Metal Circus is an EP by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in 1983 by SST Records. As one of their early records, it was largely rooted in the band's initial hardcore punk style. However, signs of a new, poppier influence emerge on Metal Circus, particularly in the songs sung by Grant Hart ("It's Not Funny Anymore" and "Diane"). It also features some of Bob Mould's most passionate singing and shows further development in his guitar playing. Harmonic, chorus-type effects applied to Mould's guitar are more prominent. The change from the furious hardcore moments of Land Speed Record and Everything Falls Apart towards increasing melodicism hints at the groundbreaking new approach that was to be seen on the band's next release, Zen Arcade.
While only 21 seconds shorter than their debut studio album Everything Falls Apart, and generally viewed as an EP, Metal Circus was almost released as a 30-minute album with 12 songs. The outtakes were "Standing by the Sea" (later used on Zen Arcade), "Heavy Handed", "Is Today the Day?", "You Think I'm Scared", and "Won't Change"[3] (which later appeared on the compilation A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse).[4] In 2017, The Numero Group released the Savage Young Dü compilation of early Hüsker Dü material. A bonus edition of the compilation was packaged with a 7" entitled Extra Circus containing the outtakes from the EP's sessions.[5]
In a 1984 Trouser Press review, John Leland said the band "flirts with heavy metal, but also reveal strains of folk and psychedelia. The metal ventures (noisy lead guitars) expand Hüsker Dü's sound without getting sludgy or bombastic. On the slower tunes,...the guitars drone like a supercharged Dream Syndicate. On the fast tunes they smoke."[10]
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Metal Circus "is the first indication of Hüsker Dü's greatness," adding that "With these five songs, the band shows more invention, skill, and melody than it did over the course of a full album with Everything Falls Apart, and both Bob Mould and Grant Hart emerge as significant songwriters."[1]
^Brackett, Nathan. "Hüsker Dü". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 398, cited March 18, 2010
^Weisbard, Eric. "Hüsker Dü". Spin Alternative Record Guide. October 1995. p.187
^Little, Michael H. (November 21, 2016). "Graded on a Curve: Hüsker Dü, "Metal Circus"". The Vinyl District. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
^Leland, John (February 1984). "American Underground". Trouser Press. Vol. 10, no. 12. New York. p. 32. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
^Metal Circus (Back cover). SST Records. 1983. SST 020.
^"Fake Name Communications". Discogs. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
January 01, 1970
metal, circus, american, punk, rock, band, hüsker, released, 1983, records, their, early, records, largely, rooted, band, initial, hardcore, punk, style, however, signs, poppier, influence, emerge, particularly, songs, sung, grant, hart, funny, anymore, diane,. Metal Circus is an EP by American punk rock band Husker Du released in 1983 by SST Records As one of their early records it was largely rooted in the band s initial hardcore punk style However signs of a new poppier influence emerge on Metal Circus particularly in the songs sung by Grant Hart It s Not Funny Anymore and Diane It also features some of Bob Mould s most passionate singing and shows further development in his guitar playing Harmonic chorus type effects applied to Mould s guitar are more prominent The change from the furious hardcore moments of Land Speed Record and Everything Falls Apart towards increasing melodicism hints at the groundbreaking new approach that was to be seen on the band s next release Zen Arcade Metal CircusEP by Husker DuReleasedOctober 1983RecordedDecember 1982 January 1983StudioTotal Access Recording Redondo Beach CaliforniaGenreHardcore punk 1 Length18 57LabelSST 020 ProducerHusker DuSpotHusker Du chronologyEverything Falls Apart 1983 Metal Circus 1983 Zen Arcade 1984 The horrific murder depicted in the anguished Diane is based upon the murder of West St Paul waitress Diane Edwards by Joseph Ture in 1980 2 The song was covered by Coffin Break in 1989 Irish band Therapy in 1995 Superdrag in 1998 and Gravenhurst in 2004 While only 21 seconds shorter than their debut studio album Everything Falls Apart and generally viewed as an EP Metal Circus was almost released as a 30 minute album with 12 songs The outtakes were Standing by the Sea later used on Zen Arcade Heavy Handed Is Today the Day You Think I m Scared and Won t Change 3 which later appeared on the compilation A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse 4 In 2017 The Numero Group released the Savage Young Du compilation of early Husker Du material A bonus edition of the compilation was packaged with a 7 entitled Extra Circus containing the outtakes from the EP s sessions 5 Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 4 ReferencesCritical reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 1 Robert ChristgauA 6 Rolling Stone nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 7 Spin nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 8 The Vinyl DistrictA 9 In a 1984 Trouser Press review John Leland said the band flirts with heavy metal but also reveal strains of folk and psychedelia The metal ventures noisy lead guitars expand Husker Du s sound without getting sludgy or bombastic On the slower tunes the guitars drone like a supercharged Dream Syndicate On the fast tunes they smoke 10 AllMusic s Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Metal Circus is the first indication of Husker Du s greatness adding that With these five songs the band shows more invention skill and melody than it did over the course of a full album with Everything Falls Apart and both Bob Mould and Grant Hart emerge as significant songwriters 1 Track listing editSide One Real World Mould 2 27 Deadly Skies Mould 1 50 It s Not Funny Anymore Hart 2 12 First of the Last Calls Mould 2 48 Side Two Lifeline Mould 2 19 Diane Hart 4 42 Out on a Limb Mould 2 39Personnel editLiner notes adapted from the album sleeve 11 Husker Du Bob Mould vocals guitar Grant Hart vocals drums Greg Norton bass guitar Technical Husker Du producer Spot producer engineer Fake Name Graphx album cover 12 References edit a b c Metal Circus at AllMusic Headley Janice 17 October 2019 13 Songs for Halloween Diane by Husker Du KEXP FM Retrieved February 14 2022 Scott Tim October 23 2017 Husker Du s Long Lost 1982 Master Tape Is Now Available Vice Retrieved February 1 2023 Husker du Annotated Discography Demos Outtakes Rehearsals Inside Husker Du s Early Years Box Set Treasure Trove Rolling Stone 5 September 2017 Christgau Robert January 24 1984 Christgau s Consumer Guide The Village Voice New York Retrieved April 29 2013 Brackett Nathan Husker Du The New Rolling Stone Album Guide November 2004 pg 398 cited March 18 2010 Weisbard Eric Husker Du Spin Alternative Record Guide October 1995 p 187 Little Michael H November 21 2016 Graded on a Curve Husker Du Metal Circus The Vinyl District Retrieved February 1 2023 Leland John February 1984 American Underground Trouser Press Vol 10 no 12 New York p 32 Retrieved December 18 2021 Metal Circus Back cover SST Records 1983 SST 020 Fake Name Communications Discogs Retrieved January 30 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metal Circus amp oldid 1145097887, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
