Review by LarryG
4 stars out of 4
Copper Blue is Bob Mould's best post-Husker Du work. Especially in its
first half, Copper Blue has the power and energy of great live music. The
tracks are linked together without breaks, keeping the intensity high. Mould
is often a bit of a crank but here the rage of his vocals seems real and
is matched the force of Mould's guitars. Copper Blue starts with The Act
We Act, about a disintegrating relationship, moves to A Good Idea, about a
horrific drowning and by the time it reaches Hoover Dam, with Mould calling
on the elements to overwhelm and cleanse him, Mould has reached a kind
of transcendence. The great acoustic rocker If I Can't Change Your Mind
is a welcome breather then Mould finished with more strong rockers
like Fortune Teller. In all, a powerful record, not to mention an excellent
one to pogo to. Sugar's next record, File under Easy Listening, was
inevitably a letdown. It had a few good songs, including one by
bass player David Barbe, but didn't have the force and consistency of
Copper Blue.
Here's what others reviewers have to say:
"..[Mould's] singing and guitar playing are looser and more
confident than ever before...the new songs are sterling...affecting,
effective proof of Mould's continuing vitality..." Highly
Recommended Spin 10/92, p.106
"...Mould once again creates brisk power-pop contexts for
his eloquent grunge and careening, stacked-guitar collisions...an act of
catharsis, even transcendence..." 3.5 Stars - Good Plus
Rolling Stone 10/29/92, p.71
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