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.
Gluey Porch Treatments
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You learned how to cry
And I don't think your sorry
You need a little smack of reality
And I'm gonna' be
Sick
Now you take the test
I've tasted better boards on a gluey porch
And I laugh
The lyrics to the Melvins' song "Gluey Porch Treatments" delve into the darker side of human emotions and relationships. The opening lines, "You learned how to cry, and I don't think you're sorry," suggest a sense of emotional manipulation and insincerity between two individuals. The line "you need a little smack of reality" hints at an attempt to awaken the other person to harsh truths, perhaps in order to break through their facade of falseness or pretense. The singer then proclaims they will be "sick" - a symptom often associated with disgust or rejection.
The second half of the verse takes a nihilistic turn as the singer challenges the other person's preferences. "Now you take the test, I ask you 'do you like it?'" The reference to taking a test suggests that the other person's opinions are being evaluated or judged. The singer then goes on to suggest that even experiences as unappetizing as "tasted better boards on a gluey porch" are preferable to the other person's choices. The song seems to hinge on the idea of deteriorating relationships in which one person finds the other's behavior repulsive, and they are left grappling with the weight of their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
You!
Hey, you! Pay attention to what I'm about to say.
You learned how to cry
You've suffered emotionally and are now able to express your feelings.
And I don't think your sorry
I don't believe you feel remorse for your actions or words.
You need a little smack of reality
You require a harsh dose of truth to understand the situation at hand.
And I'm gonna' be
I'll be the one to deliver that reality check.
Sick
It makes me sick to see you act this way.
Now you take the test
It's time for you to prove yourself or face the consequences.
I ask you "do you like it?"
I'm questioning whether you actually enjoy the situation you're in.
I've tasted better boards on a gluey porch
This experience is unpleasant and not the best I've encountered.
And I laugh
Despite the discomfort, I find humor in the situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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