Metal Circus

Metal Circus
EP by Hüsker Dü
Released	October 1983
Recorded	December 1982 to January 1983 at Total Access Recording in Redondo Beach, California
Genre	Hardcore punk
Length	18:57
Label	SST
Producer	Hüsker Dü, Spot
Hüsker Dü chronology
Everything Falls Apart (1983) Metal Circus (1983) Zen Arcade (1984)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Piero Scaruffi	[2]
Robert Christgau	(A)[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]
Spin	[5]

Metal Circus is an EP by Hüsker Dü, released in 1983. 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. 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. The title pronunciation, "Diane", makes a quibble with the word "dying" (and the background vocals sing the word "Diane" in a way that makes it sound like "Die Ann"). The music was covered by the band Coffin Break in 1989, Irish band Therapy? in 1995, Superdrag in 1998 and Gravenhurst in 2004 .

This EP was almost released as a 30 minute album with 11 songs. The outtakes were "Standing by the Sea" (later used on Zen Arcade), "Today's the Day", "You Think I'm Scared", and "Won't Change". [1]

Track listing

Side One

1. "Real World" (Mould) – 2:27
2. "Deadly Skies" (Mould) – 1:50
3. "It's Not Funny Anymore" (Hart) – 2:12
4. "First of the Last Calls" (Mould) – 2:48

Side Two

1. "Lifeline" (Mould) – 2:19
2. "Diane" (Hart) – 4:42
3. "Out on a Limb" (Mould) – 2:39

References

1. ^ Metal Circus at Allmusic
2. ^ Piero Scaruffi review
3. ^ Robert Christgau review
4. ^ Brackett, Nathan. "Hüsker Dü". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 398, cited March 18, 2010
5. ^ Weisbard, Eric. "Hüsker Dü". Spin Alternative Record Guide. October 1995. p.187