On their first studio recording,
Everything Falls Apart,
Hüsker Dü demonstrate a sharper sense of purpose than on their live debut,
Land Speed Record, but that doesn't necessarily make the album a breakthrough. Indeed, the trio demonstrates that it's capable of powerful noise, but not songcraft -- the only song with a discernible hook is their thrashing cover of
Donovan's "Sunshine Superman." Still, the band's hardcore is better than many of its contemporaries because its grasp of noise is superior. Even with the inconsistent songwriting,
Everything Falls Apart rages with layers of blistering guitars and scorching rhythms that are exciting in their own right.