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.
Echo / Don't Piece Me
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smokin' like a dreamer
Don't piece me in
Tear apart your headache
Take it in your rib tee
Check the placid league fight
It's your symbol
Choose what's in my skull
Oh, God, it looks so beautiful
Never, never is an ugly word
The lyrics of Melvins' song Echo / Don't Piece Me are cryptic but contain a message about individuality and non-conformity. The first line "Don't piece me" could mean "don't pigeonhole me" or "don't label me." It could also connote a desire for independence and freedom from societal expectations. "Smokin' like a dreamer" seems to imply a Jekyll and Hyde-like personality where one remains dreamy and idealistic even in their tough and harsh exterior.
The lines "Tear apart your headache" and "take it in your rib tee" could mean to face the pain and challenges of reality head-on, take them in, and wear them on your sleeve. "Check the placid league fight, it's your symbol," could indicate the idea that someone should fight for their beliefs and individuality even if society might consider them passive or meek. The final stanza is a sharp retort to the idea of never - a word that implies a lack of hopefulness or possibility.
Overall, the song is a call to embrace one's self and to never give in to social pressure. It celebrates the unconventional and the non-conformist, promoting a message of individuality and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't piece me
Don't pigeonhole or categorize me
Smokin' like a dreamer
Acting like someone who is detached from reality
Don't piece me in
Don't limit or restrict me
Tear apart your headache
Deal with your own problems, don't burden me with them
Take it in your rib tee
Accept the consequences of your actions
Check the placid league fight
Observe the conflict without getting involved
It's your symbol
Your actions define you
Choose what's in my skull
My thoughts and decisions are mine alone
Never run, never
Stay true to yourself and don't back down
Oh, God, it looks so beautiful
Although destructive, violence can be captivating
Never, never is an ugly word
It's better to take risks and fail than to never try at all
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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