Search - Grant Hart :: Intolerance

HUSKER DU's BETTER HALF

02/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Grant Hart's first full-length solo album after the breakup of Hüsker Dü, 1989's INTOLERANCE is an eclectic, sometimes disorienting mishmash of styles that surprisingly works more often than not. From the psychedelic tape frenzy and carnival organ of the opening "All of My Senses" onwards, Hart largely disavows his punk roots in favor of a variety of late-'60s styles, including the Dylanish (complete with caterwauling harmonica) "Now That You Know Me" and the sneering Van Morrison-like shuffle "You're the Victim", one of several songs that seem to touch on the acrimonious breakup of Hüsker Dü. The harrowing "The Main" is a piano-led, almost gospel-like first-person chronology of drug addiction & one of the best, most vivid and personal songs Hart has ever written. The remake of "2541," his pained remembrance of the band's old rehearsal space from his debut EP, gives the previously acoustic song a dose of electric rock & roll energy that suits it just fine. It didn't get the press attention of Bob Mould's much slicker WORKBOOK, out around the same time, but INTOLERANCE is the better album.""

Husker Du's Other Singer/Songwriter

mwreview | Northern California, USA | 05/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For a time, I was quite the Husker Du fan. Grant Hart was the singer/songwriter of some of the best material from this legendary post-punk band. "Statues", "Diane", "If I Told You", and "Pink Turns to Blue" were some of his best songs from the early days and, on the Warner Brothers releases, I found Hart's tracks often were superior to Bob Mould's. I was always a little interested in seeking out Hart's solo work and, when I finally found this album in a record store, I broke down and bought it. I am very glad I did. This album is very enjoyable even as I listen to it in 2003. "All of My Senses", as other reviewers have pointed out, is amazing. It is followed by the harmonica-driven "Now That You Know Me." "The Main" is a gospel track which was a surprise to hear. The second side (or second half of the CD) starts with a couple of 60s sounding tracks. "Twenty-five Forty-one" is a fun number about a young couple's first home. "Roller Rink" is an instrumental dominated by a psychedelic organ. "You're the Victim" is Hart's stab at former band mate Mould (who released his first solo album, the brilliant Workbook, the same year). The album is different than Hart's Husker Du work, however, remains of the band's famous sound are still very evident on "Fanfare in D Minor" and, especially, the short guitar eruption "Reprise". I agree with one of the reviewers, "The other guy in Husker Du...He's good too"."

Beautiful

Mark Bychowski | 08/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are weeks during which this CD does not leave my cd player. Buy it and listen to it over and over and over again. Every tune is gut-achingly beautiful"