Sunshine Rock

Bob Mould's "Sunshine Rock," follows a trilogy of albums – "Silver Age" (2012), "Beauty & Ruin" (2014), and "Patch the Sky" (2016) – that often explored reflective and darker themes couched in straightforward punk-influenced rock. Where "Silver Age" followed and took cues from Mould's critically lauded 2011 memoir "See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody," subsequent albums "Beauty & Ruin" followed the death of his father, and "Patch the Sky" came after his mother's passing. Mould once described his style as "very catchy songs with very down lyrics," unafraid to lay raw emotions bare. Mould's thirteenth album, "Sunshine Rock" is a little more upbeat in its outlook.

First, there's plenty of gloriously crunchy electric guitars. This album rocks from start to finish. Also, immediately noticeable is the influence of Mould's style, when his writing is in the peak form it is here. One can almost hear how Foo Fighters, Ryan Adams, or R.E.M. if they were still together, might cover some of these tracks. Second, and also characteristic of Mould's style, these songs get in and get out without belaboring the point. At 37 minutes, this is a taut collection. Third, Mould's embrace of the sun as a metaphor for optimism – present in song titles such as "Sunshine Rock," "Sunny Love Song," "Camp Sunshine," and "Western Sunset" – provides a sense of ebullience often balanced by groundedness. Joy is not pure and unadulterated, but rather a product of life's contingencies.

Bookending the album is the title track and "Western Sunset," both highly melodic rockers sweetened by the Prague TV Orchestra. The inclusion of strings renders a lushness to both tracks, evoking the optimism in Mould's writing. From here, the vast majority of the album is big riffs, propulsive basslines and crashing drums. Diversions include "The Final Years" and "Lost Faith," both augmented by keyboards and almost post-punk in their execution. "Camp Sunshine" is austere, Mould strumming a guitar and singing letter-to-home lyrics about the desire to hold onto those moments of happiness in adulthood. It is here where Mould fleshes out the complexities of experience that inform our contentment in the moment: "You can't predict the future, you can't forget the past." He reminds us that despite the consequences of getting older, choosing to see the bright side of life's inevitable curveballs is always an option.

Not that things are always sunny, per se. "What Do You Want Me to Do" is directed at a free-spirited, aloof and hard-to-please lover, while "Thirty Dozen Roses" finds the break-up-make-up cycle of a dysfunctional relationship at its likely end ("Olive branches piled up at your door / You don't let me come inside your place no more"). "Irrational Poison" struggles with the self-doubt we inflict upon ourselves in the face of attraction. And "Lost Faith" examines the spiral of hopelessness in depression.

Whether or not it was Mould's intention, one could hear "I Fought" as a tribute to his H�sker D� bandmate, the late Grant Hart who passed away in 2017: "You're in my memory, you're in my history, you're in my everything; I fought for you, and I fought with you, we fought together, we were side by side." Musically, it is one of the hardest tracks on the album, very much recalling H�sker D�, especially in Mould's shredding vocal delivery.

Just prior to album closer "Western Sunset," Mould throws in a spirited cover of "Send Me a Postcard" by Shocking Blue (most famous for "Venus," made ubiquitous in an '80s cover version by Bananarama). The song works well with Mould's ten originals, highlighting the enduring strength of his own songwriting.

Overall, "Sunshine Rock" is refreshing in its blast – a combo of '80s punk and '90s alt-rock, eras and styles in which Mould was a key player. Bassist Jason Narducy and drummer Jon Wurster (the latter of which is also from Superchunk) strengthen the drive behind Mould, his guitar and dependably sharp pen. With a judicious use of "very down lyrics," these songs are certainly catchy. And while the optimism Mould embraced in writing this album doesn't signal a profound change in direction or outlook, it does remind us to be present and acknowledge the good in any given moment.

Bob Mould
"Sunshine Rock"
$9.99 (digital), $12.98 (CD), $19.98 (vinyl)
Bob Mould official website store