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.
The Bloat
Melvins Lyrics
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800 miles of prime
We be plain Jack belt loaded-Ha!
I pause, I holler
Still powder line
Selling bulge egg tourniquette-Ha!
The more you know the brain
The more it homocide
Give me 46
Give me 45
Can't place down dance stone -Ha!
The lyrics to Melvins' song "The Bloat" are enigmatic and difficult to decipher. The song opens with the line "I ain't nothing to the notice," which may suggest a feeling of insignificance or being overlooked. The reference to 800 miles of prime could suggest some kind of geographic distance or separation from the rest of the world. The line "We be plain Jack belt loaded" is similarly ambiguous, though it may refer to some kind of rural or working-class lifestyle.
The next few lines are even more perplexing: "I pause, I holler / Still powder line / Selling bulge egg tourniquet." It's impossible to say for sure what these lines mean, but they suggest some kind of frenzied activity or attempt to sell something. The following line, "The more you know the brain / The more it homicide," is similarly confusing, though it may suggest that knowledge can lead to destructive behavior.
The final lines of the song, "Give me 46 / Give me 45 / Can't place down dance stone," are once again difficult to interpret. The reference to dance stone may suggest drug use or a party atmosphere, but it's unclear what the numbers 46 and 45 signify.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't nothing to the notice
I am not noteworthy or important
800 miles of prime
Traveling a long distance through a well-developed and desirable area
We be plain Jack belt loaded-Ha!
We are well-prepared and well-armed for any situation
I pause, I holler
I stop and shout, drawing attention to myself
Still powder line
Despite the use of drugs, I am still able to be focused and alert
Selling bulge egg tourniquette-Ha!
I am selling a strange and possibly disturbing object
The more you know the brain
The more you understand about the workings of the brain
The more it homocide
The more likely it is to cause harm and destruction
Belt strip telephone-Ha!
An obscure and possibly nonsensical reference to an object or situation
Give me 46
Give me something of significant value or importance
Give me 45
Give me something else of significant value or importance
Can't place down dance stone -Ha!
Unable to relax or let loose, possibly due to anxiety or fear
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER OSBORNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind