The release of WORKBOOK was greeted with universal criticalacclaim. Comfortable with the old Husker Du three-piece formula, Bob Mould signed up Tony Maimone (bass) and Anton Fier(drums), both ex-members of Pere Ubu, for his solo debut. Ex-Tiny Lights cellist Jane Scarpantoni also adds some spectacular highlights and shading to the proceedings--especially on "Sinners and Their Repentances". The album displays the natural progression of Mould's writing--though admittedly, the volume and feedback are turned down a notch, and a couple of tracks, in particular "Sunspots", a pretty solo acoustic guitar piece, may surprise people used to his traditional gale-force guitar. Standouts include the deceptively chipper "See a Little Light", which disguises its sadness in a brilliant pop wrapper, the punchy "Poison Years", which seems to be Mould's version of the Husker Du story, and "Brasilia Crossed with Trenton", arguably Mould's finest composition, full of howling regret, jangling guitars, and the kind of introspection that you can sing along with.