Zen Arcade | Hüsker Dü

Zen Arcade is the second studio album by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in July 1984 on SST Records. Originally released as a double album on two vinyl LPs, Zen Arcade tells the story of a young boy who runs away from an unfulfilling home life, only to find the world outside is even worse. Zen Arcade and subsequent Hüsker Dü albums were instrumental in the creation of the alternative rock genre, and it is considered by some to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

Upon its release Zen Arcade received positive reviews in many mainstream publications, including NME, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. In his review for Rolling Stone, David Fricke described Zen Arcade as "the closest hardcore will ever get to an opera ... a kind of thrash Quadrophenia."

Zen Arcade placed eighth in The Village Voice annual Pazz & Jop poll and Robert Christgau declared in his annual review of the poll's results that, while he preferred peers The Replacements' Let It Be, the song "Turn On the News" garnered his nomination for song of the year. The critical praise given to the album drew attention from major labels, including Warner Bros. Records, with whom Hüsker Dü would eventually sign in 1985.

Track Listings

Side 1

1. Something I Learned Today
2. Broken Home, Broken Heart
3. Never Talking to You Again
4. Chartered Trips
5. Dreams Reoccurring
6. Indecision Time
7. Hare Kṛṣṇa

Side 2

1. Beyond the Threshold
2. Pride
3. I'll Never Forget You
4. The Biggest Lie
5. What's Going On
6. Masochism World
7. Standing by the Sea

Side 3

1. Somewhere
2. One Step at a Time
3. Pink Turns to Blue
4. Newest Industry
5. Monday Will Never Be the Same
6. Whatever
7. The Tooth Fairy and the Princess

Side 4

1. Turn On the News
2. Reoccurring Dreams