I ask b/c in the various threads on Bob Mould and Sugar, there is barely any mention of 1990's Black Sheets of Rain. A little background: in general, I was actually a huge fan of early 90's Mould -- including his contribution to the Golden Palominos' Drunk With Passion, "Dying From the Inside Out" which is a screaming (and surprisingly tuneful) AIDS allegory that tears through an otherwise ethereal record. There was just something about Mould's combination of catharsis and melodicism that connected for me -- often trumping what he had done with Husker Du.
That's why I've never got the disdain for BSoR, which to me is one of the best things the guy ever put his name on -- kind of the id to Copper Blue's ego, I suppose. The criticism of the record--that it's one relentless and sludgy dynamic the whole way through--is actually what makes it so powerful (I mean, it ain't called Black Sheets of Rain for nothin', folks). Few records are more full-tilt than this, lyrically and musically. Maimone and Fier, an all-star rhythm section if there ever were one, are used by Mould to full effect; neither have ever played with the sheer ferocity they do here. And clearly, Mould had some personal issues to work out around this time.
But for all of that, from the title track to "It's Too Late" to the closing "Sacrifice (Let There Be Peace") it's the tunes that carry the day on this record much as they would for most of Mould's early 90's work. The middle of this record absolutely KILLS -- one of the best patches of Mould's career is the one-two-three punch of "One Good Reason"/"Stop Your Crying"/"Hanging Tree," the combined effect of which is just brutal, chock full of extended, exploding riffs and howling solos.
So...what say ILM of this neglected high water mark of Bob Mould's career?
― Naive Teen Idol, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:02 (seventeen years ago)
Oh, and:
http://homepage.mac.com/john_kruper/artwork/bob_mould/black_sheets_of_rain.jpg
― Naive Teen Idol, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:03 (seventeen years ago)
I used to own it; not sure why I got rid of it. I was obsessed with Workbook for a while ("Brasilia Crossed With Trenton" especially). I remember thinking at the time that, while most of the songs were pretty good, the rhythm section didn't them any kind of justice.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:06 (seventeen years ago)
I've read that criticism about the rhythm section once or twice on ILM -- I've never understood what that even means. Maimone sounds HUGE and Fier beats the crap out of his drums throughout.
― Naive Teen Idol, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:12 (seventeen years ago)
They don't swing much, though (the previous album's "Whichever Way The Wind Blows" is indicative). I need to relisten to it. A lot of the album's granitic charm is due to Fier and Maimone.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:16 (seventeen years ago)
Love this album - and Workbook too..
This is waaaay heavier though...
― Jack Battery-Pack, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:20 (seventeen years ago)
I can only listen to this album between November 1 - February 28.
― Pleasant Plains, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:30 (seventeen years ago)
BSOR and Workbook are awesome and , amongst fans, these 2 records are considered his best solo stuff. In the UK these albums were held in high regard too by critics IIRC
― Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 31 August 2008 19:35 (seventeen years ago)
I had forgotten how unremittingly BLEAK the title track is. It sounds like he's choking his guitar to death in the interludes -- and the claustrophobic way the panned vocals are mixed are almost like this paranoid alternative to Marvin Gaye's mulitracked vox on What's Going On?. I love how much he sneers these lyrics and has the ability to hit a falsetto at the most dramatic moments possible: "The motto seems to be/'WE WORK IN ORDER TO BE FREE!!!!'"
― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, 1 September 2008 00:40 (seventeen years ago)
All about the last song for me.
"LET THERE BE PEACE!"
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 September 2008 00:40 (seventeen years ago)
i bought this back when it came out. i thought workbook had some good tunes but was a little dull. bsor was sooo heavy and kind of plodding, never could get into it except for maybe 3-4 songs. i haven't listened to it in 15 years probably, maybe it's better than i remember. i think the first post-sugar album (the hubcap one?)was his best solo joint, but i'm kinda burned on mould (i think grant hart has worn a bit better over the years)
― velko, Monday, 1 September 2008 01:38 (seventeen years ago)
i mean, at 23 or however old i was at the time the whole I'M REALLY DARK, MAN act was already kinda lol. I think present day Bob might agree.
― velko, Monday, 1 September 2008 01:44 (seventeen years ago)
1st half plus "Sacrifice (Let there Be Peace)": masterpiece, no less. Insanely in love with Anton Fier's drumming.And wishing some 1989-1990 live video will pop up soon or late, since it seems several heads exploded then.
― Korcnoj, Saturday, 13 September 2008 20:24 (seventeen years ago)