Husker Du: Zen Arcade LP

Husker Du really hit its stride on this sprawling 1984 release. Zen Arcade established the band as one of the leading lights on the American indie scene. The 23 songs are loosely linked to a narrative structure about a young man who leaves home, only to discover the world to be as oppressive and full of hypocrisy as home life had been. The songs show a marked increase in variety and continue to serve as a blueprint for modern rock, punk, and pop bands.