workbook

22 years later, there's not much left to say about bob mould's workbook.  mould took the disintegration of husker du as an opportunity to stretch his composition and peel away much of the noise and establish himself as a major american songwriter.  it's hard for me to understand that this record has not been more widely heard, but it surely remains a mostly hidden gem.  well-regarded by those who have heard it, the record as a whole commands attention through understatement and introspection.  after the intro, 'sunspots', the four song suite 'wishing well', 'heartbreak a stranger', 'see a little light' and 'poison years' just amazes.  by this time, mould was a young man who had already had a long career.  workbook signaled his transition; now he's out and proud, buff and happy in ways he wasn't while in husker du.  this was the beginning of that growth, and workbook remains a touchstone.