They’re nobody’s buzz bands anymore. But since 1993, MAGNET has discovered and documented more great music than memory will allow. The groups may have broken up or the albums may be out of print, but this time, history is written by the losers. Here are some of the finest albums that time forgot but we remembered in issue #75, plus all-new additions to our list of Lost Classics.
:: GRANT HART
Good News For Modern Man // Pachyderm, 1999
Despite all the post-Hüsker Dü success Bob Mould had solo and with Sugar, it could be argued that he wasn’t even the influential Minneapolis trio’s most valuable player. Drummer Grant Hart was responsible for writing and singing a large chunk of Hüsker Dü’s best songs, including “Never Talking To You Again,” “Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely,” “Green Eyes,” “Pink Turns To Blue” and “Sorry Somehow.” This often goes overlooked, mostly because of his erratic recording career since the Hüskers’ 1987 demise, a break-up spurred by Hart’s heroin use. After a great EP (1988’s 2541), a negligible album (1989’s Intolerance) and two inconsistent efforts with Nova Mob (1991’s Last Days Of Pompeii and 1994’s Nova Mob), Hart released Good News For Modern Man. The 11-track set was everything Hüsker Dü fans had always wanted from him: an album full of classic melodies that owed as much to ’60s girl groups and catchy Britpop as it did to punk rock and power pop. But Good News For Modern Man sold poorly, and the Pachyderm label was out of business less than a year after its release.
Catching Up: When not working as a visual artist, Hart has been recording material for a new album, portions of it with Godspeed You! Black Emperor. He is doing an East Coast tour in May and June.
“Remains To Be Seen”:
2 replies on “Lost Classics: Grant Hart “Good News For Modern Man””
This is a good record, but I like Intolerance better. “Negligible” is not the word I would use to describe songs like “All of My Senses” and “The Main” (maybe “intense” or “brilliant” would be appropriate). Either way, Grant needs to release a new album.
I totally agree with roarvis. I think Intolerance is a fantastic (and underrated?)record.