Category:
Rock / Singer/Songwriter

Try if you like:
American Music Club, Frank Black, Guided By Voices, Husker Du, Sugar

•   The Distance Between Us

If you know anything about me you'll know that I am a Bob Mould fan. Every time a Mould album comes out is reason to celebrate even if he has let fans down recently. There was really no excuse for Modulate. Body of Song was a slight improvement but not by much. Where does District Line fall, his first for Anti records? 

 

Bob opens on a high note. The great "Stupid Now" isn't a rocker by any means but still has some nice hooks in it. "Who needs To Dream" seems to drone on for longer than necessary even though it's under 4 minutes. Obviously needs more diversity. "Old Highs New Lows" is awful. It really brings down the value of the collection. It's repetitive and it takes on way to much of an electro-pop song when Mould should be diving into guitar heavy pop. "The Silence Between Us" makes up for it. Best song on District Line easily. It's got the catchy lead-up then quite a large guitar sound for the chorus and then fades out as another verse is sung.

But again, "Shelter Me" totally irritates me. It is an electronic song again with very repetitive lyrics, riff, and beats. Hands down the worst song Mould has penned yet. Bland hits again with "Walls In Time". Although after a couple listens this mellow ballad-type song ends up getting under your skin. Still, could have been dropped down to a 4 minute song quite easily (remains 6:13)

It seems like Bob needs to get angry again. The passion and heaviness that Mould had on Sugar albums hasn't seen the light of day for quite some time. So I do feel that he may have made a slight improvement on Body Of Song, I still don't think it's enough. Bob needs to get the guitar riffs going again and rediscover some anger and aggression. District Line is heading directly for Light FM. I may be disappointed again but I will keep giving Mould the chance he deserves.