“Ice Cold Ice,” in which Bob Mould rails against “barren lands and barren minds” and Grant Hart falls in on the supercatchy chorus, exemplifies the Hüsker Dü career development that peaks on this final album. Without sacrificing the emotional intensity of earlier albums, the Minneapolis trio beefs up the guitar-based melodies and sneaks in pop songcraft in lieu of the old fast-and-loud hardcore style. On this 1987 double album, as usual, guitarist Mould supplies the personal songs (“Standing in the Rain”), while drummer Hart remains more broadly political (“Tell You Why Tomorrow”). –Steve Knopper
