Metal Circus
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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Metal Circus
- Artist: Hüsker Dü
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1983
- Total Time: 18:57
- Type: Extended Play (EP)
- Genre: Rock
Review
A five-song EP bristling with energy and pummeling guitars, Metal Circus is the first indication of Hüsker Dü's greatness. 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. While they both stay within hardcore conventions on Metal Circus, their songs illustrate that they would break free of its constrictions on their subsequent, masterful double album, Zen Arcade. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi| Metal Church (2001 Album by Wayne) | |
| Metal City (Album by Various Artists) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Metal Circus
| Metal Circus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| EP by Hüsker Dü | ||||
| Released | October 1983 | |||
| Recorded | December 1982 to January 1983 at Total Access Recording in Redondo Beach, California | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk | |||
| Length | 18:57 | |||
| Label | SST | |||
| Producer | Hüsker Dü, Spot | |||
| Hüsker Dü chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Piero Scaruffi |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | A[3] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
| Spin | [5] |
Metal Circus is an EP by Hüsker Dü, released in 1983. 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.
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. The title pronunciation, "Diane", makes a quibble with the word "dying" (and the background vocals sing the word "Diane" in a way that makes it sound like "Die Ann"). The music was covered by the band Coffin Break in 1989, Irish band Therapy? in 1995, Superdrag in 1998 and Gravenhurst in 2004 .
This EP was almost released as a 30 minute album with 11 songs. The outtakes were "Standing by the Sea" (later used on Zen Arcade), "Today's the Day", "You Think I'm Scared", and "Won't Change". [1]
Track listing
Side 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) – 2:39
References
- ^ Metal Circus at Allmusic
- ^ Piero Scaruffi review
- ^ Robert Christgau review
- ^ 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
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