What Grant Hart Means To Me

I first heard Grant Hart, who died on September 13, 2017 at the tragically young age of 56, on Hüsker Dü's Candy Apple Grey, the band's underrated and oft-maligned major label debut from 1986. As a fan of Bob Mould's Sugar, I decided to finally take the plunge into Hüsker Dü's catalog, and this was the first album I was able to find. By Candy Apple Grey, the band had nearly perfected their poppy power trio attack, mixing heavy, buzzsaw guitars with power pop affectations. Those elements were always there, even on 1981's raucous, live album Land Speed Record and the hardcore, yet melodic, Everything Falls Apart. By 1986, after several more seminal records (Zen Arcade, New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig) in the hardcore/indie cannon, they perfected the form. Alternating between Mould's generally faster songs that increasingly relied on pop sensibilities and Hart's more lyrically-and vocally-focused songwriter paeans, both revolving heavily around failed love, Hüsker Dü's later albums are mature reflections on love, friendship, and the struggles of being in a band. Hart and Mould's struggles as strong personalities are evident in Mould's "Too Far Down" and Hart's "Dead Set on Destruction." Eventually the band broke up in 1987, while Hart was struggling with drug addiction and Mould was dealing with alcohol abuse.

Hart's songs grabbed me instantly and would not let me go. "Don't Want to Know if you Are Lonely" is a minor pop masterpiece that perfectly captures the uncertainty of a major breakup. It is a perfect one-two punch, coupled with Hart's second song on the album, "Sorry Somehow," which continues  commenting on the feeling of uncertainty in the relationship. The song captures the struggles of moving on. Hart's "No Promises Have I Made" is something of a departure, but is no less powerful. The piano ballad continues the lyrical trajectory of his other songs on the album. Here the narrator refuses to apologize for not making promises about the future. In my humble opinion, Hart never equaled this song again for emotional resonance. 

Grant Hart wrote an amazing number of other great songs in Hüsker Dü and after. He had a lengthy solo career and put out several records with Nova Mob. Some of the best include, "The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill," "All of My Senses" "Books About UFOs, "2541", and "Pink Turns to Blue." I could include almost all of Hart's songs in a list of my favorite songs. He had some missteps and accomplished some impressive song writing experiments, especially while working with Bob Mould. 

Hart's songs hold resonance for many of us because he was able to quantify difficult emotions into short songs. He wrote pop songs that went beyond the limitations of the form. They rocked and they were full of life. He transcended cliches yet was able to comment on all the joy and pain of human existence. His songs were universal, yet specific, tragic, yet joyful. They meant different things to me when I was seventeen than they do now. As a teenager I was more apt to identify with the anger and dismissal, but as an adult I am drawn to the grace and ultimate acceptance in his lyrics. 

Hart died too soon, but he left a great legacy of songs and some  impressive drumming that is often neglected in favor of his songwriting. Some of us were hoping that Hüsker Dü would have played another show, but we can be content that Hart's albums exist to speak to new fans. Maybe they will hear his songs and go start a band or create something as meaningful. We can be content that he left a musical legacy that can be heard in many records since. For those who have never even heard Hart's bands, they can hear his legacy in the work of most alternative rock bands since the 1990s. His songs are going to continue to be played on jukeboxes, in dorm rooms, and as covers. In fact, when I saw Beach Slang at Riot Fest, they played the chorus of "The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill," weaving it into the fabric of their own songs as an eulogy to Hart. I, too, will continue to listen to Hart's songs as part of the tapestry of my own life. I encourage you to do the same. Play "Pink Turns to Blue" or "She's a Woman (And Now He Is a Man)" or your own favorite Hart song and let us remember this gentle soul, great song writer, and inimitable drummer. It is the least we can do for all he has given us.