Bob Mould - Black Sheets of Rain

Confusion, despair, & a more direct harder rock

Until "The Last Night," track 7, this is a competent but not stellar album. The first six tracks churn along, with angst and anger as expected, but they sonically do not make much of a distinctive impression on me, compared to the Sugar "Copper Blue," the later Bob Mould solo LPs such as the underrated "The Last Dog & Pony Show," or Husker Du's "Warehouse." Merely placing "Black Sheets" in this esteemed category of great Bob Mould records, however, shows what a high level of craft he can achieve at his driven best. "Black Sheets," however, leaves behind the pretty good and enters the inspired as his voice hits the tender mix of longing colored by the tincture of regret in the well-constructed narrative of "The Last Night." This song is told from the perspective of a lover who knows that his encounter will be the final one of the relationship he plans to break off the next day. Here the CD is redeemed.

The next three songs kick in smartly. Mould loosens up and finds what listeners to "Workbook" or later Huskers will recognize: the combination of wistful nostalgia and fierce pain. Not easy to carry off, and this master shows how it's done fifteen years before emo rules the charts of whatever passes for alternative rock these days. The last song, "Sacrifice/ Let There Be Peace," returns to the more angry snarl of the earlier, first six tracks, but winds the album down smartly in its spiral guitar figure. The best of the more Richard Thompson like, guitar-based but more folksy & acoustic, debut solo record, "Workbook," and this second one, curiously, were issued by WB as a separate CD, "Poison Years." June 22, 2007

Goes On & On

Bob Mould is a great musician and songwriter. This is just one of his lower points in my opinion. The songs rock, but they tend to go on and on....especially the title track. This isn't bad by all means. It just gets repetitive. Workbook and almost of all Bob's other works are Better...even "Modulate" which is quite good after a few listens. The last song "Sacrifice-Let There Be Peace" is foreshadowing of Sugar's haunting and rocking Beaster. Fans of Beaster will like the last track a lot. It is a great closer.

"Black Sheets of Rain" is my least favorite song it clocks into seven minutes. I like the solos, but it just goes too long.

"It's Too Late" is one catchy song. I love the riff and the chorus. One great song! It reminds me of a really old GbV song on Sandbox.

"One Good Reason" is actually a pretty good song, but it drags on again.

"The Last Night" is a good acoustic Bob song about the end of the relationship or something. And the next two songs "Hear Me Calling" and "Out of Your Life" follow the same lines of that song and turn out alright as favorable Bob pop songs.








August 26, 2005

His best work

Bob Mould's "Black Sheets Of Rain" is one of the best recordings I've ever heard. From beginning to end, every song is powerful and moving in its own way. The stuff Bob does now is okay, not bad, I still dig it. But Black Sheets, Workbook(1989) and Copper Blue (with Sugar, 1992) are just amazing recordings. August 21, 2005

Pretty Intense isn't the word for "Black Sheets"

To listen to "Black Sheets of Rain" you need a good set of ears. Then, you have to crank your stereo up to high volume. Anything less, and you won't get it.

I would imagine that this CD is probably a high point in Bob Mould's career. This is powerful stuff. A great songwriter and technically proficient guitarist, Mould's lryics are sometimes apocalyptical and thought-provoking:

So don't send me invitations to your big parade
Place of residence unknown
In my eyes there is no confidence
There is no calm before the storm

I agree: Anton Fier's drumming really makes "Sacrafice (Let There Be Peace)" take on a life of its own - because it's not straight 4/4 time - The rythm really drives.

"Black Sheets" and "Workbook" are really companion pieces. Both are great CD's and I am sure that these great recording will stand the test of time. November 27, 2003

This CD blows me away - always has, always will !!!!

First off, Anton Fier's drumming, especially on "Sacrafice (Let There Be Peace)" is absolutely ferocious. Truly amazing. Must have been a sight to see.

To be honest, this is one of my favorite albums of all time. That, and "Workbook" are too good to pass by. Husker Du was okay, but technically, this stuff is lots better. The stuff Bob did with Sugar was technically better, but "Black Sheets" and "Workbook" will hold up over time much better than "Copper Blue" and "File Under..."

This is a cult-level CD, yet it surpasses classic cult stuff, like classic LPs by the 13th Floor Elevators, Chocolate Watch Band, Music Machine, MC-5.

"Black Sheets of Rain" is a masterpeice. November 22, 2003

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