Bob Mould & Opinions on case/lang/veirs

Bob Mould

After his pioneering work in Hüsker Dü and his alternative era success with Sugar, Bob Mould shows no signs of slowing down. The legendary songwriter and guitarist joins Jim and Greg for a live performance and a conversation. Plus, a review of the new collaboration between Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs.

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Bob Mould

Throughout his storied career, songwriter and guitarist Bob Mould seems to be driven by the mystical power of the number 3. He's best known for his work with a couple of power trios: the pioneering Minneapolis punk band Hüsker Dü and the successful alternative era band Sugar. He's now formed trio #3 along with bassist Jason Narducy and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, Scharpling & Wurster). Together they've recorded three (of course) albums, most recently the double-Buy It earning Patch the Sky. This week, Bob Mould joins Jim and Greg for the third time in the show's history, this time with Narducy and Wurster in tow. They give a blistering live performance and discusses the vitality of guitar music, finding salvation through rock, and Bob's polarizing turn toward electronica.

case/lang/veirs Neko Case, k.d. lang & Laura Veirs

case/lang/veirs

Singer/songwriters Neko Case, k.d. lang and Laura Veirs have long admired each other's music from afar but didn't really know each other personally. That changed a few years ago when lang sent an email to Case and Veirs asking if they wanted to collaborate. The result of that email is a new project and album called case/lang/veirs. Greg says he was initially skeptical of this so-called "super group" but the trio really delivers. He says the album sounds like a nod to girl groups and the Laurel Canyon sound and the sum is really greater the parts. Jim finds the three distinct voices elevate each other. The three women harmonize so well you can't always tell who is singing. While the record is lowkey, Jim is sure the joyful songs will grow on you and then you won't be able to stop listening. case/lang/veirs earns a double Buy It.

Jim

This week, Jim wanted to honor the late Prince Be of P.M. Dawn by taking a track of his to the Desert Island. Jim notes that like himself, Prince Be was a misfit music fan who grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. He had a rough upbringing but went on to make four superb albums as P.M. Dawn along with his brother, DJ Minutemix. After the '90s, Prince Be virtually disappeared, sporadically releasing new music on the internet. Jim feels that he traversed a new path with the Afrofuturism/psychedelic rap he created, and inspired the sort of work being done today by artists like Chance the Rapper and Janelle Monáe. Jim chose the song "Downtown Venus" from the 1995 album Jesus Wept, a track that exemplifies his genre-melding abilities and skills as a singer. Prince Be died on June 17 at the age of 46 from complications from kidney disease.

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