In the early days of their career their dark, heavy, oppressively slow sound made them innovators of genres like sludge, grunge, and doom metal. The Melvins' music is influenced by Flipper, Black Flag's My War-era hardcore punk and Black Sabbath-style heavy metal, but their idiosyncratic approach, bizarre sense of humor, and experimentation make neat categorization difficult. Singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne (aka "King Buzzo") and drummer Dale Crover are constant members while several bass guitarists have cycled through the group. The Melvins usually performed as a trio until 2006 when two members of Big Business became permanent members of the band.
The band was named after a grocery clerk at the Thriftway in Montesano, Washington where Osborne was employed. Melvin was the most-hated fellow employee and the band felt it to be an appropriate name. Like SF noisenik predecessors Flipper, their love of slow tempos and sludgy sound were a strong influence on grunge music, especially Nirvana and many other bands from Seattle. Their protegés, however, tended to use more conventional musical structures with this sound.
Though the group has received mostly positive critical notice, Crover's drumming has been especially praised; Patrick Kennedy describes his work as "astonishing, powerful, and daring."
While never finding and most likely never even seeking great mainstream success, the Melvins maintain an impressive schedule of new albums and tours, including a collaboration with Fantômas in The Fantômas Melvins Big Band, two releases with former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, and in 2004 the Melvins collaborated with ambient artist Lustmord for Pigs of the Roman Empire. In appreciation of their devoted fans, the Melvins have released various collectables through the years that have included two-headed dolls, an eight-track tape, and a plastic fetus in a jar.
Fellow Aberdeen resident Kurt Cobain (a good friend of Crover) was a huge Melvins fan and helped them transport their equipment to a few shows. Cobain also auditioned to join the band on bass, but he didn't make it, reportedly because he was so nervous that he forgot all the songs. Cobain maintained his relation with the band. Later he produced and played on some songs (guitar on "Sky Pup", percussion on "Spread Eagle Beagle") on the band's major label debut, Houdini. Dale Crover is also attributed as playing on the Nirvana debut album, Bleach, and on "Incesticide". In addition, Dave Grohl (ex-drummer for Nirvana) co-wrote and played drums for Isabella on Buzzo's Melvins solo album, King Buzzo.
All At Once
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I mean, like 10 percent of the audience wants to fight.
The other 90 percent are totally bored.
So it's like, what the fuck am I doing up here, you know.
You know when I am sitting around at home in Hollywood, usually what I'm saying to myself is how much we suck compared to all the great bands from Jacksonville.
I'm thinking how much my life sucks compared to what it would be like if I just lived in Jacksonville.
Unfortunately, I'm exiled in California.
And you guys are in this hot bed of entertainment, called Jacksonville.
So I think without any further ado, we will continue by being completely bored ourselves.
Oh, I'm so damn lonely
...AND I HATE EVERYBODY!
[x6]
And we hate everyone of you!
[x8]
FUCK YOU!
AH!
[x4]
We hate you all and want you to die
[x4]
FUCK YOU!
[x4]
We hate you all and want you to die
[x8]
Die!
The lyrics to the Melvins' song "All At Once" convey a sense of frustration and anger towards the audience and the band's own performance. The first verse speaks to the divide in the audience's reaction, with only 10% wanting to fight and 90% being bored. The singer questions their own purpose in being on stage and seems disillusioned with the whole experience.
The second verse presents a contrast between the singer's home in Hollywood and their idealized view of Jacksonville, where supposedly all the great bands come from. The singer feels exiled and stuck in California, while the audience is in the hub of entertainment. The verse ends with a declaration that the band will continue to be bored on stage.
The repetition of the phrase "We hate you all and want you to die" as the song's chorus emphasizes the contempt the singer has for their audience. The song ends with a primal scream of "Die!", further highlighting the band's frustration and aggression.
Overall, the lyrics to "All At Once" express a sense of disillusionment, frustration, and anger towards both the audience and the band's own performance.
Line by Line Meaning
You know, I don't think this is going very well.
I am unhappy with how this performance is going.
I mean, like 10 percent of the audience wants to fight.
Only a small portion of the audience is enjoying themselves, while the others are causing trouble.
The other 90 percent are totally bored.
The majority of the audience is uninterested and disengaged.
So it's like, what the fuck am I doing up here, you know.
I am questioning why I am even performing if the audience is not enjoying it.
You know when I am sitting around at home in Hollywood, usually what I'm saying to myself is how much we suck compared to all the great bands from Jacksonville.
When I am at home, I often feel inferior to the talented bands from Jacksonville.
I'm thinking how much my life sucks compared to what it would be like if I just lived in Jacksonville.
I feel that my life would be better if I lived in Jacksonville.
Unfortunately, I'm exiled in California.
However, I am unable to move to Jacksonville due to my current circumstances.
And you guys are in this hot bed of entertainment, called Jacksonville.
You are fortunate to be in such a thriving city for the entertainment industry.
So I think without any further ado, we will continue by being completely bored ourselves.
Despite the lack of enthusiasm from the audience, we will continue performing.
Oh, I'm so damn lonely
I feel incredibly isolated and alone.
...AND I HATE EVERYBODY!
My loneliness has caused me to harbor extreme distaste for everyone around me.
[x6] And we hate everyone of you!
We are directing our hatred towards the audience.
[x8] FUCK YOU!
We are expressing our anger and frustration towards the audience through profanity.
[x4] We hate you all and want you to die
Our hatred towards the audience has escalated to the point of wishing for their demise.
[x8] Die!
We are expressing our anger and desire for the audience to perish.
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rowdy1467
Dale Crover is criminally underrated.
@squishydafishy
There will never be another like him....sadly. Should be immortal
@centralscrutinizer1757
I bet Dale likes it that way
@andrewhigdon8346
Just take note that Kurt Cobain played various instruments on Houdini before he ate a shotgun shell. Without the Melvins, a lot of the crazy shit we love may not have come around. Bullhead. Listen to it again. And then once more.
@666finnegan
A-greed!
@TrackHeadStudios
Agreed. He makes the drums practically sing the vocals, play the bass, the guitars: lead and rhythm!!
He’s always a great complement to each song.
@johnnymac6242
Dale Crover is seriously one of the best drummers ever
@racshade6646
The audio on this is impeccable!! That bass sounds so full and rich!
@mr.brenman2132
It's amazing.
@angelob3281
This song has such a cool vibe it feels like it's happening underwater.