For those not in the know, Bob Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.

Ever-evolving artist Bob Mould - whose face, it has been said, belongs on the Mount Rushmore of alternative music - decided to "write to the sunshine," as he describes it; not because he likes the current administration!

Indeed, it comes from a more personal place. A place found in Berlin, Germany, where he's spent the majority of the last three years. Here Mould would draw inspiration from the new environments.

Hence, the theme, the cathartic vocals, and the strings all amount to Mould's catchiest, grabbiest album since Copper Blue, the acclaimed 1992 debut of his trio Sugar.

Back then, Mould's work in Hüsker Dü, as a solo artist, and in Sugar helped define the sound of guitar rock in the alternative age.

Hence, his brand new solo album, Sunshine Rock (releasing February 8th, 2019 via Merge Records)finds him doing it again for an era that has ostensibly eschewed rock.

Sunshine Rock follows the 2016 release of Patch the Sky, which was hailed by Rolling Stone as "conjuring the ecstatic rage of his earlier bands for a grim new era" and as "tight, sharp musings on aging, fizzled relationships and death that are melodic enough to sound like songs of victory" by the New York Times.

Indeed, Patch the Sky completed a trilogy including it's 2014 predecessor Beauty & Ruin and 2012's Silver Age.

1. 'Sunshine Rock'
2. 'What Do You Want Me to Do'
3. 'Sunny Love Song'
4. 'Thirty Dozen Roses'
5. 'The Final Years'
6. 'Irrational Poison'
7. 'I Fought'
8. 'Sin King'
9. 'Lost Faith'
10. 'Camp Sunshine'
11. 'Send Me a Postcard'
12. 'Western Sunset'

From the off you know who's singing and what you're in for, as the lead track 'Sunshine Rock' is as guitar jangly, as vocally raw, and as deeply indie honest as anything that he's ever brought forth.

All out rockers such as 'What Do You Want Me to Do,' the R.E.M.-esque 'Sunny Love Song,' the ferocious, pounding, angry 'Thirty Dozen Roses' and the indie punk feel of 'I Fought,' and 'Send Me a Postcard' all entertain accordingly.

Caught in between are quietly thoughtful affairs such as 'The Final Years' and the joyful, storytelling bounce of 'Camp Sunshine,' the mid-tempo rolls of 'Irrational Poison' and 'Sin King,' a quite possibly personal dive into Religion within 'Lost Faith,' and the album-ending pop-rock stunner 'Western Sunset.'

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