Plastic Beach Lp
Zen Arcade
Background
Hsker D had gained notice in the American indie scene of the 1980's as a fast and aggressive hardcore punk band. They were the first non-West Coast signing and California independent label SST Records, which at the time specialized in hardcore bands releases, especially Black Flag. However, the trio's music was becoming more melodic and nuanced with each new release, songs like "Diana" (from the Circus metal PE), a true story about the rape and murder of a young woman, covered issues not addressed in the hardcore at the time, and the band expressed their interest Rock in 1960, covering The Byrds "Eight Miles High."
In an interview with Steve Albini in his column in this area in 1983, singer and guitarist Bob Mould said Albiol: "We will try to do something bigger than anything like rock & roll and all touring band faint idea I do not know what's going to be. We have to work that, but going beyond the idea of 'punk rock' or whatever. "
The band started rehearsing in preparation for the album during the summer 1983 in a converted church punk squat in St. Paul, Minnesota. The band Brainstorm lyrics and musical ideas for jam sessions that lasted several hours. Mould and drummer Grant Hart were composers of the band, and before embarking to California to record Zen Arcade, the mold was transferred (by works of art that Hart had done for other no credit band membership list) to require the individual Zen Arcade composer credits list. This practice will continue in all subsequent albums band, and contribute to growing tensions between the molds and Hart.
Recording and production
As the Metal Circus EP was being released, Hsker D entered in the study of full access to Redondo Beach, California to record their next album with producer Spot SST. The band recorded 25 tracks, with all but two songs first take ("Something I Learned Today" and "Newest Industry"), in 40 hours. The album was mixed in a single session of 40 hours, all the album had 85 hours to record and produce and cost $ 3,200. The band collaborated with contemporary underground during recording, "What's Going On" contains songs as a guest of ex-Black Flag vocalist Dez Cadena.
Music
Zen Arcade, in line with previous albums Hsker D, focused primarily hardcore punk, with songs like "Indecision Time" and "Pride." However, the album also marked the point where the band presents more melodic musical style and guitar-driven, with elements of acoustic folk ("Never talk to you again"), psychedelic ("Hare Krishna" and "The Tooth Fairy and the Princess") and piano interludes ("One Step At A Time", "Monday Will Never Be The Same"), concepts rarely addressed in the hardcore punk early 80's.
Narrative
Zen Arcade is the story of a boy who runs away to escape from an unsatisfactory family life ("Broken Home, Broken Heart, "" Indecision Time "" Somewhere "). The character comes to drugs (" pink turns blue) and religion ("Hare Krishna"), but finally concludes that it will be unable to change their situation ("New Industry", "is recurring dreams, disorientation 14 minutes instrumental that closes the disc.) Indicative of the desire of the band for the album as a whole, were not placed on freedom from it.
Release
While the band insisted on sales would be strong for Zen Arcade, SST initially only pressed between 3,500 and 5,000 copies of the album. The album was out of action for several months and delayed copies of the most suffocating sales.
Critical reception
After his release Zen Arcade received positive reviews in mainstream publications including NME, The New York Times and Rolling Stone. In his review for Rolling Stone, David Zen Arcade Fricke described as "the toughest ever get to an opera … a kind of thrash Quadrophenia."
Zen Arcade placed eighth in the Village Voice Pazz annual and Jop poll. Village Voice critic Robert Christgau said in its annual review of the results of the survey, while rivals favorite Replacements' Let It Be, the song "Turn On the News" earned a nomination for song of the year. The critical acclaim given the album got the attention of major labels, including Warner Bros. Records, with whom Hsker D finally signed in 1985.
Legacy
In the spring of 1985 had sold Zen Arcade 20,000 copies, and in later years has maintained a high state of criticism, regardless of commercial success. Allmusic stated in their review of the album "Hsker D try everything "and while" reckless approach, ridiculously simple mind result in some weak moments, "is" also the key to the success of Zen Arcade. "In 1989, ranked # 33 in the list of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980's. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has "Turn On the News" in its list of "500 songs that shaped rock and roll." It was ranked # 4 in Spin magazine's list of the 100 best alternative music album, ahead of Nirvana's Nevermind (# 5), and Horses by Patti Smith (# 6).
Zen Arcade wider perspective what the American underground rock might seem. Zen Arcade was mentioned as an influence on the development of emotions, because "everybody showed punks that caustic guitars and literate lyrics, angst-ridden matched catharsis. "
LP Tracklisting
On the one hand
"Something I Learned Today" (Molds) – 1:58
"House Broken Heart, broken" (molds) – 2:01
"Do not talk to You Again" (Hart) – 01:39
"Travel Chartered (molds) – 3:33
"Dreams recurrence (Hsker D) – 1:40
"Indecision Time" (molds) – 2:07
"It Krishna" (Hsker D) – 3:33
Side two
"Beyond the Threshold" (molds) – 1:35
"Pride" (Molds) – 1:45
"I'll Never Forget You" (molds) – 2:06
"The Biggest Lie" (molds) – 1:58
"What's Going On "(Hart) – 4:23
"Masochism" (Hart / Mould) – 2:43
"Beside the Ocean" (Hart) – 3:12
Side three
"Somewhere" (Hart / Mould) – 2:30
"One step at a time" (Hart / Mould) – Twelve forty-five
"Pink Turns to Blue" (Hart) – 2:39
"What is new in the industry" (molds) – 3:02
"Monday Will Never Be the Same" (molds) – 1:10
"Anyone be "(Mould) – 3:50
"The Tooth Fairy and the Princess" (molds) – 2:43
Four sides
"Turn on the News" (Hart) – 4:21
"Return of Dreams" (Hsker D) – 13:47
The CD and cassette release of the album combines all the songs on one disc / tape.
Personal
Grant Hart – drums, piano, drums, vocals, choirs
Bob Mould – acoustic guitar, bass, drums, piano, electric guitar, lead and backing vocals
Greg Norton – bass, vocals
References
^ Weisbard and Trademark 1995. p.187
^ Azerrad, Michael. Our band could be your life: Scenes American Indie underground, 1981-1991. Little Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1, pg. 180
^ Azerrad, pg. 179.
^ Azerrad, pg. 181
^ Azerrad, 2001. p. 181
^ Donohue, TR Marcos. "Husker Du: Zen Arcade." Nude as the News. http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1182. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
^ Azerrad, pg. 182
^ "NME Review Zen Arcade." http://www.thirdav.com/zinestuff/nme_zen.html. Retrieved on 16/01/2006.
^ "New York Times, September 23, 1984." Http: / / www.thirdav.com/zinestuff/nyt0984.html. Retrieved on 16/01/2006.
^ "Rolling Stone: Hsker D: Zen Arcade. Http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/huskerdu/albums/album/110848/review/5944241/zen_arcade. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
^ Christgau, Robert (1985). "The Rise of the House of businesses." RobertChristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj84.php. Retrieved on January 19, 2007.
^ Azerrad, pg. 190
^ Azerrad, pg. 186
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Zen Arcade (review)." Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A2votk6hx9kr3. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
^ "500 songs that shaped rock and roll." RockHall.com. http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitions/permanent.asp?id=665. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
^ Weisband, E & Trademark, C (eds) 1995. Spin Alternative Record Guide first ed. Vintage Books, ISBN 0-679-75574-8
^ Popkin, Helen (2006). "What exactly mo, anyway?". MSNBC.MSN.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11720603/. Retrieved on April 10, 2007.
Notes
Weisbard, Eric, Craig Marks (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0679755748.
External Links
Analysis of Nude as the News
Review of the University. Chicago Maroon
Zen Arcade at Allmusic
EV
Hsker D
Grant Hart Bob Mould Greg Norton
Studio albums
All crumbles Zen Arcade New Day Rising Flip Your Wig Candy Apple Grey Warehouse: Songs and Stories
EPs and singles
Statues in a circus of metal-free land Eight Miles High celebrated the summer does not make sense all feel in some way Do not Want to Know If you feel alone Could you be the one? She is a woman (and now is a man) of ice-cold
Live albums
Land Speed Record The Living End
Related Articles
Hsker D discography Grey Area Nova Mob Sugar
Categories: 1984 albums | Concept albums | Rock operas | Double albums | Albums Hsker D | SST Records albums | Albums produced by Bob Mould | Albums produced by SPOT
|
|
GORILLAZ – PLASTIC BEACH -RECORD/VINYL/LP/NEW/SEALED $17.51 |
|
|
GORILLAZ – PLASTIC BEACH -RECORD/VINYL/LP/NEW/SEALED $8.00 |
|
|
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach 2x Vinyl LP $33.19 |
|
|
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach – SEALED VINYL 2LP – Parlophone 180gr vinyl $19.95 |
|
|
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach LP NEW $36.34 |
|
|
West Bend 2.5 Ounce Theater Popper $59.99 Description:Features: Attractive and space-saving, the Stir Crazy Theater Popper is perfect for creating a theater experience at home. 2.5 oz. kettle pops up to 8 cups of popcorn in 4 minutes. Utilizes Stir Crazy stir rod technology to ensure a larger yield of popped popcorn versus kettles without. Kettle tilts to dump popcorn and is removable for fast, easy cleaning. Cabinet holds up to 6 quarts … |
|
|
The Bends $5.35 While Radiohead saw its stock rising in 1994, it wasn’t until 1995’s The Bends that it really became a blue chip band. And for good reason. The quintet honed its talent for bombastic Brit Rock, yet still preserved an edge of unpredictability. Even singles like the title track didn’t give in to the kind of swooning guitar clichés usually embraced by commercial radio. If the CD proved anything, it … |
|
|
Gorillaz $5.89 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Plastic Beach $15.42 Five years on from the release of Demon Days, Murdoc Niccals and co. return with Plastic Beach. The band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a Plastic Beach HQ, made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. This Plastic Beach is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet.The world s… |
|
|
Whirlpool 3363394 Washing Machine Pump $7.50 Whirlpool (WHI 3363394) Washer Water Pump Plastic pump with 1 large and 1 small port for beltless, direct drive washing machines built since 1982…. |