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.
Suicide In Progress
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My nose and tongue are roving, but maybe it's not there
There's a little man now, in the middle of the earth
He gives himself these orders and let it all be burned
There are lots of makeshift wonders, seven in the world
Five of them will not be noticed and three will not be heard
There's a meal there's a window, there's a face that you can't see
I vow to taste my vengeance, even if their dead
Maybe his time is coming, and maybe he's better off
The Melvins' song "Suicide In Progress" is a deeply introspective look at the human experience, exploring themes of mortality, purpose, and justice. The opening lines, "There's a little animal, way up in the air, my nose and tongue are roving, but maybe it's not there," hint at a sense of disorientation and confusion, as if the singer is searching for something that may not even exist. The following lines shift to a bleak perspective on humanity, describing a little man in the middle of the earth who gives himself orders to let everything burn.
Throughout the song, the lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and futility, as if the world is a chaotic, nonsensical place. The makeshift wonders mentioned in the third verse are largely ignored or unheard, suggesting that even the things we create to bring beauty and meaning to the world are ultimately insignificant. The final line, "Maybe his time is coming, and maybe he's better off," suggests a resignation to the inevitability of death, and a sense that perhaps it's all for the best.
Overall, "Suicide In Progress" is a song that wrestles with some of the most fundamental questions of the human experience, and invites listeners to confront the dark realities of existence. It's a haunting, thought-provoking track that showcases the Melvins' trademark blend of heavy, distorted guitars and introspective lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a little animal, way up in the air
There's an unidentified presence that's above and beyond our immediate reach or perception.
My nose and tongue are roving, but maybe it's not there
My senses are actively seeking out this elusive entity, but it may not even exist in the first place.
There's a little man now, in the middle of the earth
There's a tiny figure located deep within the planet's core.
He gives himself these orders and let it all be burned
He's self-destructive and willingly causes chaos and devastation.
There are lots of makeshift wonders, seven in the world
There's a wide array of fleeting marvels to be cherished, seven of which are particularly significant or noteworthy.
Five of them will not be noticed and three will not be heard
The majority of these wonders will go unnoticed and unappreciated, with only a select few receiving the recognition and acclaim they deserve.
There's a meal there's a window, there's a face that you can't see
There are things that are right in front of you, like food, a window or even someone's face, but you're unable to fully comprehend or appreciate their significance.
You can keep what you've stolen, just give it back to me
If you've taken something that doesn't belong to you, you're allowed to keep it as long as you eventually return it to its rightful owner.
I vow to taste my vengeance, even if their dead
I'm determined to pursue my vendetta against my enemies, even if it means taking revenge against them posthumously.
Maybe his time is coming, and maybe he's better off
Perhaps the end is near for a particular individual, but this might just be the best thing that could happen to them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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