ALBUM REVIEW: Bob Mould – Blue Hearts

Merge Records

Released: 25.09.20

Blue Hearts is a record packed with political angst, from the acoustic opener Heart On My Sleeve right through the ferocity of Fireball, this is Bob Mould at his most cutting. The sedate start to Blue Hearts is quickly eroded, replaced with sharp driving riffs that become the unrelenting fixture of the album. At times the messages are relatively easy to grasp yet no less powerful, as evidenced on Racing To The End.

However, American Circus and The Ocean shine through as possessing the most heartfelt passion, coupled with fierce anger towards the establishment. Blue Hearts is an immediate and powerful record, played at phenomenal pace. While it’s over quickly, the underpinning messages ring on, this is a wonderful outwardly political album.