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Distortion: 1989-2019

Available to order now, Distortion: 1989-2019, a chronicle of the solo career of Bob Mould and his band Sugar released on the 2nd October 2020. Presented as a 12″ x 12″ hardbound book, this massive anthology compiles — for the first time — Bob Mould’s recorded work from 1989 onwards: 18 studio albums, plus 4 live albums and 2 albums of rarities and collaborations. Assembled with Bob Mould’s full involvement, featuring new sleeve notes from UK music critic Keith Cameron, and exclusive new artwork by Simon Marchner, this is the definitive portrayal of an American rock icon.

“It’s called Distortion because it describes the music and it fits the world we live in,” says Mould himself. “In this new age, everybody shares their life in real time. But I’m not done yet. If I didn’t have a constantly active career, this anthology might feel like the proverbial dirt landing on top of my coffin — though somehow I seem to be able to crawl my way out of the dirt every time!”

As Mould’s musical trajectory enters its fifth decade, now is the perfect moment to reflect on the journey so far. Distortion’s 24CD box set features 295 tracks, mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering in Boston, and includes every solo album from 1989’s Workbook to 2019’s Sunshine Rock, the entire Sugar catalogue, Mould’s long out-of-print electronica projects LoudBomb and Blowoff, and 4 live albums spanning the period 1989-2008.

Also included is Distortion Plus: 1989-2019, a new and exclusive collection of rarities and collaborations, featuring such highlights as ‘Dear Rosemary’, Mould’s 2011 collaboration with Foo Fighters, his fabled Golden Palominos contribution ‘Dying From The Inside Out’, plus a previously unreleased demo version of ‘Dog On Fire’, his theme tune for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

The 72-page booklet features sleeve notes by Cameron, new interviews with Bob, a foreword by writer and actor Fred Armisen, testimonials by Richard Thompson, Shirley Manson and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, plus lyrics and unseen memorabilia.

The Amazon exclusive CD box, strictly limited to 1000 units worldwide, features the box and an exclusive 12″x 12″ print hand-signed by Bob Mould.

Distortion: 1989 - 2019 (CD)

24CD Distortion Box set – 1989-2019 – https://smarturl.it/Bob_Mould_Distortion

Also released on the 2nd October 2020 is the first in a series of 4 vinyl box sets spanning the same 30-year period. Distortion: 1989-1995, an 8LP box set, contains Workbook through Sugar’s final studio album File Under: Easy Listening, plus Besides, a compilation of Sugar B-sides and non-album tracks, as well as Distortion Plus: 1989-1995 — a new and exclusive collection of rarities and collaborations.

Each album is mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice, pressed on 140g clear splattered vinyl, and features new Simon Marchnersleeve artwork plus a 28-page companion booklet with new sleeve notes, lyrics and memorabilia.

The indie exclusive 8LP vinyl box edition — strictly limited to 750 copies worldwide — includes a 12″x12″ screen-print of the new Copper Blue album cover, hand signed by illustrator Simon Marchner and Bob Mould.

Distortion: 1989 - 2019 (LP) (October 2, 2020)

8LP Distortion Vinyl Box Set – 1989-1995 – https://smarturl.it/Distortion_Vinyl

24CD Distortion Box set – 1989-2019 Tracklisting below

CD 1 – Bob Mould – Workbook (1989)

  1. Sunspots
  2. Wishing Well
  3. Heartbreak A Stranger
  4. See A Little Light
  5. Poison Years
  6. Sinners And Their Repentances
  7. Brasilia Crossed With Trenton
  8. Compositions For The Young And Old
  9. Lonely Afternoon
  10. Dreaming, I Am
  11. Whichever Way The Wind Blows

CD 2 – Bob Mould – Blacksheets Of Rain (1990)

  1. Black Sheets Of Rain
  2. Stand Guard
  3. It’s Too Late
  4. One Good Reason
  5. Stop Your Crying
  6. Hanging Tree
  7. The Last Night
  8. Hear Me Calling
  9. Out Of Your Life
  10. Disappointed
  11. Sacrifice / Let There Be Peace

CD 3 – Sugar – Copper Blue (1992)

  1. The Act We Act
  2. A Good Idea
  3. Changes
  4. Helpless
  5. Hoover Dam
  6. The Slim
  7. If I Can’t Change Your Mind
  8. Fortune Teller
  9. Slick
  10. Man On The Moon

CD 4 – Sugar – Beaster (1993)

  1. Come Around
  2. Tilted
  3. Judas Cradle
  4. JC Auto
  5. Feeling Better
  6. Walking Away

CD 5 – Sugar – File Under: Easy Listening (1994)

  1. Gift
  2. Company Book
  3. Your Favorite Thing
  4. What You Want It To Be
  5. Gee Angel
  6. Panama City Motel
  7. Can’t Help You Anymore
  8. Granny Cool
  9. Believe What You’re Saying
  10. Explode And Make Up

CD 6 – Sugar – Besides (1995)

  1. Needle Hits E
  2. If I Can’t Change Your Mind (Solo Mix)
  3. Try Again
  4. Where Diamonds Are Halos (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  5. Armenia City In The Sky (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  6. Clownmaster
  7. Anyone (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  8. JC Auto (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  9. Believe What You’re Saying (Campfire Mix)
  10. Mind Is An Island
  11. Frustration
  12. Going Home
  13. In The Eyes Of My Friends
  14. And You Tell Me
  15. If I Can’t Change Your Mind (BBC Radio Session)
  16. Hoover Dam (BBC Radio Session)
  17. The Slim (BBC Radio Session)
  18. Where Diamonds Are Halos (BBC Radio Session)

CD 7 – Bob Mould – Bob Mould (1996)

  1. Anymore Time Between
  2. I Hate Alternative Rock
  3. Fort Knox, King Solomon
  4. Next Time That You Leave
  5. Egøverride
  6. Thumbtack
  7. Hair Stew
  8. Deep Karma Canyon
  9. Art Crisis
  10. Roll Over And Die

CD 8 – Bob Mould – The Last Dog And Pony Show (1998)

  1. New #1
  2. Moving Trucks
  3. Taking Everything
  4. First Drag Of The Day
  5. Classifieds
  6. Who Was Around?
  7. Skintrade
  8. Vaporub
  9. Sweet Serene
  10. Megamanic
  11. Reflecting Pool
  12. Along The Way

CD 9 – Bob Mould – modulate. (2002)

  1. 180 Rain
  2. Sunset Safety Glass
  3. Semper Fi
  4. Homecoming Parade
  5. Lost Zoloft
  6. Without?
  7. Slay/Sway
  8. The Receipt
  9. Quasar
  10. Soundonsound
  11. Hornery
  12. Comeonstrong
  13. Trade
  14. Author’s Lament

CD 10 – LoudBomb – Long Play Grooves. (2002)

  1. Theme (It’s A Perfect Day)
  2. Guys Like You
  3. Devil v. Angel
  4. I Cannot Reverse You
  5. The Fall Collection
  6. This Is The Way I Want It
  7. BB DuBois
  8. Factory Builders Convention
  9. NumberNine
  10. Heaven’s On Fire
  11. We Need The Truth
  12. Helium

CD 11 – Bob Mould – Body Of Song (2005)

  1. Circles
  2. (Shine Your) Light Love Hope
  3. Paralyzed
  4. I Am Vision, I Am Sound
  5. Underneath Days
  6. Always Tomorrow
  7. Days Of Rain
  8. Best Thing
  9. High Fidelity
  10. Missing You
  11. Gauze Of Friendship
  12. Beating Heart The Prize

CD 12 – Blowoff – Blowoff (2006)

  1. Hormone Love
  2. Here And Now
  3. Overload
  4. Saturday Night All The Time
  5. Life With A View
  6. Man Keeps Winning
  7. Lemonade
  8. Tag It
  9. Fallout
  10. Get Inside With Me
  11. Beautiful
  12. Ballad Of Mark Dirt

CD 13 – Bob Mould – District Line (2008)

  1. Stupid Now
  2. Who Needs To Dream?
  3. Again And Again
  4. Old Highs, New Lows
  5. Return To Dust
  6. The Silence Between Us
  7. Shelter Me
  8. Very Temporary
  9. Miniature Parade
  10. Walls In Time

CD 14 – Bob Mould – Life And Times (2009)

  1. Life And Times
  2. The Breach
  3. City Lights (Days Go By)
  4. MM 17
  5. Argos
  6. Bad Blood Better
  7. Wasted World
  8. Spiraling Down
  9. I’m Sorry, Baby, But You Can’t Stand In My Light Any More
  10. Lifetime

CD 15 – Bob Mould – Silver Age (2012)

  1. Star Machine
  2. Silver Age
  3. The Descent
  4. Briefest Moment
  5. Steam Of Hercules
  6. Fugue State
  7. Round The City Square
  8. Angels Rearrange
  9. Keep Believing
  10. First Time Joy

CD 16 – Bob Mould – Beauty And Ruin (2014)

  1. Low Season
  2. Little Glass Pill
  3. I Don’t Know You Anymore
  4. Kid With Crooked Face
  5. Nemeses Are Laughing
  6. The War
  7. Forgiveness
  8. Hey Mr. Grey
  9. Fire In The City
  10. Tomorrow Morning
  11. Let The Beauty Be
  12. Fix It

CD 17 – Bob Mould – Patch The Sky (2016)

  1. Voices In My Head
  2. The End Of Things
  3. Hold On
  4. You Say You
  5. Losing Sleep
  6. Pray For Rain
  7. Lucifer And God
  8. Daddy’s Favorite
  9. Hands Are Tied
  10. Black Confetti
  11. Losing Time
  12. Monument

CD 18 – Bob Mould – Sunshine Rock (2019)

  1. Sunshine Rock
  2. What Do You Want Me To Do
  3. Sunny Love Song
  4. Thirty Dozen Roses
  5. The Final Years
  6. Irrational Poison
  7. I Fought
  8. Sin King
  9. Lost Faith
  10. Camp Sunshine
  11. Send Me A Postcard
  12. Western Sunset

CD 19 – Bob Mould – Live At The Cabaret Metro, 1989 (1989)

  1. Sunspots (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  2. Wishing Well (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  3. Compositions For The Young And Old (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  4. Heartbreak A Stranger (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  5. Dreaming, I Am (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  6. If You’re True (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  7. Poison Years (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  8. Sinners And Their Repentances (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  9. Lonely Afternoon (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  10. Brasilia Crossed With Trenton (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  11. See A Little Light (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  12. Whichever Way The Wind Blows (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  13. All Those People Know (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  14. Shoot Out The Lights (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  15. Hardly Getting Over It (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  16. Celebrated Summer (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)
  17. Makes No Sense At All (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 14th May 1989)

CD 20 – Sugar – The Joke Is Always On Us, Sometimes (1995)

  1. Gift (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  2. Company Book (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  3. Hoover Dam (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  4. After All The Roads Have Led To Nowhere (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  5. Where Diamonds Are Halos (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  6. Slick (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  7. Going Home (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  8. Running Out Of Time (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  9. Frustration (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  10. Changes (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  11. Can’t Help You Any More (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  12. Helpless (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  13. If I Can’t Change Your Mind (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  14. In The Eyes Of My Friends (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  15. Clownmaster (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  16. Gee Angel (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  17. Explode And Make Up (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)
  18. The Slim (Live At First Avenue, 2nd November 1994)

CD 21 – BobMouldBand – LiveDog98 (2002)

  1. Moving Trucks (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  2. Taking Everything (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  3. First Drag Of The Day (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  4. I Hate Alternative Rock (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  5. Stand Guard (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  6. Classifieds (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  7. Hear Me Calling (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  8. Art Crisis (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  9. Anymore Time Between (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  10. Skintrade (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  11. Eternally Fried (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  12. Roll Over And Die (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  13. Lonely Afternoon (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  14. Egøverride (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  15. Reflecting Pool (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  16. Disappointed (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  17. Hanging Tree (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)
  18. Man On The Moon (Live At The Forum, 29th October 1998)

CD 22 – Bob Mould Band – Live At ATP 2008 (2009)

  1. The Act We Act (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  2. A Good Idea (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  3. I Hate Alternative Rock (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  4. See A Little Light (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  5. Hoover Dam (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  6. Circles (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  7. Paralyzed (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  8. I Apologize (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  9. Chartered Trips (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  10. Celebrated Summer (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  11. Makes No Sense At All (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)
  12. New Day Rising (Live At Kutshers Country Club, 21st September 2008)

CD 23 – Distortion Plus: 1989-2019

  1. All Those People Know
  2. No Water In Hell
  3. Dying From The Inside Out (The Golden Palominos)
  4. Dio (Throwing Muses)
  5. Hickory Wind (Bob Mould And Vic Chesnutt)
  6. Can’t Fight It
  7. Turning Of The Tide
  8. Dog On Fire (Demo)
  9. Fort Knox, King Solomon (Live At First Avenue, March 1995)
  10. I Hate Alternative Rock (Live At First Avenue, March 1995)
  11. Wanted Was
  12. Eternally Fried
  13. Doubleface
  14. He Didn’t (The 6ths)

CD 24 – Distortion Plus: 1989-2019

  1. Castor And Pollux
  2. Surveyors And Cranes
  3. Love Escalator
  4. Lowdown Ground
  5. My Old Friend
  6. Nihil
  7. Could You Be The One? (Live At The 9:30 Club, 7th October 2005)
  8. I Apologize (Live At The 9:30 Club, 7th October 2005)
  9. Chartered Trips (Live At The 9:30 Club, 7th October 2005)
  10. Dear Rosemary (Foo Fighters)
  11. Father’s Day (Butch Walkers)
  12. I Don’t Mind

8LP Distortion Vinyl Box Set – 1989-1995 – Tracklisting below

LP 1 – Bob Mould – Workbook (1989)

Side A

  1. Sunspots
  2. Wishing Well
  3. Heartbreak A Stranger
  4. See A Little Light
  5. Poison Years
  6. Sinners And Their Repentances

Side B

  1. Brasilia Crossed With Trenton
  2. Compositions For The Young And Old
  3. Lonely Afternoon
  4. Dreaming, I Am
  5. Whichever Way The Wind Blows

LP 2 – Bob Mould – Blacksheets Of Rain (1990)

Side A

  1. Black Sheets Of Rain
  2. Stand Guard
  3. It’s Too Late
  4. One Good Reason
  5. Stop Your Crying

Side B

  1. Hanging Tree
  2. The Last Night
  3. Hear Me Calling
  4. Out Of Your Life
  5. Disappointed
  6. Sacrifice / Let There Be Peace

LP 3 – Sugar – Copper Blue (1992)

Side A

  1. The Act We Act
  2. A Good Idea
  3. Changes
  4. Helpless
  5. Hoover Dam

Side B

  1. The Slim
  2. If I Can’t Change Your Mind
  3. Fortune Teller
  4. Slick
  5. Man On The Moon

LP 4 – Sugar – Beaster (1993)

Side A

  1. Come Around
  2. Tilted
  3. Judas Cradle

Side B

  1. JC Auto
  2. Feeling Better
  3. Walking Away

LP 5 – Sugar – File Under: Easy Listening (1994)

Side A

  1. Gift
  2. Company Book
  3. Your Favorite Thing
  4. What You Want It To Be
  5. Gee Angel

Side B

  1. Panama City Motel
  2. Can’t Help You Anymore
  3. Granny Cool
  4. Believe What You’re Saying
  5. Explode And Make Up

LP 6 & 7 – Sugar – Besides (1995)

Side A

  1. Needle Hits E
  2. If I Can’t Change Your Mind (Solo Mix)
  3. Try Again
  4. Where Diamonds Are Halos (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  5. Armenia City In The Sky (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)

Side B

  1. Clownmaster
  2. Anyone (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  3. JC Auto (Live At The Cabaret Metro, 22nd July 1992)
  4. Believe What You’re Saying (Campfire Mix)
  5. Mind Is An Island

Side C

  1. Frustration
  2. Going Home
  3. In The Eyes Of My Friends
  4. And You Tell Me

Side D

  1. If I Can’t Change Your Mind (BBC Radio Session)
  2. Hoover Dam (BBC Radio Session)
  3. The Slim (BBC Radio Session)
  4. Where Diamonds Are Halos (BBC Radio Session)

LP 8 – Distortion Plus:1989 – 1995

Side A

  1. All Those People Know
    (Bob Mould)
  2. No Water In Hell
    (Bob Mould)
  3. Dying From The Inside Out
    (The Golden Palominos)

Side B

  1. Dio
    (Throwing Muses)
  2. Hickory Wind
    (Bob Mould and Vic Chesnutt)
  3. Can’t Fight It
    (Bob Mould)
  4. Turning Of The Tide
    (Bob Mould)

Bob Mould Releases “Forecast of Rain”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOB MOULD RELEASES “FORECAST OF RAIN”
NEW SONG FROM UPCOMING ALBUM BLUE HEARTS
OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO STREAMING VIA YOUTUBE

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW

BLUE HEARTS ARRIVES VIA MERGE RECORDS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Portrait of Bob Mould Photo credit: Blake Little Photography

(Photo credit: Blake Little Photography)

Bob Mould has released “Forecast of Rain” off of his explosive upcoming album BLUE HEARTS, which arrives via Merge Records on Friday, September 25; pre-orders are available now.

PRE-ORDER BLUE HEARTS

Mould released this statement about the song:

“As a child, my mother took me to Sunday Mass. I’ve written many songs around religion. In the 2000s, I went back to the Catholic Church for three years – but I did not find my place.

“I recognize the importance of religion for those who believe: the worship, the rituals, the community; loving thy neighbor, following commandments, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. In short, be nice to people, help however you can, and don’t steal stuff.

“But right now, I’m having a hard time understanding how certain religious sectarians can support the behavior of those who occupy the People’s House. How can you endorse their disregard for truth? How can you tolerate the incessant vindictiveness? How can you stand by your man while people are teargassed to clear a path to the Lord’s House?

“I’m not good at quoting scripture, but I can manage two words: Jesus wept.”

LISTEN TO “FORECAST OF RAIN”

WATCH “FORECAST OF RAIN”

“Forecast of Rain” is the second song released from Mould’s 14th solo LP, BLUE HEARTS – and follows the provocative first single “American Crisis” from June. That song garnered great attention from the press, with Rolling Stone writing that it “vibrates with urgency,” NPR saying the song is “pure punk fury” and Paste describing the song as a “scabrous, pissed-off screed against the ‘fucked-up USA’ we’re living in.”

BLUE HEARTS is perhaps the most directly confrontational work of Bob Mould’s four-decade career, a raging 14-track collection described by its creator as “the catchiest batch of protest songs I’ve ever written in one sitting.” Produced by Mould at Chicago’s famed Electrical Audio with longtime collaborator Beau Sorenson engineering, the album – which once again features backing from the crack rhythm section of drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy – nods to the veteran singer-songwriter’s groundbreaking past while remaining firmly planted in the issues of the day. Where SUNSHINE ROCK captured Mould at his most “violently happy” (according to Rolling Stone), BLUE HEARTS is both seething and pointed, the raging yin to ​the previous album’s positive yang. The acoustic opener “Heart on My Sleeve” catalogues the ravages of climate change, while “American Crisis” – written initially for SUNSHINE ROCK but deemed “too heavy” by its writer – spits plainspoken fire at the people who fomented this catastrophic moment in history, while “Forecast of Rain” questions the ethos of American community: “This love this neighbor thing: Does it apply to all mankind, or only those who fit neatly inside your narrow lines?”

# # #

 

Bob Mould Returns with BLUE HEARTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOB MOULD RETURNS WITH BLUE HEARTS
LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER ANNOUNCES VOLATILE 14TH SOLO LP
PROVOCATIVE FIRST SINGLE, “AMERICAN CRISIS,” AVAILABLE NOW

PRE-ORDERS
BLUE HEARTS ARRIVES VIA MERGE RECORDS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Legendary singer-songwriter-guitarist-bandleader Bob Mould has announced the release of an explosive new album. BLUE HEARTS arrives via Merge Records on Friday, September 25; pre-orders are available now on LP, CD, and tri-color Peak Vinyl in the Merge store, or your favorite independent record shop.

Blue Hearts (2020)
PRE-ORDER BLUE HEARTS

Mould’s 14th solo LP, BLUE HEARTS – which follows last year’s critically acclaimed SUNSHINE ROCK – is heralded by today’s premiere of the provocative first single, “American Crisis,” available now for streaming and download HERE..

“‘American Crisis’ is a tale of two times,” says Mould. “Past Time and Present Time. The parallels between 1984 and 2020 are a bit scary for me: telegenic, charismatic leaders, praised and propped up by extreme Evangelicals, either ignoring an epidemic (HIV/AIDS) or being outright deceitful about a pandemic (COVID-19).” From today through June 7, all of the proceeds from “American Crisis” will benefit OutFront Minnesota and Black Visions Collective.

LISTEN TO “AMERICAN CRISIS”

BLUE HEARTS is perhaps the most directly confrontational work of Bob Mould’s four-decade career, a raging 14-track collection described by its creator as “the catchiest batch of protest songs I’ve ever written in one sitting.” Produced by Mould at Chicago’s famed Electrical Audio with longtime collaborator Beau Sorenson engineering, the album – which once again features backing from the crack rhythm section of drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy – nods to the veteran singer-songwriter’s groundbreaking past while remaining firmly planted in the issues of the day. Where SUNSHINE ROCK captured Mould at his most “violently happy” (according to Rolling Stone), BLUE HEARTS is both seething and pointed, the raging yin to ​the previous album’s positive yang. The acoustic opener, “Heart on My Sleeve” catalogues the ravages of climate change, while “American Crisis” – written initially for SUNSHINE ROCK but deemed “too heavy” by its writer – spits plainspoken fire at the people who fomented this catastrophic moment in history: “I never thought I’d see this bullshit again / To come of age in the ’80s was bad enough / We were marginalized and demonized / I watched a lot of my generation die / Welcome back to American crisis.”

Elsewhere, the political and personal collide on songs like “Everyth!ng to You,” “The Ocean,” and the salaciously autobiographical “Leather Dreams,” the latter two composed earlier this year during an epic three-day writing binge prior to January 2020’s sold-out Solo Electric tour. As volatile, hook-laden, and aggressively honest as anything in Mould’s remarkable canon, BLUE HEARTS is fueled by a pervasive sense of déjà vu, its angry anthems of today equally informed by his experiences and memories of the early 1980s. Back then, Mould was a self-described “22-year-old closeted gay man” touring with the one and only Hüsker Dü as AIDS consumed his community. Leaders – including the one in the White House – seemed content to let the epidemic kill a generation. No wonder Bob Mould found his mind wandering back…

“We have a charismatic, telegenic, say-anything leader being propped up by evangelicals,” he says. “These fuckers tried to kill me once. They didn’t do it. They scared me. I didn’t do enough. Guess what? I’m back, and we’re back here again. And I’m not going to sit quietly this time and worry about alienating anyone.”

# # #
BOB MOULD
BLUE HEARTS
(Merge Records)
Release Date: Friday, September 25

TRACKLISTING
Heart on My Sleeve
Next Generation
American Crisis
Fireball
Forecast of Rain
When You Left
Siberian Butterfly
Everyth!ng to You
Racing to the End
Baby Needs a Cookie
Little Pieces
Leather Dreams
Password to My Soul
The Ocean

# # #

(c) Blake Little Photography
(c) Blake Little Photography

40th Anniversary

Bob Mould will be celebrating 40 years in music with his St. Paul shows at the Palace Theatre and Turf Club on March 30-31. The Turf Club show has already sold out. The Sunshine Rock Tour starts tomorrow, February 14 in Washington DC.

Mould shares of the anniversary:

“I started my “professional” stage career as a musician on Mar 30, 1979 at a tiny bar called Ron’s Randolph Inn, located near Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. The name of the band was Buddy and the Returnables — a four piece fronted by keyboardist/singer Charlie Pine. I was the guitarist, Greg Norton was the bassist, and Grant Hart was the drummer. We played two consecutive nights.

Moments before the end of the Mar 31 show, an audience member yanked the cable out of the Farfisa organ that Charlie was playing, and the three remaining musicians — who immediately went on to be known as Hüsker Dü — launched into a handful of hastily-written originals.

Fast forward 40 years: I’ll be performing in St. Paul with my longtime bandmates, Jason Narducy and Jon Wurster, at Palace Theater on Mar 30 and Turf Club on Mar 31.

It’s a big anniversary, but my celebration of 40 years in music is for one weekend only. I’m typically not the nostalgic type when it comes to my work — but I would be remiss if I didn’t make mention of the importance of my early days in St. Paul, my gratitude to Grant and Greg for those first eight years of music, and my sincere thanks to the people of Minnesota for the centuries of support. Looking forward to seeing you on the Sunshine Rock tour, wherever it may be.”

Palace Theater

“Lost Faith” Music Video Premiering on NPR

Watch the new video for “Lost Faith” (directed by Philipp Virus) premiering on NPR now!

WATCH “LOST FAITH” ON NPR

SHOP JCRT SUNSHINE ROCK FLANNEL

Bob partnered with JCRT to create a custom, limited edition plaid flannel inspired by the bold graphic color and layout of Sunshine Rock! Every purchase will come with a download of the album upon its release next Friday, February 8th.

New Docu-Video ‘Berlin’ + Sunshine Rock Pedal

Bob releases a documentary style video about his deep connection with the city of Berlin.

WATCH ‘BERLIN’

Bob teamed up with Tym Guitars to create a signature Sunshine Rock pedal!

Sunshine Rock pedalPRE-ORDER PEDAL

“The Sunshine Rock distortion is all hand made by Tym Guitars and is essentially the same circuit as the Beauty & Ruin and Sky Patch distortions made previously for Bob with new artwork to celebrate Bob’s new album Sunshine Rock. It uses the classic 741 IC, just like the originals and two silicon diodes for clipping, giving a slightly clearer and crisper distortion than the earlier germanium based units. Component values are based on my two favorite early 80’s units with some very slight changes in a couple of component values to fine tune it to these two.” — Tym Guitars

The pedal is built in custom made stainless steel enclosures and has the typical volume and gain controls with a yellow LED, true bypass switching and is powered by a standard Boss style 9V adaptor jack.

Sunshine Rock

Bob Mould shares the new song “Sunshine Rock” today, along with the announcement that he will release a full-length album of the same title February 8, 2019, on Merge Records, with a tour to follow spanning North America and Europe, which starts on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Click HERE for tour dates.

LISTEN TO “SUNSHINE ROCK”

PRE-ORDER SUNSHINE ROCK

Sunshine Rock - Bob Mould