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Bob Mould, "The Last Dog and Pony Show"
Rykodisc, released: 1998, CD
What shows up as decent is not what should be taken for the real deal. The less actual the deal, the more that is left for interpretation. I listen to this new disc by Mould and I am thrust into the world of he creates. The songs, the sounds, the words and why he makes them. The sounds on this record are remarkable. It breathes of the sounds that Mould has been creating for what seems like forever. This is the sound: and it sounds like this . . . . impossible to describe. The details are almost perfect. The variety of sounds he employs on this recording come off in all the right amounts. Acoustic guitar, distortion, and a very interesting use of sampling and electronics. The record hits us hard with the sound that is all Bob, but the lyrics on this disc are worn a little thin. The songs come off as very personal, but also a bit too literal. The poetry has evaporated into what I did when I woke up today: Looked through the classifieds, first drag of the day, moved in to a new apartment. The biggest departure on this disc is "Megamanic" a hip hop influenced sampling festival of sounds. It isn't completely successful but at the same time it is an interesting (rarely a compliment) departure. One problem with this disc is that there is no real grabber. Nothing that stands out in the mix as a great song, over all, though, it sounds very good. Power and anthems and the force of sound on our soul is all evident here. Electric's pushed to the limits of what we can stand to hear. Blood on the headphones when I'm done.
[BdeV 9/23/98]  

"The Last Dog and Pony Show" songs: New #1 Moving Trucks Taking Everything First Drag of the Day Classifieds Who Was Around? Skintrade Vaporub Sweet Serene Megamaniac Reflecting Pool Along the Way

 
Bob Mould
Rykodisc, released: 1996, CD
10 songs, forty minutes, now that's an album. None of these 50 ,60+ minutes of untold filler. That ain't what it's about. The CD is wrecking it for us. My attention span is getting shorter, people, 45 minute max for rock'n'roll. The ocassional opus is allowed, but I'm seeing this as a standard issue and it's bugging me. But this Bob Mould guys been around a while, seasoned. Seen the inside of the shoe box and all. And thats sort of how this album is presented. The inside story. Doing it for himself, fuck the critics/fanatics/industry. Fuck the band, it's me here I am. Rock 'n' roll, now get over it/on with it. Artist seem to mostly work for themselves, go where they find it cool. But musicians have this "selling records" deal attached to there art form. Bob states in the album that this one is for him and I say go there. Thats what I'm after, a peice of the person as they see it. And this thing rocks. Bob plays with dynamic range in a very interesting way. The songs on this disc cover a range of tempos and instrumentation that take me places. I also like the tip of the hat to vinyl and "sides". There is the sound of a tone arm from a record player spining around a record and then returning to stop after "Ego Overide". I've noticed how my relationship to music is altered slightly if I have the vinyl vs CD. The sides thing is definatley a factor, glad to be able to hear when side one ends on the CD. There is also the sound of the endless record loop at the end of the CD. Did I mention that this a great album? This is a great album. The sound of falling from a plane, the sound of my blender burning.
[BdeV 5/9/96]