Most Crooks and Liars readers are probably familiar with at least one of Bob Mould's songs, "Dog on Fire", better known as the theme to The Daily Show. While those thirty seconds probably contribute as much to his coffers as his entire catalog combined, it's really just a tiny handle to the Mould suitcase.
And a big suitcase it is. Mould, along with drummer/singer Grant Hart and bassist Greg Norton formed Husker Du in 1979 and in just seven years recorded 5 full-length albums, an EP and two double albums that brought them from their unrelenting thrash debut Land Speed Record to the solemn alt-rock of Warehouse: Songs and Stories with no loss in intensity, honesty or craft. When Nirvana burst out in 1991, critics compared them most often to The Pixies, but I defy anyone to listen to "Territorial Pissings" and deny that Kurt Cobain hadn't worn down the grooves of his copy of New Day Rising.
In the nineties, Mould found more success with a new band, Sugar, and has continued to via his eight (soon to be nine) solo albums. From moody, acoustic based albums (Workbook), unapologetic big rock (Black Sheets of Rain) and electronics based experimentation (Modulate), the only thing that has been consistent in Mould's career has been quality.
His new album Life and Times comes out on April 7th on the Anti label, and features "I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Any More".
