Before going into the studio, Bob Mould‘s demo-making process typically involves preparing for the type of ornamentation that might eventually decorate a song. In the early stages of the recently released “Here We Go Crazy“, the former Hüsker Dü frontman’s 15th solo album and first in five years, his approach was so liberatingly straightforward that he found himself resisting the thought of any kind of unnecessary polish. At the studio, backed once again by his long-serving rhythm section of drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy, he had something of an “allergic reaction” to the synth options available to him; alongside long time engineer Beau Sorenson, he landed on a refined simplicity that only further invigorates the record’s visceral urgency. Breezing through in just over half an hour – though Mould handily controls the force of the wind – the record channels turbulence and uncertainty through concise, caffeinated rock songs powered by soaring hooks, crunchy, propulsive riffs, and some of the most taut song writing of his career. “Life is short and we need to try to enjoy it, and protect the people and the things that we love. The time to protest will come again.” Punk rock icon Bob Mould is back with an album to get you through another American Crisis
Times are dark, but our music doesn’t have to be: here Bob Mould discusses his new album “Here We Go Crazy“, the state of the world, unexpected collaborations and how to stay hopeful through a crisis
Mould tells us that “Here We Go Crazy” has “a number of contrasting themes: control and chaos, hyper-vigilance and helplessness, uncertainty and unconditional love.” And though it’s an album every bit as powerful, and focussed, and strong, as any in his back catalogue – and uses the same particularly orange President as its source material – “Here We Go Crazy” is a markedly different record, tonally, from its 2020 predecessor “Blue Hearts”.
A furious, righteous response to Donald Trump’s first presidency, that album found Mould singing like his head was on fire, not least on its lead single “American Crisis“, with its lyrical references to a “fucked up USA” and a “world turning darker every day”. It saw the veteran songwriter drawing comparisons between Trump’s reign and the evangelical right’s endorsement of Ronald Reagan’s two-term presidency in the 1980s, with Mould spitting “I never thought I’d see this bullshit again.”
Bob Mould is saying throughout “Here We Go Crazy“. An album which was purposefully announced on Trump’s inauguration day, if “Blue Hearts” was all about rage and defiance, this record puts forward an argument for taking comfort, solace and joy in simple pleasures, endorsing self-care and small victories, and celebrating love in the face of tyranny and turmoil. Where “Blue Hearts” was protest record, “Here We Go Crazy” is more of a survival manual, offering guidance to help steer troubled souls through these darkening days.
“Blue Hearts” was written as this dire warning, but it’ll be a crazy celebration if we make it to the other side,” he told British broadsheet newspaper The Guardian while promoting the record ahead of the 2020 presidential election. “I’m looking forward to the party.”
Last year, late in the evening of September 21st, still “soaking wet” from a typically committed solo show at a local “honky tonk” bar, Bob Mould could be seen slaloming around groups of Saturday night revellers crowding the streets of Urbana, Illinois, with his guitar slung over one shoulder.
He was heading for the city’s chic Gallery Art Bar, and upon reaching his destination, he rapped loudly on the venue’s back doors, and told the bemused security staff: “I’m doing a song with the headline act.”
Mould hadn’t previously met any of the members of Militarie Gun, but – having been turned on to the Los Angeles quintet’s 2023 debut album “Life Under The Gun” by his husband Don Fisher – he’d been talking up their merits to friends for the best part of a year. When he heard that one of his musical heroes was a fan of his band, Militarie Gun frontman Ian Shelton got in touch and they hatched a plan to perform Hüsker Dü classic “Makes No Sense At All” together.
“It was hilarious because I had no idea what I was about to walk into,” Mould says. “But I just said, Fuck it! Their drummer counts us in – ‘1,2,3…’ – and I’m like, ‘that’s the right speed’, and we just went for it. They have a much younger audience, who were very probably thinking, ‘Who’s this old guy?’, but then 30 seconds later they were like, ‘Holy shit!’
“Three minutes later I was back out the door, and those guys were chasing me down for selfies. It was completely nutty.” Shelton later enthused on Instagram, thanking Mould for “the honour”. Mould replied with a line befitting a true punk rock lifer: “All in a day’s work.”
The Fat Angel Sings 