aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser
#035– Hüsker Dü – ‘Sorry Somehow’ (WEA Records ’96)
Hello dear friends,
again a band everybody knows and loves: what is wrong with me, I wonder?
Hüsker Dü were of course one of America’s finest exports, no question about this. And with all their massive output, it is very hard indeed to number it down to one specific song. To me, Hüsker Dü – most of all – have always been those who managed to blend punk and pop in a most perfect way: “just because it’s punk does not mean it cannot be melodic”.
This ability, plus mostly witty lyrics is why I am so fond of them. It is often forgotten these days that before ‘Candy Apple Grey‘, their 1986 album distributed by a major company (Warner), they already had six (!) albums on independent labels, mostly on SST records. Also, at the time, they were one of the first indie bands to sign with a major label (bands like Sonic Youth, for instance, would do this five years later).
Probably already with ‘Zen Arcade’, but certainly with the release of ‘Candy Apple Grey’ the absolute dedication to speed and hard hitting fuzz was mostly dissipated. In its place was a slower paced, more textured sound that relied more on pop melodies than ever before. The lyrics had also become much more introverted, personal and rarely anything less than very serious.
‘Sorry Somehow’ has always been my favorite from ‘Candy Apple Grey’, by a mile. A bitter anti-apology song with fine lyrics (when it comes to the “I’d give you everything in the world just to get it out of the way” – bit, it still sends shivers down my spine each and every time I hear it, believe me), but also with a structure which is just as simple as it needs to be plus a naturally flowing melody – can you really expect more from a song? Yes, of course you can, an accordingly good delivery!
Which brings us to Grant Hart: he, as far as I’m concerned, would rank very very high if there were a list of singers being able to implement pure desperation into their voices. ‘Sorry Somehow’ is a prime example for this, perhaps this is why I love this song so much:
mp3: Hüsker Dü – Sorry Somehow
A true masterpiece, this, as so many of their songs have been. It’s a massive shame that the three of them fucked it up so mightily in the end, they could have become really big, I suppose.
But either way, still, just a few punk bands left a footprint as heavy as Hüsker Dü, and somewhere, there’s a kid who’s about to hear the group for the first time.
I envy that kid.
Take care, friends,
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
An important moment in that kid’s education today, Dirk. Great choice. – Brian
I really regret never seeing Husker Du. They had so, so many great songs, including this one. Nice pick, Dirk.
Love HD. I sometimes overlook this album in favour of the ones that came before it. Agree about Grant, his songs and voice as much an essential part of the band as Bob’s. Keep Hanging On is my favourite Grant song I think. Like JTFL, would love to have seen them live.
Husker Du do, I think, deserve wider recognition. My first purchase was Land Speed Record (based on the cover) – mostly the Husker Du logo. My absolute favourite song on it being Data Control.
I haven’t heard Sorry Somehow for the longest time. I hit play on the link and was blown away all over again – what a cracking record. It’s rock. It’s pop but, it’s something else.
Superb!
Flimflamfan
My favourite track is These Important Years from their final album. Although I do love all their releases from their early hardcore releases up until Warehouse: Songs and Stories.
Coming to this one late…
I didn’t see them either and always regret it. I came very close, though. They played what is now The Garage on Sauchiehall St (The Mayfair, then?). Me and my then GF didn’t have tickets but arranged to meet some mates at the show. So we rock up, and the gig’s already started. My GF tries to haggle the price down, they say no and she paints herself into a corner where she’ll lose face if she doesn’t tell them to stick it. So she storms off and I have to follow. The things we do for lust.
I have, though, seen Hart and Mould many, many times since they split up and am going to see Bob in a few months, so I’ve heard many of those great HD tunes live, but never Sorry Somehow. Hart was every bit Mould’s equal and it sucks he’s been kinda forgotten. There’s a great Hart ICA waiting to be done of his post HD stuff. (Mould too!)
A few years ago, I saw Mould and his band at the Garage and bumped into one of those mates we were supposed to meet at the show. Sadly the other one is no longer with us. Time’s a bugger.