Bob Mould can rock as hard as anyone, but that doesn't preclude his thoughtful and reflective nature. "I feel I've run so fast that I've caught up with myself," he says. "And as I get older, I get more comfortable with myself."

Being comfortable in his own skin underlies much of Beauty & Ruin, the new album from Bob Mould that dropped on June 10, 2014. In town for a special appearance on American Public Media's Wits, Mould stopped in to The Current's studio to play some songs and to talk to Steve Seel about how the new album came together.

Thematically, Beauty & Ruin is the product of Mould's introspection following the death of his father, particularly thoughts about loss, acceptance and moving on into the future. The album artwork features a photo of Mould at age 19 juxtaposed with an image of Mould today. The album's title is also influenced by the weather in San Francisco — where Mould now lives — which typically features sun sandwiched by fog.

Listen to the complete interview as Mould tells Seel more about the album's backstory, about changes in the music industry and about some of his favorite books — including a never-before-told story about how Mould discovered William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch while he was a student at Macalester College in St. Paul.

Bob Mould will be back in Minnesota in August, when he performs at MN Music on-a-Stick at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 30.

Songs Performed

"I Don't Know You Anymore"
"The War"
"Hey Mr. Grey"
All songs off Bob Mould's album, Beauty & Ruin, out now on Merge Records.

Hosted by Steve Seel
Produced by Jade
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Wesley Berger

External Link

Bob Mould - official site