Candy Apple Grey

Certain Songs #656: Hüsker Dü – “Dead Set on Destruction”

September 21, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Album: Candy Apple Grey
Year: 1986

(Hart)

After the double-bummer of “Too Far Down” and “Hardly Getting Over It”, what Candy Apple Grey needed more than anything else was some uplift.

Of course the Hüskers knew this too, and in an absolutely dynamite bit of song sequencing, the dying embers of Mould’s dirge were transformed by a vicious Grant Hart drum roll into the opening sparks of “Dead Set on Destruction,” my favorite song from Candy Apple Grey.

Certain Songs #655: Hüsker Dü – “Hardly Getting Over It”

September 20, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Album: Candy Apple Grey
Year: 1986

(Mould)

At some point in late 1985, I got a new car. Well, not a “new” car, exactly: it was a slightly used gold Toyota Corolla hatchback, and it was the only car I ever put a bumpersticker of a band on.

The band, of course, was Hüsker Dü, and I don’t remember where I got the bumpersticker from, but I was damn happy to have it on my car.

Certain Songs #654: Hüsker Dü – “Sorry Somehow”

September 19, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Album: Candy Apple Grey
Year: 1986

(Hart)

Sell out!!

Following The Replacements but beating R.E.M. in the “selling out to a major label” sweepstakes, Hüsker Dü released Candy Apple Grey on Warner Bros just six months after Flip Your Wig, their fourth album in less than two years.

Of course, the whole major vs. indie thing is a load of horseshit: loads and loads of uncompromising music had been made for the majors long before the indies became a viable career alternative. It all depended on the artist. Still does, as far as I can tell.

As so as far as I could tell then — or now, for that matter — Candy Apple Grey was the record Hüsker Dü would have made for SST had they stayed with SST, reflecting their continued growth as both songwriters and record-makers.