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.
Green Honey
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tyre vision headboard, yeah
Walkin' bright, simple
Come on, honey, green, song
Rollin' on wine
Think I'm smellin' love
Pan in preparing the sinner
There's a place called Taco Red
Interpreting the lyrics of Melvins' song Green Honey is like trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces. The song is filled with abstract and surreal imagery that defies easy explanation. The opening lines of "Alien mouse comes, Tyre vision headboard, yeah" seem to suggest an otherworldly presence, perhaps something that is both strange and familiar. The mention of a "Tyre vision headboard" suggests a sense of movement or travel, while the "yeah" at the end of the line suggests a certain nonchalance or indifference.
The next lines continue the strange and surreal imagery, with the singer describing someone or something that is "walkin' bright, simple." The repetition of the word "simple" suggests a certain innocence or purity, but it is unclear who or what is being referred to. The following line, "Come on, honey, green, song," seems to suggest a certain urgency or desire, while the line "Rollin' on wine, think I'm smellin' love" suggests a certain intoxication or euphoria. The mention of a "pan in preparing the sinner" is especially intriguing, as it suggests a religious or ritualistic element to the song.
Finally, the lines "There's a place called Taco Red / And a pier" seem to suggest a concrete location or setting. Whether these places are real or symbolic is unclear, but their inclusion suggests that there is some kind of narrative or story to the song, even if it is not immediately apparent. Overall, the lyrics of Green Honey are enigmatic and difficult to pin down, but they create a vivid and evocative atmosphere that is both dreamlike and unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
Alien mouse comes
Unexpected or strange creatures appear
Tyre vision headboard, yeah
Hallucinations or distorted perceptions
Walkin' bright, simple
Feeling cheerful and uncomplicated
Come on, honey, green, song
Encouraging someone to join in singing a joyful and verdant tune
Rollin' on wine
Feeling intoxicated or out of control
Think I'm smellin' love
Sensing a romantic or passionate atmosphere
Pan in preparing the sinner
A reference to the Greek god of music and his ability to inspire sinful behavior
There's a place called Taco Red
Naming a specific location or establishment
And a pier
Mentioning a nearby pier or dock
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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