Bob Mould

Bob Mould is an American musician, known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.

Don't be thrown by the title. "Life And Times", the ninth solo album from Bob Mould, is not autobiographical. That these ten ruminations on the fragility of relationships resound so powerfully speaks to Mould's abilities as a writer and performer, but the source material wasn't torn from his diary. "These are things that happen to all of us," he clarifies. Diehard fans craving inside dirt must wait for the 2010 publication of Mould's memoir; Life And Times is aimed at a broader audience.

Nor is Life And Times some sprawling Dickensian epic. Featuring ten selections, and a running time just over 36 minutes, the album is deliberately concise, shorn of musical or lyrical flab. "There were a couple of songs that didn't make the cut," he admits. "They fit the theme, but weren't as provocative as the material that made the record."

Folks familiar with Mould's oeuvre - from his days in seminal punk rock band Husker Du, through the rise of alt-rock faves Sugar, and his ongoing work as a club DJ - may recognize a few of these tunes already. "City Lights," "The Breach," and "I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Any More" were all road-tested when he toured in support of his 2007 retrospective DVD Circle of Friends. Two years later, "Sorry, Baby," and the careful way its concerns turn as the song advances, remain disarming. The title may evoke a chuckle, but there is no laughter when it ends.