| The Last Dog and Pony Show | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 25, 1998 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 48:11 | |||
| Label | Rykodisc, Creation | |||
| Producer | Bob Mould | |||
| Bob Mould chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Last Dog and Pony Show | ||||
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The Last Dog and Pony Show is the fourth solo album by American alternative rock musician Bob Mould.
The title refers to the fact that Mould planned to cease touring with a full electric band after supporting the album (a plan he stuck to until hitting the road to support his 2005 release, Body of Song). "I'm 37 years old now," he said at the time. "I've been doing it for almost 20 years. As I get older, I don't enjoy four months on the road of full-throttle volume all the time. Though I still like that kind of music, I'd rather get away from it while I still enjoy it, as opposed to doing it because it's my calling card and it's worked." [1]
"Every other record I do is a bright or a dark record," he observed. "It's not intentional. Maybe it's just me struggling to find some kind of balance. I think this one's fairly outgoing compared to my last, especially, which was real dark and claustrophobic because that was the way I was feeling at the time. This one is a little more easygoing. The stories are a little simpler and more universal. I tend to go through phases when I'm writing, and this one went through three or four pretty distinct stylistic phases before arriving at the bulk of the record, which is the upbeat electric stuff." [1]
Having used programmed drums on his previous, self-titled album, on which he was the sole performer, Mould this time returned to using a real drummer, Matt Hammon. Cellist Alison Chesley also contributes to two tracks.
While the album is steeped in the driving rock he had become known for, songs like "Reflecting Pool," the mechanical-sounding "First Drag of the Day" and the sample-heavy "Megamanic" demonstrate the growing interest in electronica which he would spend the next few years exploring in more depth.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Pitchfork Media | 7.5/10 [3] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
The track "Who Was Around?" was named Best Rock/Alternative Song at the 1998 Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards.
All tracks composed by Bob Mould
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart [5] | 58 |
| US Billboard 200 [6] | 164 |
| US Billboard Heatseekers Albums [6] | 11 |
Zen Arcade is the second studio album by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in July 1984 on SST Records. Originally released as a double album on two vinyl LPs, Zen Arcade tells the story of a young boy who runs away from an unfulfilling home life, only to find the world outside is even worse. Zen Arcade and subsequent Hüsker Dü albums were instrumental in the creation of the alternative rock genre, and it is considered by some to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
Robert Arthur Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.
Hüsker Dü was an American punk rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist/vocalist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart. They first gained notability as a hardcore punk band, and later crossed over into alternative rock. Mould and Hart were the band's principal songwriters, with Hart's higher-pitched vocals and Mould's baritone taking the lead in alternating songs.
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Alison Chesley, known also by her stage name Helen Money, is a Chicago-based cellist and composer.
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Morning Phase is the twelfth official studio album and twelfth overall by American singer Beck. The album was released in February 2014 by his new label, Capitol Records. According to a press release, Morning Phase is a "companion piece" to Beck's 2002 album Sea Change. Almost every credited musician who recorded parts for Sea Change returned to record for Morning Phase, with the sole exception being Sea Change producer Nigel Godrich.
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Sunshine Rock is the 13th solo album from American rock musician Bob Mould, formerly frontman of the bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar. The album release was announced on October 24, 2018. The album was released on February 8, 2019, and debuted at number 192 on the US Billboard 200. A review in Dagger says ""I Fought" has all the rage and bluster that Husker Du ever had while "Camp Sunshine" is, dare I say a flowery love song[.] Sunshine Rock shows Bob and his unbeatable rhythm section at the top of their game." Robert Christgau wrote "this is the first time the solo Mould has come close to what he was once capable of, and that he's managed it this late should encourage us all."
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White Out is the second and final studio album by the American band Verbow, released in 2000. The band broke up two years later.
