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.
Kool Legged
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And runs and crawls and kicks and now speaks
The feelings I get now are close
But I doubt they could ever compete
I remember drinking Kool-Aid
Its odor and its taste and drinking 7-Up to get well
A picture of Jesus and an Indian over my bed
And playing with parts of myself
The lyrics of "Kool Legged" by Melvins present a unique and somewhat surrealistic interpretation of feelings and experiences associated with adolescence and beyond. The first line of the song, "The river where your legs meet sprouts wings," is a vivid and intriguing metaphor that highlights the transformation and liberation that occur when one embraces their unique identity and sexuality. This transformation is powerful and multidimensional, as reflected in the lines that follow: "And runs and crawls and kicks and now speaks / The feelings I get now are close / But I doubt they could ever compete." Here, the singer seems to be acknowledging the powerful and at times overwhelming feelings associated with adolescence and first sexual experiences, but also recognizing that these experiences are unique and cannot be fully captured or replicated by others.
The subsequent lines of the song provide glimpses into the singer's personal history and childhood experiences, such as drinking Kool-Aid and 7-Up to feel better and having religious and cultural iconography in their bedroom. These details serve to anchor the song's emotional landscape in a specific time and place, while also inviting the listener to reflect on their own experiences and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
The river where your legs meet sprouts wings
Your genitals feel almost magical and empowered, and make you feel like you can take flight
And runs and crawls and kicks and now speaks
Your sexual desires can feel alive and powerful, almost like a creature with its own volition, demanding attention and expression
The feelings I get now are close
The sensations your sexual desires awaken in you are intense and immediate
But I doubt they could ever compete
However, these sensations can never replace or fully satisfy the deeply-rooted urges that drive human beings sexually
I remember drinking Kool-Aid
I remember the simple, innocent joys of childhood
Its odor and its taste and drinking 7-Up to get well
I remember the physical pleasures and remedies of childhood, which contrast with the complex, sometimes painful experiences of adulthood
A picture of Jesus and an Indian over my bed
Innocent and idiosyncratic elements of childhood beliefs and influences
And playing with parts of myself
The discovery and exploration of one's own sexuality is a natural part of growing up
And now you're so forgiving
As we grow older and experience more complex relationships and experiences, we should strive to be forgiving and understanding towards ourselves and others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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