Bob Mould-Workbook (1989)
Artist: Bob Mould
Title: Workbook
Year of Release: 1989
Country and Year of Edition: US 1989
Sell Price: $4.66
Sell Date: 1/1/26
Condition: VG+/VG+
Discogs Last Sold: 5/2/25 NM/NM $5.95
Low: $1.36
Median: $3.00
Average: $3.36
High: $6.74
Current low price: $2.00
Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 28
Have/Want: 979/66
Where Sold: Minneapolis, MN
Time It Took To Sell: 15 years
Where and When Bought: new upon release probably Newbury Comics Boston
Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B
Sad To See It Go: No
Bob Mould's solo debut, Workbook came in the immediate months following the breakup of Hüsker Dü. It was a complete remake/remodel of the sweaty noisemonger that led that trio through the 80's. Like fellow Mpls cohort Paul Westerberg, Bob was now the property of respectable corporate alt-rock and all that implies. I think it took a little time for Bob Mould to get his footing and this particular album has some strengths and weaknesses.
I would say for the most part 37 or so years later I only remembered three things about the record. The best song was the single, "See A Little Light." That song is undeniably the best thing on here although there was one I might like slightly more. That would be "Brasilia Crossed With Trenton." It reminds me of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" in melody and meter. Just not as good "songwriting" if that is the aesthetic aspired to. This might be the crux of the problem I have with Workbook, it wants to turn it's back on US Amerindie "hardcore" shenanigans of the past and looks to be accepted as "serious." "Compositions For The Young And Old" is one of the song titles in case you don't get it. The problem is it achieves neither. The yowling slop of the closing "Whichever Way The Wind Blows" isn't particularly interesting, memorable or rocking like the peak all-time-great closers "Plans I Make" or "Reoccuring Dreams" were, it's just sorta there as a pro forma exclaimation point to the record. A 6 minute wink to part of the practice that made the man THE MAN. The opening melodic instrumental "Sunspots" into the less interesting "Wishing Well" was more memorable and better executed. After three straight listens to the whole of Workbook, I still feel the same way.
I'd have to relisten, but my feeling at the time was Black Sheets of Rain was an improvement. Bob regained his footing during his Sugar period at least in his ability to balance past achievent with maturation concepts in a band format. Now he is an old man solo and comfortable in his skin with a big catalog and none of this really matters so much in 2026.
Glad he is still around kicking against the pricks.
FOR FURTHER REVIEW:
Hüsker Dü-Metal Circus (1983)
Hüsker Dü-Could You Be The One? (1987)
Sugar-File Under Easy Listening (1994)
Various Arists-No Alternative (1993)
Otto's Chemical Lounge-Spillover (1985)
Scrawl-Misery (Someone Is Winning) b/w Just Plain Bad (1992)
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