After 4 albums on the legendary SST label Husker Du finally took the plunge, or the money depending on your point of view, and signed to a major label, that of Warner Brothers.
Their first release on Warners could have went either way but fortunately Candy Apple Grey turned out to be a classic. There is an abundance of emotion, intelligence and power on Candy Apple Grey equalled by few others. Pretty much every track here is amazing, especially the Grant Hart compositions.
Candy Apple Grey has always been a peculiar album in the Husker Du catalogue because of several reasons - it has 3 ballads in it, it only has 10 songs and it's the only of all their albums in which Grant Hart's songs are actually better than the ones composed by Bob Mould. Most of the songs are about breakups including the blistering "Don't Wanna Know If You Are Lonely" which has to be Hart's finest moment. This is some of the most emotionally powerful music ever created; it's certainly not an easy album to listen to but if you are willing to persevere this is an album of quality songwriting, musicianship and production that is a great introduction to a great band.
They showed other bands that it was possible to record uncompromising music on a major label without losing any integrity or creative control.
Can be bought here ....
Husker Du - No Promise Have I Made
