release date: Jul. 1984
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Hüsker Dü, Spot (aka Glen Lockett)
label: SST Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Something I Learned Today" - 3. "Never Talking to You Again" - 8. "Beyond the Threshold" - 11. "The Biggest Lie" - 15. "Somewhere" - 17. "Pink Turns to Blue" - 20. "Whatever" - 22. "Turn on the News"
2nd studio album by Hüsker Dü continues where Everything Falls Apart (1983) ended, although, there's a clear introduction to something pointing to a stylistic change away from the British hardcore punk sound and to what should later be referred to as alt. rock. After the studio debut the band released the 7 track ep Metal Circus in '83, which was more as its predecessor. Despite clearly punk rock-fused on Zen Arcade, the speed has slowed down and the tracks consists of something one may describe as post hardcore. The track lengths may not reveal the general impression of compositions that have been slowed down - and some are definitely not without high energy - but the overall focus is somewhere else than just hurling away at maximum speed. There are elements of art punk and noise rock, more evidently than on the predecessor, but there are also tracks of acoustic folk rock and neo-psychedelia. The original issue was a double vinyl album with a total of 23 tracks. Where Bob Mould took responsibility of the songs on the debut, this one still has his signature on 18 of the tracks (12 exclusively written by Mould alone) - this offers more space for songs written entirely by drummer, vocalist and pianist, Grant Hart and / or all three together. Hart is credited four tracks without Mould or Norton (the latter being cowriter on four).
I never fell for the style on this - not back in the 80s - nor when I rediscovered the band's early stuff in the 90s, but I have to admit that it's quite original - and dated, Yes! But with a very sharp and highly original style that is anything but 'just' noise. It's dark, angry and sinister but there are multiple layers to sink into. I can't really say that it's bettering the debut, as it in a way restarts the mission of the band, pointing to many paths to walk after this, but having grunge rock nearly a decade further up the road, this is at least a source it all leads back to.
Note: track #23 has a running time close to 14 min, which exceeds the remaining tracks (except 1) by more than 11 min.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
