Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Celebrated Summer


I kind of like Hüsker Dü without having much of their stuff - Candy Apple Grey, a few downloads and, if they count, a tape of a dark Bob Mould solo album and that splendid Sugar single.

I don't have any Red House Painters either, but this Mark Kozelek cover, which came to me in 2008 from a terrific, zeitgeisty zip from a much-missed Weegie blogger with a fringe*, has been on heavy rotation in my house and in my head this past week.

The Dü's Mould is famously one of those guys who has both a natural gift for melody and a contrasting penchant for thrashy noise - when the two come together well, as they do here, it is quite something; Kozelek meanwhile strips out the second thing so we can luxuriate fully in the glory of the first, and hey, that's appreciated too.

Hüsker Dü - 'Celebrated Summer' (1985)

Mark Kozelek - 'Celebrated Summer' (2008)

* thanks Colin

12 comments:

  1. I love the wafty one - which is the original? I'm confused.

    I always got Hüsker Dü mixed up with the Screaming Blue Messiahs, in the same way I get Barclay James Harvest and The Moody Blues confused.

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  2. Mond, I suspeck the original is the one made in 1985, not the one made in 2008: have you been at the cooking sherry again?

    Barclay James Harvest! Inexplicably huge amongst my French pen-friend's mates (amis), circa 1979.

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  3. Inexplicably? BJH are responsible for some beautiful orchestral/symphonic rock (as are the Moodies). I will supply some links to prove this when I am sober.

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  4. 'Mark Kozelek cover' phrase ambiguity realisation, sorry Mond.

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  5. Ive a Husker Du post waiting in the wings for when I have a working computer. i love them.

    Meanwhile Im writing this on my wifes phone!

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  6. BTW Just listened to these. The Hüsker Dü song is shit, the Mark Kozelek song is pretty good.

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  7. He calls it as he sees it, you've got to give him that.

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  8. Husker Du were ace. Don't listen to them that much anymore, but what a great noise.

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  9. No probs - I may have to borrow the acoustic tune for an autumn mix later this year.

    Ps I also experience confusement between Elbow and The Doves..

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  10. Oops! I was semi drunk when I wrote that so it came out a bit blunt (and yes I did realise they were the same song). Haven't heard much Hüsker Dü but haven't liked anything I've heard.

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  11. It's like me mother says, 'we can't all like the same things'.

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  12. you are very welcome davy! (yes, i still mooch about these interweb parts, sometimes).

    new sun kil moon album just out, btw.

    enjoy what is left of the summer :)

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