| Metal Circus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | October 1983 | |||
| Recorded | December 1982–January 1983 | |||
| Studio | Total Access Recording, Redondo Beach, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 18:57 | |||
| Label | SST (020) | |||
| Producer |
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| Hüsker Dü chronology | ||||
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Metal Circus is an EP by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in 1983 by SST Records. As one of their early records, it was largely rooted in the band's initial hardcore punk style. However, signs of a new, poppier influence emerge on Metal Circus, particularly in the songs sung by Grant Hart ("It's Not Funny Anymore" and "Diane"). It also features some of Bob Mould's most passionate singing and shows further development in his guitar playing. Harmonic, chorus-type effects applied to Mould's guitar are more prominent. The change from the furious hardcore moments of Land Speed Record and Everything Falls Apart towards increasing melodicism hints at the groundbreaking new approach that was to be seen on the band's next release, Zen Arcade.
The horrific murder depicted in the anguished "Diane" is based upon the murder of West St. Paul waitress Diane Edwards by Joseph Ture in 1980.[2] The song was covered by Coffin Break in 1989, Irish band Therapy? in 1995, Superdrag in 1998 and Gravenhurst in 2004 .
While only 21 seconds shorter than their debut studio album Everything Falls Apart, and generally viewed as an EP, Metal Circus was almost released as a 30-minute album with 12 songs. The outtakes were "Standing by the Sea" (later used on Zen Arcade), "Heavy Handed", "Is Today the Day?", "You Think I'm Scared", and "Won't Change"[3] (which later appeared on the compilation A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse).[4] In 2017, The Numero Group released the Savage Young Dü compilation of early Hüsker Dü material. A bonus edition of the compilation was packaged with a 7" entitled Extra Circus containing the outtakes from the EP's sessions.[5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
amgwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Headley, Janice (17 October 2019). "13 Songs for Halloween: "Diane" by Hüsker Dü". KEXP-FM. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Scott, Tim (October 23, 2017). "Hüsker Dü's Long Lost 1982 Master Tape Is Now Available". Vice. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Husker du Annotated Discography/Demos, Outtakes, Rehearsals".
- ^ "Inside Husker Du's Early-Years Box Set Treasure Trove". Rolling Stone. 5 September 2017.