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.
Clipping Roses
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch a bloody ending and it's fatal to see
Violence is speed to whither and die
Cooks your goose and chicken
Find flowers to buy you
The lyrics to Melvins' song "Clipping Roses" are open to interpretation, but it seems to speak about the destructive nature of violence and the effects it can have on individuals. The opening lines of "I now check the feelin' in me" sets a contemplative tone as the singer is taking stock of their emotions. The following line "Watch a bloody ending and it's fatal to see" suggests that the singer has witnessed something terrible and it has left a deep impression on them. They are grappling with the emotional fallout of it.
The following lines "Violence is speed to wither and die / Cooks your goose and chicken / Find flowers to buy you" evoke the sense that violence is a destructive force that ultimately leads to ruin. The metaphor of it "speeding to wither and die" implies that its effects are fleeting and ultimately unfulfilling. The next line, "Cooks your goose and chicken" suggests that violence can have fatal consequences. Finally, "Find flowers to buy you" could be read as a plea to find beauty and solace in the midst of chaos.
Overall, the song seems to be a rumination on violence and its effects. It suggests that violence is ultimately self-destructive and that there is beauty to be found in the midst of it.
Line by Line Meaning
I now check the feelin' in me
I am examining my emotions and mental state
Watch a bloody ending and it's fatal to see
Observing a violent conclusion can have deadly consequences
Violence is speed to whither and die
Aggression leads to decay and demise
Cooks your goose and chicken
Destroys everything of value and importance to you
Find flowers to buy you
Search for beauty and positivity to uplift oneself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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