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 Talking Horse
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speaks nothing but rage
The nature of the burning bee
Means nothing to no one
The burning talking nowhere near
Means nothing to me
The golden talking equine god
The song "The Talking Horse" by Melvins presents a surreal image of a golden talking horse who only speaks of rage. This powerful, divine horse seems to have no purpose or meaning, as its words "mean nothing to no one". The lyrics in the second and third line point towards the enigma of existence and how the nature of burning bee and burning talking seems to make sense to nobody, expressing an existential crisis. The horse's presence in the song represents a cosmic force that is beyond human understanding and interpretation.
The repetition of the phrase "means nothing to no one" throughout the song is a reflection of how insignificant, helpless and lost one might feel in the face of such powerful forces of nature. The song also brings forth a sense of foreboding, where the listener is left to contemplate their own place and purpose in the world. Overall, the lyrics of "The Talking Horse" challenge the listener to consider their own beliefs and understanding of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
The golden talking equine god
A magnificent horse-like creature that can speak
Speaks nothing but rage
Communicates only anger
The nature of the burning bee
The characteristics of the fiery bee
Means nothing to no one
Is not relevant or understood by anyone
The burning talking nowhere near
The fiery communicator is not close by
Means nothing to me
Is not important or comprehensible to the singer
The golden talking equine god
The magnificent speaking horse-like creature
Means nothing to no one
Is not of significance or understandable by anyone
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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