bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis; the band signed with Rykodisc in the U.S., Creation in the U.K. Sugar's first album, Copper Blue, was released in the fall of 1992 to enthusiastic reviews and it became Mould's most successful project to date. Copper Blue nearly went gold and spawned several alternative radio and MTV hits, including "Helpless" and "If I Can't Change Your Mind." In the spring of 1993, Sugar released the mini-LP Beaster, a more abrasive collection than Copper Blue that was recorded at the same sessions. Around the time of the release of Beaster, Mould was forced out of the closet by various gay publications, with hopes that he would embrace their political cause; he rejected their requests. Mould wrote the material for the second Sugar album during 1993. The band began recording in the spring of 1994, but the sessions ground to a halt and the tapes were erased. Mould decided to give the album one more try and it was recorded quickly late that spring. The album, File Under: Easy Listening, appeared in the fall of 1994. Although it received good reviews and was moderately successful commercially, it didn't match the performance of Copper Blue. In the spring of 1995, it was announced that Sugar was on hiatus. Besides, a collection of rarities and B-sides, was released that summer. By the fall, Mould had broken up the band and begun to work on a third album entirely by himself. Mould played all of the instruments on his self-titled third album, which was released in the spring of 1995.

Tracklist

1		Gee Angel	3:58
2		Explode And Make Up	3:20
3		The Slim	4:39
4		After All The Roads Have Led To Nowhere	6:21

DÜ HÜSKERS: THE TWIN CITIES REPLAY ZEN ARCADE Various Artists 1993

Discogs

Tracklist

1	–Hammerhead (2)	Something I Learned Today	2:40
2	–The Mighty Mofos	Broken Home, Broken Heart	2:20
3	–Prest Asbestus	Never Talking To You Again	3:06
4	–Muskellunge	Chartered Trips	2:48
5	–Lies Incorporated / TVBC*	Dreams Reocurring	1:45
6	–Superball '63	Indecision Time	2:07
7	–Dogfight	Hare Krsna	3:29
8	–God's Favorite Band	Beyond The Threshold	2:03
9	–The Pseudonymphs	Pride	1:40
10	–Salbando	I'll Never Forget You	2:50
11	–Dylan Hicks + 3 Pesos	The Biggest Lie	3:02
12	–Janitor Joe	What's Going On?	4:54
13	–Vertigo (12)	Masochism World	2:46
14	–Zuzu's Petals	Standing By The Sea	3:53
15	–Walt Mink	Somewhere	2:15
16	–Flour	One Step At A Time	1:53
17	–The Blue Up?	Pink Turns To Blue	1:56
18	–Balloon Guy	Newest Industry	4:29
19	–Willie Wisely Trio	Monday Will Never Be The Same	1:09
20	–Arcwelder	Whatever	3:22
21	–Teenage Larvae	The Tooth Fairy And The Princess	3:59
22	–Big Trouble House	Turn On The News	4:59
23	–TVBC*	Reocurring Dreams	9:13
24	–The Hang-Ups	Eight Miles High	4:07

GRANT HART Good News for Modern Man 1999

by request

R.I.P. 1961 - 14 September 2017

Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

As one of the co-leaders of the seminal post-hardcore punk group Hüsker Dü, Grant Hart was one of the most influential musicians of the '80s, blending raw sonic aggression with pop melodies and songs. Following the group's demise in 1987, he launched a solo career that was marked by an erratic work schedule. After releasing one solo album, he formed a trio called Nova Mob in 1989, which released two albums between 1991 and 1994, when Hart became a solo artist again.

Playing drums and singing lead, Hart formed Hüsker Dü along with Bob Mould (lead vocals, guitar) and Greg Norton (bass) in the late '70s in St. Paul. Over the course of the early '80s, the group initially built a strong following in the U.S. hardcore punk underground, eventually breaking into wider recognition with their 1984 album Zen Arcade. Within two years, the Hüskers signed to Warner, becoming one of the first indie bands of the '80s to move to a major label. Though the group was poised to break into the mainstream, certain parts of the industry, including radio, resisted them. Furthermore, the group was splintering, as all the members suffered from substance abuse; Hart and Mould were also developing a debilitating rivalry. At the end of 1987, the group imploded; according to different sources, Hart either quit or was fired because of his heroin addiction.

In the spring of 1988, Hart became the first Hüsker Dü member to release a solo recording when his primarily acoustic 2541 EP (named after the address of the group's old office and studio) was released on the band's old record label, SST. The following year, he released the full-length Intolerance, which he recorded as a one-man band.

Later in 1989, Hart formed Nova Mob, which released their first single, "All of My Senses," in 1990. A year later, the group released the EP Admiral of the Sea on Rough Trade. Nova Mob's first album, a rock opera named The Last Days of Pompeii, appeared in 1991. Following its release, the group was dormant for several years, eventually re-emerging in 1994 with an eponymous album. Hart quietly split up the trio after Nova Mob, and disappeared for two more years. In 1996, he released the live acoustic album Ecce Homo in Britain. Good News for Modern Man followed in 1999.

The next decade was relatively quiet for Hart, as he pursued other artistic avenues outside of music. One of the highlights of these ten quiet years was a 2005 reunion with Bob Mould at a benefit concert for Soul Asylum's Karl Mueller, who was then suffering from cancer. Hart returned to action in 2009 with Hot Wax, which was greeted with positive reviews. Four years later, the concept album The Argument -- based equally on works by William S. Burroughs and John Milton -- was released in the summer of 2013. 

Tracklist  

1	Think It Over Now
2	Nobody Rides For Free
3	Run Run Run To The Centre Pompidou
4	You Don't Have To Tell Me Now
5	Teeny's Hair
6	A Letter From Anne Marie
7	In A Cold House
8	Seka Knows
9	Remains To Be Seen
10	Let Rosemary Rock Him, Laura-Louise
11	Little Nemo

BOB MOULD Live Dog 98 The Forum, London UK 2002

by request

Discogs

Tracklist

1		Moving Trucks	3:26
2		Taking Everything	3:01
3		First Drag Of The Day	3:57
4		I Hate Alternative Rock	2:35
5		Stand Guard	4:27
6		Classifieds	2:47
7		Hear Me Calling	4:21
8		Art Crisis	2:57
9		Anymore Time Between	5:56
10		Skintrade	6:27
11		Eternally Fried	5:17
12		Roll Over And Die	3:49
13		Lonely Afternoon	3:55
14		Egøverride	2:55
15		Reflecting Pool	2:35
16		Disappointed	3:12
17		Hanging Tree	7:49
18		Man On The Moon	4:32