Silver Age (Bonus Track Version)

Bob Mould always does his best work working with a consistent group. Nothing fancy, just a bass player and a solid drummer will do. And that's exactly what he gets for Silver Age. Bassist Jason Narducy (Verbow) and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Mountain Goats) provide the brutal kick that brings Mould right back to the glories of Husker Du and Sugar. Mould's guitar tone provides much of the excitement. His opening chords for "Star Machine reverberate with an urgency that signals the glorious ride ahead. "Keep Believing" shines with a strong stereo mix with guitars that chime. Catchy pop melodies lurk underneath the clatter. "Briefest Moment" could be a power-pop gem if not overloaded with a punk rocker's aggression and "Round The City Square" features a swirling melody deliberately overwhelmed by a wall of sound. By the time Mould slows down for "First Time Joy," it sounds like it's more for our benefit than his. A live version of "The Descent," the album's first single, is included as a bonus track.