Album number bazillion from alt-rock noisemaker and all-round legend Bob Mould. Often his records are slow brain bombs that burrow in, hunker down then one by one they explode into technicolour and can’t be cured by conventional remedies or medical help you just have to live with them and enjoy them a little more every play. ‘Here We Go Crazy’ has sort of dropped from out of nowhere. His last album ‘Blue Hearts’ was released in 2020 I’m finding that hard to believe to be honest because I’ve played it consistently since its release and his box sets ‘Distortion’ isn’t far from my record player either.

For the uninitiated Mould came out of the Hardcore scene with Husker Du and became a firm favourite in the counter-culture music scene often sighted as a big influence on many bands that followed. Mould has carried that burning Hardcore soul inside throughout his career but has settled into the elder statesman of the alt scene with his strong melodies tied to some very loud guitars and his music is a feast when you latch on and drink it all in. From Husker Du to Sugar to his solo work the guy has high standards and is showing no sign of slowing down or losing the passion that drives his music.

‘Here We Go Crazy’ on the first play sounded raging and bursting with highlights, there is an energy that hasn’t been so instant. You wouldn’t say Mould has ever been a “singles” artist but boy this record has plenty jumping out of the speakers. The second track ‘Neanderthal’ is epic in the best possible way it rolls in like a streamlined jet fighter on one of Mould’s huge riffs as the snare snaps and snarls like a rabid dog, Bloody fantastic and almost breathtaking as it swoops down and fills your ears with the sharpest riffs.

It’s full of comforting familiarities and envelopes the listener with a warm wholesome feeling that no matter if the world is on fire and turning into a despotic shit show some things can ground you and one of those is the sound of a warm melody courtesy of Bob Mould. ‘Breathing Room’ is majestic its like a proud Dad giving a child a warm embrace – Mid tempo, big guitar, even bigger floor tom thump and a wall of harmony that’s simply awesome.

I often try and temper my excitement when listening to albums I’ve been anticipating just incase my first reaction is not one of gratifying enjoyment or a few plays in I still wrestle with the album and the flow but this is none of that it’s reaching every preconceived high bar and continuing to get better the more I live with it. Hell, ‘Hard To Get’ is my go-to cooking song and the louder the better singing the chorus is life-affirming.

There’s no lull at all the chaff isn’t here and considering the career and output Mould has delivered it’s remarkable that in 2025 he just gets better and exceeds expectations all over the shop. I always think an acoustic song would be nice here after he’s been raging for a few songs just to get my breathing back down so it was most welcome when ‘Lost Or Stolen’ took me on a detour of epic acoustic proportions and the acoustic bass is the clincher really setting the mood and as the song reaches its peak the tambourine is as aggressive as it gets. To bring it back into the electric sphere ‘Sharp Little Pieces’ snarls and snaps. As usual, the record is splattered with great lyrics and verses that hang on some wicked melodies sometimes I feel there’s some Bowie being channelled on ‘Thread So Thin’ and the high and low vocals crossover works wonders drawing you in and demanding your attention.

To take this one home the atmospheric ‘Your Side’ is Mould dealing with some deep feelings and philosophical outlook. A dreamy first ninety seconds before kicking in a huge wall of found and the album is done. Another fantastic offering from Bob Mould and continuing to amaze and surprise me with his twisting and turning throughout his albums that always turn in some of the finest songs and as he gets older he defies logic by getting better and refining his already amazing songwriting skills. Longtime fans will absolutely fall in love with ‘Here We Go Crazy’ and new fans will wonder how on earth they managed this far without this guy’s songs filling up their head. Buy it!