Zen Arcade

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Zen Arcade is Hüsker Dü's third full-length album, released in 1984 by SST Records, originally released as a double album on two vinyl LPs. Zen Arcade is a concept album about an adolescent who runs away because his home life is unfulfilling, whereupon he discovers the world outside is even worse. Incorporating elements of jazz, psychedelia, pop, and even including piano interludes – completely unheard of in the circumscribed world of early '80s hardcore punk – Zen Arcade is widely considered one of the most influential punk rock albums of all-time. Its influence has stretched beyond the punk sphere, however, and indeed is frequently included on professional lists of the all-time best rock and roll albums. Hüsker Dü's later albums would abandon the "hardcore" aesthetic entirely in favor of post-hardcore, melodic, guitar-driven alternative rock.

According to the liner notes, the entire album was recorded and mixed in 85 hours, and all but two songs ("Something I Learned Today" & "Newest Industry") are first takes.

Track listing

1. "Something I Learned Today" (Bob Mould)
2. "Broken Home, Broken Heart" (B. Mould)
3. "Never Talking To You Again" (Grant Hart)
4. "Chartered Trips" (B. Mould)
5. "Dreams Reoccurring" (Hüsker Dü)
6. "Indecision Time" (B. Mould)
7. "Hare Krsna" (G. Hart)
8. "Beyond The Threshold" (B. Mould)
9. "Pride" (B. Mould)
10. "I'll Never Forget You" (B. Mould)
11. "Biggest Lie" (B. Mould)
12. "What's Going On" (G. Hart)
13. "Masochism World" (G. Hart, B. Mould)
14. "Standing By The Sea" (G. Hart)
15. "Somewhere" (G. Hart, B. Mould)
16. "One Step At A Time" (G. Hart, B. Mould)
17. "Pink Turns To Blue" (G. Hart)
18. "Newest Industry" (B. Mould)
19. "Monday Will Never Be The Same" (B. Mould)
20. "Whatever" (B. Mould)
21. "The Tooth Fairy And The Princess" (B. Mould)
22. "Turn On The News" (G. Hart)
23. "Reoccurring Dreams" (Hüsker Dü)