GRANT HART Intolerance (SST)

After Husker Du's self-destruction, both drummer Grant Hart and guitarist Bob Mould scrambled to take credit for the band's vast critical acclaim.

Their breakup and subsequent media sniping immediately drew comparisons to the Lennon / McCartney battles after the demise of the Beatles. Mould blamed Hart's heroin addiction as the cause of the band's split and Hart claimed that his drug troubles were a result of Mould's creative suffocation.

Workbook, Mould's solo debut, was the first piece to be pulled from the wreckage. The album drew rave reviews while shocking nearly everyone with its subtlety. Mould had dropped his searing "wall of noise" guitar feedback for light acoustic strumming accompanied by, of all things, a cello.

Mould instantly became hailed as the brains behind the Husker beast.

Hart beat his drug problem and came back with Intolerance. The album is a collection of bittersweet songs that prove the crowning of Mould was a bit premature.

Like Mould, Hart opted to shuck the Husker past and progress to a new sound. Intolerance does this with a dizzying variety of styles. Everything from rousing beer-hall sing-alongs to roller-rink theme music to straight pop melodies can be found on Hart's debut effort.

Lyrically, Hart spills his guts about his tragic experiences in the past few years.

In "2541" (which was released earlier on his 2541 EP) Hart sings of what seems to be remorse for the schism of his old band. Supposedly 2541 was the address of the Husker dudes' recording studio and Hart sings "Now everything is over /Everything is done / Everything's in boxes / At 2541."

Bitterness toward Mould and his accusations permeate throughout the melancholic "You're the Victim," where Hart asserts that "Those little things you say / Well, you contradict them."

The rough times, however, are met with a positive outlook.

While looking to the future with optimism in "The Main," Hart confronts his heroin addiction by reflecting fearfully at what he had become. Hart also delivers what could be viewed as an eulogy to Husker Du's manager, who committed suicide more than two years ago. In "She Can See the Angels Coming" he paints a suicidal leap as a beautiful ballet that sets the soul free.

The album not only proves Hart's writing skill; it allows him to take control of the instrumentation. Hart is no longer just a drummer. On Intolerance he plays every instrument and fills songs like "Now That You Know Me" and "All of My Senses" with irresistible hooks.

Hart's debut reasserts that there should not be any disappointment about the split of Husker Du, but the band's fans should instead relish the thought of receiving more great albums by two separate talents.