Category:
Rock / Singer/Songwriter

Try if you like:
American Music Club, Frank Black, Guided By Voices, Husker Du, Sugar

If you've read my last few Bob Mould reviews you will recall that I have been quite disappointed in his output as of late. Things are about to change with the return to form album Life And Times. This is the sort of quality music I remember from the former Husker Du member. No, this isn't the album of his career but Life And Times shows Bob moving back into familiar territory. Gone are the cheesy vocal autotuners and the dabbling in electronic territory. Returning are the big, jangly guitars, well written pop songs. Have a listen to the understated "The Breach", simple and well crafted.  We even get the agro pop songs that Bob had such success with in Sugar. Check out "Argos" for an example of this type of song, or even "Spiraling Down" would fit into this category. The true Bob Mould has returned. Even the ballad "I'm Sorry Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Anymore" is refreshing.

It's not all joyous. I had a problem with the closing dirge, "Lifetime". It was slow, trodding and painful. Drop this one off and Life And Times is a wonderful collection of music from one of the indie-pop masters of our time. I wonder what brought Mould back to the basics. Whatever the reason I do have to thank him for create an album that I may listen to in a couple months. Can't say that about his couple of efforts. 

So if you look at the cover of Life And Times and think that it looks familiar, then it's done it's job. This is the familiar Bob Mould that we've come to love and respect.