The ink was barely dry on the HUSKERS Warners contract by the time they were back at Nicollet Studios in October 1985 to record what would be regarded by many as a career highlight on its' release in early Spring 1986.
That said,"Candy Apple Grey"s subsequent reputation as a troubled, downer of a record was compounded during 2000, when it appeared in the NME's listing of their Top 30 "heartbreak" albums of all time, rubbing shoulders (or slitting wrists?) with the likes of JOY DIVISION,SLINT and RADIOHEAD.
Interviews back in the day find Mould especially alluding to loneliness and depression in his personal life (years before his homosexuality became public domain) and, certainly for a major label debut,"Candy Apple Grey" is deeply emotionally scarred with songs like Mould's unbearably gentle, "Hardly Getting Over It" and postcard from (over) the edge,"Too Far Down" genuinely making you fear for his safety.
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Yet there's a tension here that ensures this is never less than compelling and their uncanny knack for storming tunes - here see "Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely","I Don't Know For Sure" and Grant Hart's propulsive "Dead Set On Destruction" - ensures they retain their raw edge. Despite its' raw-throated wallow in lyrical misery, explosive opener "Crystal" is just an astonishing widescreen blast and eerily addictive to boot.
Both critically and commercially,"Candy Apple Grey" delivered for HUSKER DU, but unfortunately a string of personal problems would shortly culminate in the band's unhappy demise. Especially ironic when you consider they'd pretty much epitomised integrity itself for the past five years or so.
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