One of those musical moments one never forgets...a sophomore in college, out for the summer, and a friend begins blasting The Act We Act as I sit stunned in the backseat of his car. As the CD moved into That's a Good Idea, I told my two friends in the front seat to shut up so I could continue this moment of astonishment! Copper Blue is legendary, moving, and is the archetype for 90s alt rock...I began my journey of his solo and Husker Du back catalogue shortly thereafter...the recent reissue / remaster on vinyl is AMAZING...finally we have a solid mastering of this beautiful album.

Damn Mark, JC Auto may be my favorite Sugar song also. Can't get enough of that Beaster companion EP and this extraordinary album. They are just so powerful. Fantastic analysis mate, couldn't agree more. Another massive underrated American songwriter in my opinion is Elliot Smith. Looking forward to your upcoming episodes. Thanks so much for your time.

One of my favorite albums for almost 30 years. Thanks

well done commentary, really excellent. I first went to Husker Du shows in early 80's - right around when zen arcade came out. such a great band. since then big Bob fan too

I grew up around Husker Du in Mpls...they were way ahead of it....thanks for this...❤

Agree with every word, still adore & appreciate this album 3 decades later. Great video 👏👏

I came to this channel from your Chameleons vid, and overjoyed to see one of my fav artists/albums being reviewed too. Agreed about Tilted/JC Auto. (I love Zen Arcade though!)

I still remember discovering Bob Mould via Copper Blue back January 1996. I had read in my guitar magazines about how important Bob's guitar playing style with his ability to mix in melody simultaneously with his rhythm playing, while making a glorious distorted noise, was important to the foundation of the alternative rock movement of the 90's, so based on that that I picked up a used CD of Copper Blue at a local record shop to check out this sound/style. I still remember slipping it into my Civic's CD player and being assaulted by those guitars that open the album with The Act We Act! I still remember my jaw literally, not figuratively, dropped open. I was done! Hook, line and sinker I was chasing down every Sugar, Husker Du, and solo album he made. As luck would have it he was just releasing his first post Sugar album that year with the "hubcap" album an I saw him that May on his solo acoustic show. Again, he came out, sat down, and proceeded to play Wishing Well as if he was on fire inside. To this day, that was still the most intense live performance I'd ever seen by anyone, be it solo or a full band! Bob Mould is a major pillar in my musical foundation.

Bob Mould and his bands have been included in almost every playlist I've put together for the last 30 years. When I find myself fast forwarding through looking for that perfect song for whatever mood I'm in I more often than not land on something Bob had a hand in. Very underrated!!

Mark, this is a masterpiece of analysis. Thank you for putting it forth. Best from ATL.

The magic of Bob Mould is that he can go at things with insane intensity yet there is very clever song writing structure behind it all.

"It's stupendously dark." The craziest thing about that statement in regard to "Hoover Dam" being that's actually putting it generously mildly. It's so very dark lyrically yet almost lackadaisically apathetic in its phrasing and delivery. It's a stunning piece of barely simmering tension.

Love your videos, man. Cant get enough of em.

Copper Blue is among my top 20 albums, all time.

Copper Blue is my favourite album ever, and you articulated why better than my nearly two decades' worth of trying. My older brother was a big SST Records fan, and I certainly inherited an appreciation of them over time. As much as I love a lot of songs on New Day Rising et al., Damaged and Double Nickels... are the only two consistently revisit, and sound is a big reason why. Sugar was the perfect balance of melody and crunch IMHO. Thanks for putting this together. I especially liked your discussion of the juxtaposition of the upbeat sound against darker lyrics. As a pop music equivalent, OutKast's "Hey Ya" always comes to mind. Granted, not as dark as what you've cited here, but it's also not what you'd expect from a wedding reception staple (Gloria Gaynor aside). +1 on Eliott Smith. Also: I'll request Beth Orton's first two albums and Son Volt - Trace

Bob Mould is legendary! Husker Du to Sugar and beyond. Great review of Sugar’s Copper Blue. Any plans to do a review for Guided By Voices? Legendary as well. 😉👍

In my personal, ever-so-humble opinion, “Fortune Teller” has THE world’s most unforgettable hook. It entrenches itself in my brain all over again every time I revisit Copper Blue.

Liked your REM video, but really love these musings on the incredibly vibrant "Copper Blue." Cheers!

Great video, review and analysis! Bob Mould is truly a genius and I never thought about the “quality” of Husker Du recordings when compared to Sugar quality. Do agree that Copper Blue is more consistent than most Husker Du record’s. Congratulations for the great video!

I’m so glad you mentioned the production on those Du albums A lifelong music fan I am, but I just can’t get into them. Massive respect for them, but I can’t penetrate it

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. First time I got my grubby Tennessee paws on a Husker DU album was when I was on my senior Trip from Cleveland TN to Manhattan. They gave us a free afternoon and I matched my way down to the lowered east side accompanied by a few friends. I got the Pogues EP Pguetry in Motion and Candy Apple Gray st a really cool record store on the Lower East Side. This was 1986. I later got Zen Archaide and really enjoyed that to but Candy Apple Gray is the only Husker DU album that was produced well although I would argue Zen had some fantastic moments although I the hands of another producer that album alone might have altered the course of Husker DU. I saw Sugar after Copper Blue came out when I was in Chiropractic School in Saint Louis They Were Absolutely Fantastic! Workbook his first solo and his album from 2015 is pretty damn good. It's called Silver something😆 sorry I can't remember the full titille But yeah. I agree w 90& of what you said here 100percent on this being Bob's masterpiece.

THANK YOU!!! AWESOME REVIEW AND YEAH IT STAGGERS ME HOW LITTLE ON KZfaq OR THE NET IN GENERAL YOU HEAR ABOUT EITHER HUSKER DU OR BOB MOULD LONG OVERDUE FOR THAT MAN TO GET SOME DAMN LOVE IS HE IS MADE ONE GREAT ALBUM AFTER ANOTHER

Copper blue has been my favourite album since the day it came out. From there I discovered husker du, the pixies, nirvana, pavement and Lord knows what else. But its still just the best album I've ever heard. I try not to listen to it more than a few times a year because I never want it to lose its flavour. Oddly enough I got into Bob mould because someone compared my guitar playing to his. I was at first completely offended. But then I listened. And it now seems the best musical compliment I have ever had.

I wish I had the chance to see Sugar live. I saw Bob Mould on the "Last dog and pony" tour. Great show. Copper Blue is in my top 5 of albums,

thanks for mentioning tilted!!! one of the greatest songs ever written!!!

Love the sugar albums. Mould is still writing great tunes.

Bob is the best songwriter I’ve ever heard. It’s so good to hear someone talking about Sugar and early Creation records. Sugar and the bands of the era created and defined music in a new way that was exciting and rewarding in a way that has so much depth and energy. It’s true that Husker Du’s production sounded awful, but anyone getting past that and hearing Flip Your Wig or Up In The Air for what they were fell in love forever. If you don’t know why Zen Arcade sounded the way it does, look up how a double album was recorded on a zero budget in four days. Edit to say brilliant job describing Tilted and JC Auto! 100%

one of my top 10 fave albums. i saw this tour at first ave.

I hit the thumbs up as soon as you said "yeah. Probably." Bob's a beast. Thanks!

The Act We Act is sublime.. Copper Blue has a great line up of songs that really stood out (except for around 3 or 4 songs), not my fave album as a whole, FU:EL was more cohesive for me..

Loved this. I always preferred FU:EL but the more I listened to Copper Blue over time, the more that opinion changed. Could you possibly do a video on Frank Black? I feel like a lot of people fell off after Pixies disbanded, but his best work is found in his solo stuff; "Frank Black" and "Teenager of the Year" are two of the best albums of the 90s.

'Select' music magazine featured a great monochrome photo of the band from that era. The band were standing at the end of a pier, staring into the waters depths. Summed up the bands aesthetic perfectly.

In two words 'Fuckin' YES'!

I agree completely. Bob has done such strong, evocative, powerful and lyrically wrenching songs going all the way back to Husker Du in the 80's. Even Bob's first solo record Workbooks has some great melodic tunes. But Sugar's 3 (2 1/2?) albums were just jammed with powerful, at times complex songs. Bob is for sure a singular artist, and so under-hyped compared to some flimsy current "alt rock" rock bands that get huge radio play.

Do you know how long I've been waiting to talk about Sugar with someone who knows Sugar? Totally amazing, I completely agree. I just subscribed now, so I should probably look... But. Have you heard Bob's 1st 2 solo albums? Really amazing as well.

Absolutely one of my all time favourites easily up there with doolittle or trompe le monde 🖤

I was watching another of your videos and you encouraged nominating some other bands worth a video. I thought first of Sugar/Mould and Fugazi, then was thrilled you'd already done them. Great content, you absolutely nailed Bob Mould. Pushed for a couple of other nominations: How about the droll, big band disillusionment of Cake or Pavement/Stephen Malkmus, though critically acclaimed, so influential to indy music and far enough from mainstream they are still underrated. Thanks for the great content!

I agree that "Copper Blue" is Bob Mould's opus dei and I also agree that Husker Du's catalog is mostly full of poorly produced tracks that never really reached their potential, but "Flip Your Wig" and "Candy Apple Grey" were solid albums. As a kid who grew up in the 80's and listened to a lot of alternative and punk, poor production wasn't really a deal breaker. "Sister" is still my favorite Sonic Youth album and it was on SST, so there's really no reason for it to sound so low-fi, unless that's how they wanted it to sound. Maybe poorly produced music has a certain "live" element to it, eschewing the crisp snare and perfectly mixed guitars for something a bit more barroom brawl. Anyway, I enjoyed your take on "Copper Blue." When asked about hidden gem records, it's usually the first one I mention. I don't think that My Bloody Valentine or Pixies are really for everyone, but "Copper Blue" has a pop sensibility that most rock fans can enjoy. Once upon a time the HOF was about influencers rather than album sellers. It pains me that boring acts like Bon Jovi find their way in while true trailblazers like Husker Du and New Order are left out.

I agree, that tilted is sugars best song. so much energy and anger

File Under Easy Listening has some good stuff: Can't Help You Any More, Your Favorite Thing, Gee Angel.

If I had to pick three songs from Copper Blue and Beaster, they would all be off Beaster (Judas Cradle, Tilted and J C Auto), but basically they are standing on the shoulders of giants in that ALL of those songs are genius. Could you get a better start to an album than 'The Act we Act's opening riff? Good description of Tilted's intensity, haven't ever heard anything that comes close to it for majestic brutality!

I have always preferred Grant Hart's songs to Mould's, although I think Mould was closing the gap by the time of Warehouse. Both had strong storytelling abilities and a philosophical approach that I find compelling. Haven't followed Mould's post Husker Du work, but maybe I should give him a listen.

You going to see him up North next year? I should be at his Liverpool gig fingers crossed!

In the end of the day i think Bob best tunes are with Husker Du period - listen last album " Warehouse ...." this is Mould peak.

Very good Review.....two things i disagree: Hüsker Sound was perfectly "unrocky" on the albums...nearly Jazzy sometimes through Hart's Drumsound.....To be honest: Bob's current FOO FIGHTERS Sound is annoying sometimes.....another thing : Beaster is the more intense album ...wIith TILTED maybe the greatest song ever heard....mindblowing

Yes he is

With due respect to all the early stuff, the music he’s done in the last 20 years is so much better on every level. He’s perfected his craft.

Mould produced one side of two Tar Babies 12" EPs, the other sides were produced by... Butch Vig! Tar Babies ended up on SST and had a more rocky Minutemen funk/jazz style over time.

I'm a huge fan of Husker Du (especially the later stuff), but I understand completely what you're saying. Those SST albums were often emasculated by Spot's production (he did similar work on Black Flag albums). I wish Huskers could have had Ethan James produce Zen Arcade. Obviously HD sounds a lot different than Minutemen, but at least he knew how to record the drums right.

In reference to your question: well, duh. Seriously, he is the one that put his fingerprints all over grunge and is still putting out brilliant album after brilliant album.

Wow, I had forgotten just how much I loved this album; I even saw the tour, which until I saw Oasis, was the loudest concert I ever attended. Unreal. By the way, Bob Mould’s solo work is also deserving of its own video.

I'm not sure I agree with the 'underrated' thing completely. But I agree that as time has passed for whatever reason, Bob hasn't really found much of a new audience since Sugar. When I go and see the Bob Mould band, most of the Audience are around my age and older. The people I know who also like Sugar are people that have liked Sugar since the 90's. I don't really know why more people haven't discovered Copper Blue during the last 20 years. But many younger people, even those who listen to 'alternative rock' of some description don't know Sugar at all. There's a lot of bands from that period that seem to have faded from the public consciousness though, especially the ones that finished before the latter half of the 90's.

One of the first CDs I owned was Copper Blue. Which meant almost every other CD I purchased was a let down at the time. They just couldn’t measure up. Fantastic album, but I think the Posies Frosting on the Beater is a finer album start to finish and it gets even less love than Copper Blue.

Great video, which absolutely nails how I feel about Bob Mould, Husker Du and Sugar. You're right; Husker Du albums are the seminal works, but they sound shit. Not even lo fi, just bad fi. Like as if they were engineered in an expensive studio by someone who had no idea how to use any of the kit. Copper Blue, on the other hand is a zenith. Bob's songs were at a peak, the production was at a peak, the band were amazing. The only point I disagree on is Beaster being inconsistent. For me it's every bit as front to back vital as Copper Blue. They're like good kid bad kid twins and I love em both.

Tilted is an awesome song.

FU:EL was better than Copper Blue. Just my opinion. And all 3 Sugar records were better than Flip Your Wig, Husker's best album. FUEL was Bob trying to rival My Bloody Valentine (Gift = Only Shallow, Your Favorite Thing = Blow A Wish). And FUEL's only crime was trying a country-tinge'd 2nd half in attempt to expand the Sugar sound. Try the B-sides Mind is an Island and Going Home, Mould was just a better pop writer in 94 than 92.

Why am I always agreeing with you? (except ....Big Star)

new day rising. Bob set his stall out early, the production is epic. Is there bad Husker du production? hell yes, the speed, and the speed that they were taking, poor choices would be made. Bob isn't finished yet, us queer folks have been far too silent. The debt we owe Bob is incomprehensible. Thankfully I have hugged him twice (both times against his will)

Copper blue is a classic

Bob Mould said he had listened to My Bloody Valentine's Loveless album before its release (through some one working on the same label) and was influenced by Loveless while he was working on Copper Blue. Copper Blue is a very fine album but I think it is over produced, is too loud and sounds too pop. Maybe that's why I don't like the Foo Fighters

No Grant Hart is.

Robert Pollard is the most underrated songwriter!

Just don't do it. Don't. Do. It Don't call your band "Sugar"

Bob is not underated at all. People who have taste like Bob. Bob's doing what he loves and you can tell.

Husker Du: The best worst recorded band in history!

Zen Arcade was a total departure for Husker Du...a game changer...

Just to illustrate the genius of Bob Mould, I don't think copper blue is one of his top five best albums, and I LOVE copper blue.