Song of the Day 8/4: Sugar, “Believe What You’re Saying”

Some people in the media are pretending that the case against Donald Trump hinges on whether he believed what he was saying about the election being “stolen.” Uh, no. You can believe what you want to believe, you can say what you want to say, but you can’t take criminal action just because you believe your own lies. Besides, this is Donald Trump we’re talking about. Nobody can believe what he’s saying.

After Hüsker Dü broke up, Bob Mould released two solo albums to diminishing returns – the second, “Black Sheets of Rain,” sold a total of 7,000 copies – before he turned to the more commercially appealing sound of alternative pop with his power trio, Sugar.

Mould admitted the band’s critically acclaimed first LP, “Copper Blue,” named Album of the Year by NME in 1992, was influenced by Nirvana’s “Never Mind,” but it represented a mellowing from the snarling guitars of Mould’s Hüsker days. “File Under Easy Listening,” released in 1994, got lost in a sea of grunge despite some of his most radio-friendly music, like this jangle-pop breakup tune.

There’s even a promo video with Mould mouthing the words of the chorus, which might be the most commercial move he’s ever made. It didn’t help much. The band broke up in 1996.