Basses
Loaded – Tracklisting
1.The
Decay of Lying 06:35
2.Choco
Plumbing 04:11
3.Beer
Hippie 05:15
4.I
Want To Tell You 03:13
5.Captain
Come Down 02:54
6.Hideous
Woman 03:04
7.Shaving
Cream 02:31
8.Planet
Distructo 06:05
9.War
Pussy 02:47
10.Maybe
I Am Amused 02:45
11.Phyllis
Dillard 04:21
12.Take
Me Out To The Ballgame 02:07
Basses
Loaded Line-Up:
King
Buzzo – guitar & vocals
Dale
Crover – drums & vocals (1, 2, 4–6, 8–10), bass (3, 7, 11,
12)
Steven
McDonald – bass & vocals (1, 4, 6, 9)
Jared
Warren – bass & vocals (2)
Coady
Willis – drums & vocals (2)
Mike
Dillard – drums & vocals (3, 7, 11, 12)
Jeff
Pinkus – bass (5)
Trevor
Dunn – bass (8)
Krist
Novoselic – bass & accordion (10)
Review:
Greetings
all,
First
off, I would like to thank Steve for giving me a chance to try this
reviewer/critic gig out. Secondly, I would like to thank him again
for handing me the new Melvins LP for my first job out of the gate.
There
isn't much more that can be said about the Melvins that hasn't
already been said over the entirety of their 30+ year career. Their
music has evolved, devolved, revolved and has always been
interesting. I grew up a grunge kid whose favorite band was Nirvana
and I remember going to buy Houdini at the National Record Mart in
Steubenville, Ohio based solely on the fact that Kurt Kobain had
worked on it. From that moment on, I was hooked. If you are reading
this, I have to make an assumption you are familiar with the band, or
at the very least want to be.
Basses
Loaded is the band's umpty-7th full length (25th actually) and, in
the vein of always doing what they want, have recorded an album with
a rotating cast of bass players joining Buzzo and Dale. Most having a
past affiliation with the band. Dale plays bass on 4 of the 12
tracks. Current touring bassist Steve McDonald (Redd Kross) handles 4
additional tracks. Rounding out the low end duties are Jeff Pinkus
(Butthole Surfers, Honky), Jared Warren (Big Business), Trevor Dunn
(Mr. Bungle) and Krist Novoselic (Sweet 75).
The
album is tight, considering the use of rotating band members, and
that the songs included have seen the light on various EP's and split
singles. The album continues in the vein of the last few Melvins
releases that while heavy, have a few quirky, poppy moments. The
Melvins are musical chameleons of the best kind. This is an album
that sticks with you and warrants repeated listens.
Here
we go song by song;
01.
The Decay of Lying (Steve McDonald) is a surprisingly slow burner
that builds and chugs into a solid, solid rock tune.
02.
Choco Plumbing (Jared Warren) is reminiscent of a Nude with boots era
Melvins/Big Business song, it bring the heavy, new wavish style that
I feel came out on the last two Melvins/Big Business albums
03.
Beer Hippie (Dale Crover) is another of the bands trademark
lumbering, huge riff rockers
04.
I Want To Tell You (Steve McDonald) is a Beatles cover from Revolver
that potentially shows McDonald's influence and the bands flexibility
05.
Captain Come Down (JD Pinkus) is a shorter rock song with another
solid riff. Very much in the Butthole Surfers/Honky vein based on the
contribution of Mr. Pinkus
06.
Hideous Woman (Steve McDonald) a shorter, slightly more up-tempo
track with a definite Melvins feel to it.
07.
Shaving Cream (Dale Crover) is a profanity laden umpah track that
transforms into a profanity land little piece of post punk repetition
08.
Planet Distructo (Trevor Dunn) is the one tune that you can actually
really hear the bassist style come through. Trevor Dunn's acoustic
upright bass is front and center of this schizo tune.
09.
War Pussy (Steve McDonald) is another great tune in the vein of
Captain Come Down and Hideous woman. These tracks are what the
Melvins have evolved into in my eyes. Heavy and to the point, when
they want to be.
10.
Maybe I Am Amused (Krist Novoselic) would appear, at least in title,
as a wink and a nod to the whole Paul McCartney, Sound City, Nirvana
reunion thing that never came to be, but the accordion heavy, hand
clap driven pop tune is slightly off kilter but spot on.
11.
Phyllis Dillard (Dale Crover) is a song that is the epitome of a
Melvins song, the driving bass, thundering drums and monster riff
along with Buzzo's growl. It ventures almost into being a metal song,
without actually ever getting there.
12.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame (Dale Crover) is what it is, a straight
on cover of the 7th inning stretch tune.
To
me, this album is a return to form for the band, if you dig The
Melvins, you will dig this record, as it truly warrants repeat
listens. And also, it is not a bad introduction to someone who is
possibly new to the band, as it shows their versatility and is
accessible, without compromising from beginning to end. Highly
recommended!
Words
by Todd Stealey
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