Land Speed Record [Live]

Hüsker Dü | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sst Records
• ASIN: B000000M46
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Land Speed Record fully exposes the rage and manic energy that drove Hüsker Dü to dizzying heights of creative and critical success; it's an incredible (though appallingly poor-sounding) document of a live Minneapolis show from 1981 featuring the band in its embryonic form. Bob Mould and company seem bent on driving themselves to the brink of insanity as they plow through the performance with all the subtlety of a freight train out of control. As part of Hüsker history, it is of great interest to die-hard fans and rock critics alike. Unfortunately, it also exposes shortcomings--most notably sloppy playing--though these are easily forgiven considering the band's future contributions. --Mike Corrigan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Underrated, but not brilliant, December 5, 2000

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Land Speed Record (Audio CD)

This is definitely an album to be picked up only by those who can listen to bootleg recordings and still find the genius in them despite godawful production "values." Because, essentially, that's what Land Speed Record is-- a productionless mass. But that doesn't make it any less brilliant. If this had been recorded straight off the board and remixed, it'd be on Amazon's extensive list of "essential Husker Du CDs" (as if that weren't a redundant term).

But there's some fantastic stuff here. This was a staple during my days as a college DJ; "Ultracore," "Do the Bee," and "Bricklayer" (since we certainly couldn't get away with playing the intelligible studio version!) were in heavy rotation every time we were on the air. But the true reason to part with your hard-earned cash for this release comes right after the seemingly neverending barrage of thirty-second songs, as the Huskers end their set with a song that deserves classic status, "Data Control." The version on the curiously anemic The Living End doesn't even begin to do this song justice. It's the perfect fusion of metal and hardcore years before other bands thought that might be a good idea. But then, it just goes to show that, no matter how early in their career you look, Husker Du broke all the rules, and everyone else followed them into the gap.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A taste of what was to come from Husker Du, July 8, 2003

By 

Kevin Campbell (Chapel Hill, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Land Speed Record (Audio CD)

I recently listened to this record again after many years and I'm struck by how incredibly powerful it is. I can only speculate at how much it blew the people in the audience away (those who were lucky enough to be there). This a document of a band that was discovering itself...that was screaming to be heard...and actually had something to say. The anger is definitely there. And the power...but so is the melody. "Don't Try to Call" and "Let's Go Die" have tunes that are discernible under the electric din and give us a small taste of what was to come from this seminal punk band. Husker Du is the band that created grunge and taught punk to love itself (or hate itself a little less). Just get it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars HUSKER DU as in DO buy this, March 22, 2005

By 

Paul D. Steinhafel - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Land Speed Record (Audio CD)

This is a must-have for any Husker Du fan and a fan of hardcore. People who do not like this album are people who do not like hardcore. Husker Du was hardcore, get over it, like it, enjoy it.