Bob Mould
The Last Dog And Pony Show

THE REVIEW

Bob Mould continues on his path, having become a powerful rock singer-songwriter, a relic for the most renowned artists of the nineties, a cult artist (they call you that when you're no longer in the chart). The recipe for this work dated 1998 is still the usual one: homemade ingredients, intellectual honesty (Alec Empire would call it "Intelligence And Sacrifice") and a superior (compared to the average) level of inspiration, that thing that should elevate the destiny of a man above that of others, and it does, but in reverse.

To demonstrate that Bob has a very high compositional talent, just consider the initial triad. Tell me what would have happened if the opening track "New #1" had been by the Cranberries in '98. And if it were by today’s Green Day, the ones singing old rock songs from forty years ago with contemporary touches? Following is "Moving Trucks", a delicate but not trivial rock song in its melodies, punk in the rhythm. Nothing is more enjoyable and adolescent than what is played by an adult nostalgic for youth. +44, Ataris, and company: learn for a lifetime. And what about "Taking Everything"? A piece entirely in chorus with repetitive verses riding on a riff that may not be world-ending but leads to a spectacular chorus?

This trio probably equals, I won’t say the entire discography, but the life of Ataris (but why are they always on the tip of my tongue?) and company... The joy of being punk and having brushed with death in more than one instance is found near the end, in the penultimate "Reflecting Pool", while in the final track Bob relies on the well-known play of viola-acoustic guitars. In the middle, a couple of old-fashioned punk songs, a nice mid-tempo paced game played on the ups and downs of a single riff, and a nice track titled "Who Was Around", with slow and arpeggiated verses (the best part) that step aside to make room for an electrified chorus.

Then two ballads: "Skintrade", electric from start to finish (and with a great solo by Bob), and "Vaporub" (the stuff for a runny nose?!), more traditional and semi-acoustic; both demonstrate that Bob, even in the most cheeky episodes, is still a gentleman composer. Special mention for the offbeat "Megamanic", a spoken word almost on the verge of rap, amidst chill-out loops, almost industrial samples, and those "megamega, megamega" coming from all directions. Perhaps a forerunner of the Mould who is now appreciated as a rock DJ, and of his dance album "Modulate" from 2002.

If it's inspiration that you're looking for in the man, in Mould's discography, you'll find (and other artists have found) as much as you want. If it's inspiration (and the ability to use it) that you think should have the power to grant luck and fame (and peace) to those who have it, I believe you better come to terms with it: it's more likely to be precisely the opposite.