I cut Diane at the last minute, but here is a short version of my Diane story.
I drove my parents' car into a ditch less than 6 mo after I got my driver's license. I was standing by the side of the road in snow up to my waist when a station wagon with two youngish men wearing purple camo suits drove up and offered me a ride home. It wasn't a great neighborhood, and I was 16 and alone, and it was cold and snowy, so I got into the car. They dropped me off, I said thank you, and nothing else happened that I recall. My parents were glad I was home, but appalled that I would have gotten into the car with these strangers.
I don't remember anything about the incident aside from them offering me a ride, but when I heard Diane for the first time a few years later, it was like I was back there and saw the car pull up again. I don't think they invited me to a party but I suddenly had the thought that maybe they had. It was REALLY weird.
The end.
― passion it person (La Lechera), Monday, 26 November 2012 21:58 (eleven years ago) link
Oh and since it took me so long to type that: I LOVE She Floated Away!!! And Divide and Conquer.
Divide And Conquer should be about half the length it actually is.
― it's all fuck what sit says, we'll do our own thing (Matt #2), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:01 (eleven years ago) link
I've never come to terms with the basic creepiness of "Diane" -- too crude to register as a joke in a Ramonesy way, and the chorus seems full of legit longing, not menace. But it sticks with me.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, November 26, 2012 3:48 PM
This is well put -- I think it's one of their best songs but didn't vote for it because it just creeps me out.
― WilliamC, Monday, 26 November 2012 22:03 (eleven years ago) link
What do you mean, "come to terms with the basic creepiness"? That's what makes the song so great -- irl you never know who is a creep for real and who just seems that way but isn't.
― passion it person (La Lechera), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:07 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, I mean I'm not sure how to take the song. But I guess "Portrait of a Creep" is interpretation enough.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:12 (eleven years ago) link
30. Hardly Getting Over It29. Turn On the News28. I Apologize28. It's Not Funny Anymore26. In A Free Land26. Flexible Flyer24. Powerline23. Diane23. She Floated Away21. Divide and Conquer
― pplains, Monday, 26 November 2012 22:14 (eleven years ago) link
And yeah, Diane to this day still creeps me out. It's also one of those songs in which I give Hart the benefit of the doubt when he wrote it (I don't think he takes any visceral fantasies from it), I really didn't enjoy taking the Internet cruise through all of its covers on YouTube.
― pplains, Monday, 26 November 2012 22:17 (eleven years ago) link
It doesn't creep me out really, it just makes me think about that car accident and getting into a stranger's car in the dark.
― passion it person (La Lechera), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:19 (eleven years ago) link
Fantastic graphics btw pp.
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:29 (eleven years ago) link
two i would have voted for, so far. and yes, pp, great graphics.
― THAT IS ONE BIG PIZZA (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:35 (eleven years ago) link
wait, no, three. "in a free land," "divide and conquer," and "i apologize."
-- I think this is the first time I've ever heard "In a Free Land"-- I also assumed "I Apologize" would be Top 10 (but realize how arbitrary these results can be)-- "Diane" has always made me think of "Riders on the Storm"-- "Divide and Conquer" was my #2, and some days it's my #1-- ditto on the graphics; they're very Husker Du-ish!
― clemenza, Monday, 26 November 2012 22:39 (eleven years ago) link
I voted for Divide & Conquer. Am I imaginging it or is there kind of a drone thing going on with that song, which gives it kind of raga feel? Cos it's always felt that way to me as well as being this totally rocking tune at the same time.
― Albert Crampus (NickB), Monday, 26 November 2012 22:43 (eleven years ago) link
Only voted for "In a Free Land" so far, but s'cool: Being burned out on a song is not the same as never having loved it.
― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 26 November 2012 23:14 (eleven years ago) link
Lots of Mould guitar has the drone thing going.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 26 November 2012 23:15 (eleven years ago) link
so far the only songs i haven't voted for (3 of the 10) are Hart numbers, seems i was right to pick mould as my fave
― da croupier, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 00:29 (eleven years ago) link
I was wondering how Hart songs would place considering the surprising amount of diss he was getting in the voting thread.
― WilliamC, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 00:47 (eleven years ago) link
Can finally see the graphics at home and LOVE them. Riverside Plaza apartments one under "In a Free Land" especially. Where Mary Tyler Moore lived toward the end.
― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 04:11 (eleven years ago) link
WHAT? Mary Richards never lived in the ghetto in the sky, did she?
I lived in Minneapolis for a brief period and went there to see how much units leased out for. The woman at the desk gave me all of these forms and applications to fill out. I had no idea that by that time, it was a housing project.
I wound up just south of 94 between Chicago and Park. Should've gone with the housing.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 04:23 (eleven years ago) link
sad I missed voting in this poll, good results so far though.
― Neil S, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 10:19 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, Mary went from Kenwood to the West Bank, where she started wearing piercings.
Revising my earlier neutrality: "Diane" is a huge lapse, IMO. Great riff, chorus, guitar solo, but that unfortunate genre of punk song that takes an actual horrifying event and does nothing more than play it out again. And tastelessly uses her real name (you can look it up).
To balance with some kindness: I still love the feedback hippie-punk guitar bounce on the "times, places" refrain of "Flexible Flyer," their Citizen Kane with a happy ending. Ultimately cornball, but I obsessed over it at the time.
I'm not a huge "Divide & Conquer" fan, but I'll admit the lyrics get better rather than worse in retrospect.
I voted "In a Free Land" because it's another great hardcore critique of do-nothing democracy, but with those unexpectedly complex chord changes and flashes of '60s-ish melody.
― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 12:39 (eleven years ago) link
in a free land's dip into minor chords with "everybody's in authority" kills me every time. but diane has never left me anything but cold.
― "Hahahaha, nice one, Punchy," I said. (stevie), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:13 (eleven years ago) link
And tastelessly uses her real name (you can look it up).ew, did not know
― passion it person (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:19 (eleven years ago) link
pardon my ignorancethis is what i get for listening and not reading
― passion it person (La Lechera), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:21 (eleven years ago) link
always heard it as "everybody's an authority". dunno why i didn't vote for it, it's a great song
― Albert Crampus (NickB), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:28 (eleven years ago) link
love the glassiness of bob's guitar sound on it especially
― Albert Crampus (NickB), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:29 (eleven years ago) link
NickB, you are probs right, was just humming it to myself from memory!
― "Hahahaha, nice one, Punchy," I said. (stevie), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:38 (eleven years ago) link
the solo is killer. it sounds like the motors or somebody.
Huh, I also didn't know "Diane" is based-on-a-true-story. It makes the song make more sense to me, but I'm still conflicted about the song overall. Oh well. I'll just have to be conflicted.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 14:09 (eleven years ago) link
Probably used her real name 'cause it sounds like "dyin'" xxp
― Faster than food (Myonga Vön Bontee), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:24 (eleven years ago) link
And tastelessly uses her real name (you can look it up).
Aaaand now I kinda wish I hadn't.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
I mean, hell Grant. It's not like when Springsteen wrote "Nebraska," he was all "But I'll just kidnap you and kill your parents instead."
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 16:12 (eleven years ago) link
It's Grant's delivery that makes it skeevy. In concept, "Diane" is no less blunt than "Jordan MN" or a lot of other songs from the scene and era. Hart is convincing in the song in a way few of his peers were. There not even the thin film of irony you'd get in the Birthday Party or Black Flag.
― bendy, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 17:21 (eleven years ago) link
All my high school friends moved into two 2BR units in the Ghetto In The Sky/Crack Stacks when they went to their first year of college in 1989. 8 dudes in 4 bedrooms.
several xposts
Also, this is copied and pasted from the noms thread but before I forget:
Even the song titles have the same boring rhythm
All This I've Done for YOUNo Promise Have I Made
I totally remember being irked by this when CAG came out. I think of these as their Yoda songs.
― you only write about... pleassssure (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:13 (eleven years ago) link
I think of these as their Yoda songs.
Haha.
Anyone up for the rollout now or should I wait until 1300 CST like I said I would.
Seemed to peter out in the late afternoon yesterday.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:17 (eleven years ago) link
Go ahead. I'm home sick and getting bored with the rest of the things the internet has to offer!
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:19 (eleven years ago) link
Crazy office shit going down, so yeah, forgive me if I get started a little early.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/TERMS_OF_PSYCHIC_warfare700.jpg
20. “Terms of Psychic Warfare” - 166 points• Pretty faithful cover, Dirty Grocers
Perfect song to start off Part II with.
'Nother great Norton bassline.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:26 (eleven years ago) link
Will always live side by side with Slade's 'Run Runaway' in my head.
― you only write about... pleassssure (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:27 (eleven years ago) link
Spotify List Reminder
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:30 (eleven years ago) link
Everytime I hear someone screaming in the background of the SST records, I never know if it's Spot or not.
This song being an example.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:32 (eleven years ago) link
This is too low.
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:37 (eleven years ago) link
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/whatever700.jpg
19. “Whatever” - 168 points• Arcwelder's version from Dü Hüskers comp
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:42 (eleven years ago) link
TOO LOW
― Shane Breen is a gigantic tool (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:44 (eleven years ago) link
drums are crazy here.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:46 (eleven years ago) link
i took "Whatever" real personally when i was 17
― Shane Breen is a gigantic tool (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:48 (eleven years ago) link
The use of second person in the verses, separating the narrator from himself, before launching into the first-person barrage at the end is heartbreaking.
― pplains, Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:58 (eleven years ago) link