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.
Ever Since My Accident
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Overthrown to her lips
And it's wild, it's wild
Well, I stand all alone like a tree
All alone I stand
The lyrics to the Melvins' song "Ever Since My Accident" reflect feelings of isolation, disorientation, and a loss of control. The opening line, "Ever since my accident," suggests that the singer has suffered some kind of traumatic event that has left them adrift or disconnected from the world around them. The line "overThrown to her lips" suggests that the singer may be experiencing a crush or infatuation, but also that their sense of self has been overwhelmed by their feelings.
The repetition of the line "it's wild" suggests a sense of chaos or unpredictability that the singer is struggling to navigate. The image of standing "all alone like a tree" highlights the singer's sense of isolation and vulnerability. The repetition of the phrase "all alone I stand" underscores the profound sense of loneliness that the singer is experiencing, and the haunting melody of the song reinforces this sense of emotional alienation.
Overall, "Ever Since My Accident" is a haunting and melancholy meditation on the aftermath of a traumatic event, and the ways in which it can leave one feeling disconnected and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since my accident
Since the moment when I encountered the mishap
Overthrown to her lips
Thrown off balance towards her mouth
And it's wild, it's wild
Intense and chaotic, beyond comprehension
Well, I stand all alone like a tree
I am rooted here, solitary and unaccompanied like a tree
All alone I stand
I am alone, standing upright amidst everything
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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