Music Exploration for 2/15

Today will probably be pretty short, considering the fact that I only brought one album, despite having a lot of (unanticipated) free time.

A concept album in a place where you wouldn't expect to find one, Zen Arcade (1984) is one of the intermediate works of the hardcore punk scene begun by Black Flag and D.O.A. earlier in the decade. The result varies a little, but in general is fast and grungy, lyrics shouted over the din of distorted guitar and uncomplicated rhythm. The result continues the trend of early punk rock artists further into "do it yourself" aesthetic and becomes more about energy than anything else. The usual punk lyrics of disillusionment show up here in spades; the entire album is about a protagonist running away from home and all the boredom it represents to discover that the world around him is even more bleak. There's actually not a whole lot to say except that Hüsker Dü is a good representation of hardcore punk, which, if you're into the genre, is a great listen. That said, there's plenty of variety, as well.

Artist: Hüsker Dü
Album: Zen Arcade
Genre: Hardcore punk
Hardness: 4-7
Rating: 8
Best Thing: Great for times when I'm not feeling so mellow. Also they're from Minnesota, woo.
Reminds Me of: Black Flag, early Bad Brains