Bob Mould: Modulate : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Bob Mould isn't merely the former leader of the deafening Eighties hardcore rocket ship known as Husker Du; he's also a former creative consultant for World Championship Wrestling. You won't hear evidence of either of those ear-splitting gigs on Modulate -- the album is more akin to the work of a devoted Beatles fan exploring a new studio full of electronic equipment. Like a kid with a new toy, Mould dives right in on the opening track, "180 Rain," immediately employing the tweaked vocoder vocal effect that Cher and Daft Punk have pretty much ruined for everyone else. No biggie. Mould has a gift for melodic, skybound tunes such as "Semper Fi," a baroque arrangement of wheezing, calliope-style synth effects and squiggles, with Mould's drawling, side-of-the-mouth vocals and guitars roaring away underneath everything. Although the cloying vocal hook of "Trade" is pretty limp, "Come On Strong" comes on like a solid alt-rock anthem, complete with lush background vocals and meat-grinder guitar riffs. Ultimately, this is a rock record with electronic effects, not a techno record with guitars, and it falls short of being totally satisfying as either. But Modulate isn't a failure so much as a first step: Apparently, Mould plans to release a fully formed electronic record in June. Stay tuned.

PAT BLASHILL
(RS 894 - April 25, 2002)