SOUNDTRACK: HÜSKER DÜ-Zen Arcade (1984).
When I was younger and more amused by things like this, it amused me that Hüsker Dü’s first three records were a live album an EP and a double album. They just couldn’t put out a regular old LP?
It also amused me that they put out a song on this disc that was almost as long as their EP and was even almost as long as their Live record. Such was the difference of Zen Arcade.
In reading about it lately I have learned that it is sort of a concept album (Someone even called it the Quadrophenia of 80s punk). I gather I simply never paid enough attention to the lyrics to realize that (although it does explain “Hare Krshna”). There’s also a lot of talk about how influential this disc was. That may also be true, although I can’t say for sure.
Perhaps the most notable thing is how the disc is not just straight punk. Up to this point the Hüskers had released fast, straight ahead punk. Distorted guitar and often screaming vocals. And indeed, Zen Arcade starts off that way “Something I Learned Today” is a classic Hüsker Dü pop punk song. It’s got a cool opening bassline and super distorted guitars, and yet its got a sing along chorus. And “Never Talking to You Again” continues Grant Hart’s streak of great catchy punk. This one includes acoustic guitar, though, just to break things up a bit. It’s with Track 5 “Dreams Reoccurring” that you know things are going to be very different this time around. This 2 minute song is full of reversed guitars sounds and all kinds of weird tape mixing. It’s quite trippy and unlike anything else that the band had done.
As we near the middle of the disc, “Whats Going on Inside My Head” and “Masochism World” are absolute punk vocal shredders (so you know they’re not really going soft). As the disc ends, “Turn on the News” plays around with recorded Newscasts, not a new concept, but new for them. And then, of course, the final track, “Reoccurring Dreams,” a reprise of “Dreams Reoccurring” that goes on for 13 minutes of squalling feedback and demented solos (with a cool, if disconcerting, guitar motif).
One of my favorite facts about the disc is that it was all recorded in one take (except for, as the liner notes point out, 2 tracks that started too fast) and there were no overdubs. It was mastered just as quickly so that the whole thing to about 85 hours to make. It’s amazing that anything done that quickly can be that good. But such is the case of this disc. There’s a clunker or two in the mix, but how could there not be with all that energy bouncing around?
[READ: Week of June 29, 2009] Infinite Jest (to page 151)
After Reading the Infinite Summer site, I see that I got at least one thing wrong. Mario is in fact not Hal’s younger brother, but is Hal’s older, but not oldest, brother.
I ordered 2 copies of IJ for our library since we did not have any (!). I’ve been sneaking peeks in the second copy which has the above cover. And an intro by Dave Eggers, which I enjoyed.
Also, when I dropped my old copy, a whole bunch of small squares of paper fell out: notes that I took the first time through. I started to look at them but it revealed too much so I stopped. I’m going to try and read this as purely as possible.
So, surprisingly (or perhaps un-) new characters are coming fast and furious in week two, (up to page 151). (more…)
I Just Read About That... 