3CDs, die cut sleeves, 144 page hardcover book, Linen-finished slipcase, 69 songs, 47 previously unissued, Flyerography, 40 previously unpublished photographs, 12,000 word essay by Erin Osmon, Sessionography by Paul Hilcoff, Remastered from the original analog tapes. Experience the punishing sonic origins of a punk icon. Collected here for the first time, and skillfully remastered from original board tapes, demos, and session masters, this collection is an authoritative chronicling of the wellspring and maturation of Grant Hart, Greg Norton and Bob Mould—three St. Paul teenagers who’d go on to become the most heralded trio of the American punk underground. Follow the H?skers to their earliest gigs in 1979, through extensive road dog touring, and to the start of their partnership with West Coast tastemak er SST in 1983. This primitive stage in the fabled car eer of H?sk er D? is presented as a deluxe box set and packaged with a hardbound book crammed full of never before seen photos, flyers, and a sprawling essay with participation from the band. Spread across four LPs or three CDs, 47 of the 69 songs compiled here are previously unissued. Also included are Statues/Amusement, In A Free Land, Everything Falls Apart, and an alternate recording of the Land Speed Record set. “We created this blistering wall of sound—bright white radio static with occasional melody.” —Bob Mould “It was like rolling down a hill aware of the bumps, but focusing on blowing people’s minds and completely wearing out the audience.”—Grant Hart “We didn’t know what hardcore was. We just got up there and played real fast and loud.”—Greg Norton
