Though he’ll be forever known for his tenure in HÜSKER DÜ (and why not, given that band’s quality and influence), GRANT HART has scattered gems across an intermittent solo career, of which Hot Wax is the latest. A mostly one-man-band affair, as is Hart’s wont, the nine-song collection reprises the stripped-down rock/pop of his solo bow Intolerance (gulp) 20 years ago. There’s a pronounced 60s influence, but it would be a mistake to call this record retro – it simply sounds like Hart is using classic tools for modern art. Strong melodies and vocals abound, whether on the solid rocker “California Zephyr,” the dreamy soundscape “Charles Hollis Jones,” the old-fashioned songsmithery of “I Knew All About You Since Then” or the openly emotional ballad “School Buses Are For Children.” To my ears this is Hart’s strongest album since his first, proof that the out-of-sight-out-of-mind nature of his musical career belies a talent that deserves further attention and acclaim.
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