Husker Du - Zen Arcade - Vinyl Record

In 1984 a hardcore band releasing a double concept album sounded absurd. Hüsker Dü did it anyway, and Zen Arcade became one of the most important American underground records of the decade. Recorded and mixed at Total Access in Redondo Beach in October 1983, it follows a young man who leaves a broken home and stumbles through a series of disillusioning experiences.

Bob Mould, Grant Hart and Greg Norton push well past punk's limits here: acoustic interludes, backwards tape, piano pieces and psychedelic touches sit next to furious bursts like "Chartered Trips" and "Indecision Time." Hart's "Turn On the News" is a highlight, and the closing instrumental "Reoccurring Dreams" stretches out for nearly fourteen minutes of sustained guitar storm.

This SST edition spreads all 23 songs across two LPs in a heavy gatefold jacket. A cornerstone for any punk or alternative rock collection.

Side A
1. Something I Learned Today
2. Broken Home, Broken Heart
3. Never Talking to You Again
4. Chartered Trips
5. Dreams Reoccurring
6. Indecision Time
7. Hare Krsna

Side B
1. Beyond the Threshold
2. Pride
3. I'll Never Forget You
4. The Biggest Lie
5. What's Going On
6. Masochism World
7. Standing by the Sea

Side C
1. Somewhere
2. One Step at a Time
3. Pink Turns to Blue
4. Newest Industry
5. Monday Will Never Be the Same
6. Whatever
7. The Tooth Fairy and the Princess

Side D
1. Turn On the News
2. Reoccurring Dreams