HOARSE HUSKER

“NEW DAY RISING.” Husker Du. SST. Listening to the latest from the Minneapolis power-punk trio is like planting yourself in the middle of a wild river and seeing what you can grab as it goes by. The band still makes no concessions to production, and the cuts with hoarse, shrieking vocals and roaring guitar border on white noise. That can provide an exhilarating rush, and it’s a good vehicle for the lyrics’ agitated alienation, but it’s too bad Husker Du (which plays Saturday at UCLA’s Ackerman Ballroom and next Sunday at Carpenter’s Hall in San Diego) didn’t expand on the ambition and scope of last year’s double-whammy, “Zen Arcade.” There are some bouncier, poppish respites from the garage minimalism; the best one, “Books About UFO’s,” is a surprisingly sweet and funny character sketch.