Hüsker Dü “New Day Rising” 1985. SST Records. Midwestern 80’s punk, the third LP from Minnesota’s Hüsker Dü. A mix of chaotic, rough n’ ready punk, power pop and melodic punk. It made the UK Indie chart at #10 in ’85 and while it had no chart presence to speak of in the US, it was well-received critically and was included on some best-of lists (Spin, NME, Rolling Stone), both at the year of its release as well as retrospectively. The title and lead track, “New Day Rising” is a cacophony of scratchy sound (Bob Mould apparently hated the record’s production and I have to say I agree with him on that), but a really great punk track that is more in line with the Dü’s early hardcore material, as is “I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About.” (The album closer “Plans I Make” is just pure punk chaos, not even a lick of pop). I also like “I Apologize” and “If I Told You” which start to lean more power pop/melodic punk. The track “Celebrated Summer” mixes it all together – that track was sort of released as a single, sent as a promotional 45 to radio stations only – with bursts of speed and moments of delicate acoustic guitar. “Perfect Example” is a jangly alt-rock track, recalling R.E.M. more than anything else (it’s fine though a bit boring). “Terms of Psychic Warfare” is a beaty ass-shaker: power pop with punk edges and an anthemic feel – it’s great! “Books About UFO’s” is a bluesy rocker with piano which does not at all wedge into the punk genre (but it is a fun song, it’s too bad the production is so sucky as it could have sounded much better). I’m not sure I agree that this is one of the best punk releases of the era, but it is a great LP and demonstrates the evolution, in real time, from hard punk to punk pop that was trending in the mid-to-late 80’s.