TS: BOB MOULD Workbook vs THE CURE Disintegration

disintegration is one of Those albums, no room for contrarianism

yeah this seems like a pretty unfair matchup HOWEVER i had a workbook t-shirt that lasted a pretty long time so i'll throw it a vote

i do feel like i won this deal but also i'm kind of waiting for alfred to arrive and be all like 'neither of these albums are as good as OH MERCY'

I traded my friend Eels Beautiful Freak and he gave me the Batman Forever soundtrack in return. I don't feel like making a poll but I still wonder if it was a good trade

i do feel like i won this deal but also i'm kind of waiting for alfred to arrive and be all like 'neither of these albums are as good as OH MERCY'

― mookieproof, Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1:59 AM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

neither album is as good as 3 Ft High and Rising or Raw Like Sushi!

I voted for Workbook, of course. Too long, often morose, it sounds to me like an ancestor of Automatic for the People/

I heard the Cure record at the time, and the Mould record only last year (though I remember watching the "See a Little Light" video). It's a question of whether you prefer your musical depression to be grandiose and theatrical or morose and low-key. I like to stay inside and eat peanut-butter sandwiches.

Best songs: "Sinners and Their Repentances" and "The Same Deep Water as You".

(I might actually pick No Mercy as the album of 1989. Most of my favourite acts of the time didn't release anything that year.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I love Husker Du, I love the first Sugar album and EP. I've enjoyed the last few albums I've heard from Mould, and I've enjoyed the last few times I've seen Mould live. But I've never heard "Workbook." True story!

As a fan of both the Cure and Husker Du, I bought both when they came out (I was also in college then). Disintegration is no contest for me in this, I loved it immediately. Never loved Workbook, liked it fine. I was much more into Intolerance — a Grant Hart guy then as now.

As a fan of both the Cure and Husker Du, I bought both when they came out (I was also in college then). Disintegration is no contest for me in this, I loved it immediately. Never loved Workbook, liked it fine. I was much more into Intolerance — a Grant Hart guy then as now.

Pardon the double post

at that same university, mould and dylan happened to play the same night

i went to dylan, which to this day is the worst show i've ever seen. people who went to mould (i don't remember if black sheets of rain had just come out or was about to) reported that it was almost unbearably loud

I had Disintegration on cassette back in 1990. Recently I repurchased it on CD. Still love it. I’ve never heard Workbook, but Mould’s vocals are usually a barrier to me.

Abstain. Both are essential.

Taking sides here would be like asking me whether I want to have lungs or a heart.

I enjoy bits of Workbook, but it wears out its welcome quickly. The tinny digital-sounding acoustic guitars don’t work for me at all. And Disintegration is in my top few albums of the 80s, so…

First time I heard "See a Little Light" was with Mould's current trio and it was awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNGsacYoGec

Checked out Workbook soon after and immediately thought it sounded weak. I've come around to it though - that track and the album in general - but the song didn't reach its full potential until its current trio arrangement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNGsacYoGec

The old promo editions are worth getting for the design alone.

I love Husker Du, I love the first Sugar album and EP. I've enjoyed the last few albums I've heard from Mould, and I've enjoyed the last few times I've seen Mould live. But I've never heard "Workbook." True story!

Hüsker Dü's one of my all-time favorites. Their entire catalog, the first Sugar album and EP, and Mould's records with his current trio are all very good-to-great, but except for Workbook (which I wouldn't put on the same level), I still haven't warmed to everything in between.

I love the Cure and Disintegration's the one I'd play if I put on any of their LP's, but they're mainly a singles band to me. I usually just play a compilation of those.

Whoops, sorry for double posting that link - meant to cut and paste, not copy and paste.

Good points, bird.

I can think of a dozen Cure songs that are better than "See a Little Light" - "Prayers for Rain," for example. But Workbook has more albumness to it. Seems a more coherent project.

confession: i voted disintegration without ever having heard a note of workbook.

'Wishing Well' is one of Bob's best imo, the way that guitar solo hits still takes my breath away all these years later. Also harbour an abiding affection for 'Sunspots' and 'Brasilia Crossed With Trenton' too

will check it out after disintegration loses to it in this poll, which is surely what will happen.

nah, but i will check it out. this thread reminds me of a guy i used to work with who was a huge bob mould fan. i don't think he ever talked about this album though. he was super cool (+self-aware) and a new bob mould record came out while we working together and he just came to me one day like, "hey there's a new record out by this guy and his records changed my life when i was your age and i think with the right attitude the new record might have a really good impact on your life. i'm a huge fan and i'm biased so i won't beat you over the head with it and this is the last you'll ever hear me mention it."

idk, it was endearing and funny.

(and i did like that album!)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

well i listened to workbook and i'm happy with my vote.

Anyone have Workbook 25? It's OOP and the bonus show isn't streaming in its entirety, but 1) it's with an electric trio and 2) a circulating live radio broadcast from this tour has them playing the Workbook songs accordingly. Could be an improvement.

Like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhYyG2CZzXY

Nevermind, going by some reviews, I guess the live disc on "25" is all-acoustic - even the Hüsker Dü numbers are done that way.

I abstained from this poll since I hadn’t heard Workbook, but now I’ve gone and listened to it and it’s pretty good. Probably still would’ve voted Disintegration. But this is one of the better Mould-related projects I’ve heard.

I'm very pleased Workbook did so well considering it's not exactly canonical.

This was solid: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19051-bob-mould-workbook-25/