This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Bob Mould's "See a Little Light"

After embracing extreme guitar noise for years as one of the artistic leaders of post-punk indie rock legends Husker Du, Bob Mould found his bridge to gentle acoustic guitar and power pop-inspired melody as a solo artist at the tail end of the '80s. That's not to say he didn't continue to explore buzz-saw guitar sonics and his own anger and confusion through his angst-ridden lyrics. But during his early years as a solo artist and then as frontman for alternative guitar pop trio Sugar during the early '90s, Mould continually stretched himself as an utterly unique rock music innovator.

"See a Little Light," a bouncy but still somehow piercing track from 1989's Workbook, was just one of the first modern rock classics to spring from Mould during his most fertile post-Nirvana years. In addition, having largely eschewed his previous propensity for shouted vocals, Mould began to emerge as the moving and soulful singer he'd always had plenty of potential to be. They may not be '80s tunes, but check out the Sugar tracks "If I Can't Change Your Mind" and "Believe What You're Saying" for the logical conclusion to this artist's inevitable move toward melodic pop.

• Sample or download "See a Little Light" here.
• Compare prices on Bob Mould solo CDs here.
• Compare prices on Husker Du CDs here.
• Compare prices on Sugar CDs here

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Virgin