Book Review: See A Little Light by Bob Mould

During college I developed a close bond to Bob Mould.  No, I've never met the guy.  But I played his solo album, Black Sheets of Rain and Sugar's Copper Blue so incessantly that I felt I knew him, or more importantly that he knew and understood me.  And therein lies the genius of Bob Mould, he is able to take unadulterated passionate emotions and express them eloquently. His albums are cauldrons nearly boiling over with anger, frustration, insecurity and at the other end of the spectrum, hope.  And in my twenties, these were emotions I understood well, many of us did.

So in his memoir, See A Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody, I had no idea which Bob Mould I would encounter.  Would it be the witty, biting Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü?  Would it be the angry Bob Mould who sang "Stop Your Crying"?  Or would See A Little Light tell the saga of a world-weary musician?  The answer is: None of the above.  In his memoir, we are introduced to a kindler, gentler Bob Mould.  Through the years, he has learned to feel comfortable in his own skin.  This is not a book about riding in vans and getting laid (though there is fair amount of that).  The drugs, sex and rock'n'roll of the scene play more of a background as Bob relates how music transformed his life.  During his chaotic and abusive upbringing in upstate New York, Bob discovered the two things that brought escape: booze and music. 

But he found that escape didn't solve all of his problems.  Success seemed to arrived accompanied by a complicated labyrinth of social issues.  Underlying everything was his insecurity and coming to terms with his homosexuality.  At various points in his life, he made baby steps, with some faltering along the way.  Ultimately, he recounts how he was finally able to embrace the person he is and how this fueled his creativity.  As you read, you're cheering him along.

See A Little Light provides a perspective on the music scene that only Bob Mould could share.  Through 80s DIY to the indie bubble during the 90s, he was at the forefront of it all.  And as he looks back on his life, he does so with a sense of humor and understanding.