Suffering Jukebox

This morning's episode features a pre-recorded interview with Amy Mills, guitarist in Couch Slut and Adult Human Females, she just released the solo EP, Paper Doll, as Amy Rose, donating all the proceeds from its sale to TYEP (Trans Youth Emergency Project). Find out more about Amy -and purchase their music- via https://amyrose.bandcamp.com/album/paper-doll-ep https://adulthumanfemales.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-tompkins-square-park and https://couchslut.bandcamp.com/

Nick's Pick of the Week is Bob Mould's Here We Go Grazy. You can hear the whole album, or purchase it, here https://bobmould.bandcamp.com/album/here-we-go-crazy-3 and my review can be read below.

Bob Mould: Here We Go Crazy (Granary Music/BMG Records)

Released March 7th 2025

Bob Mould needs no introduction, but here is a brief one anyway. In 1979 Mould co-founded Hüsker Dü, with Grant Hart and Greg Norton. Hüsker Dü split in 1988, after which Mould released a pair of well-received solo albums. In 1992 he recruited David Barbe and Malcolm Travis to form the short-lived, but critically acclaimed, Sugar, who released two albums and an EP before breaking up in 1995. Since then, Mould returned to releasing music under his own name. Here We Go Crazy is his first solo release in over five years and his fifteenth overall.

On the surface it is tempting to view the title as a metaphor for living in the USA under Trump 2.0, especially given Mould’s own sexuality and outspoken stance on LGBTQIA+ issues. Whilst he remains fearful of the current administration’s potential to wreak havoc upon his community, any correlation to the album’s title is coincidental given the album was written and recorded prior to last November’s election.

Opening with the title-track, which contains more than a hint of classic rock, oud and anthemic with lyrics that address themes of self-discovery, isolation and the need for connection. Second song, Neanderthal, on the other hand contains all the grit and speed one would expect from the writer of I Apologize and something I Learned Today. This hard edge lingers through most of the album though there are exceptions, notably on Lost Or Stolen, a (primarily) acoustic musing on self-doubt and mental illness.

Speaking about the record, Mould states, “This is a group of straightforward guitar pop songs. I’m refining my primary sound and style through simplicity, brevity, and clarity.” In regard to the lyrical content, he adds, “There’s a number of contrasting themes. Control and chaos, hyper-vigilance and helplessness, uncertainly and unconditional love.” These ideas have permeated Mould’s music from the very beginning, even at their harshest, Hüsker Dü’s music radiated the emotional depth that their peers lacked. It’s heartening to see that, even now and after all these years, Mould hasn’t lost his —or his faith in— humanity.

Nick Stephan