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.
blockbuster
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was to think
You could fuck with the ranch
Here I come here I come
With my dick in my hand
Do you think you'd like to have a blockbuster up your ass?
Do you think you'd like that?
Do ya motherfucker?
And then your head
And we'll nab your kids
Take out back on the deck and bar-be-q their ribs
Throw their heads into your ivy, water them with piss
Do you think you'd like that?
Do ya motherfucker?
The lyrics of "Blockbuster" by Melvins are intense, disturbing and violent. The song seems to be about a person or a group of people who thought they could challenge or disrespect the "ranch" or the Melvins without any consequences. The lyrics start with a warning that the first mistake made by this person was to think that they could mess with the Melvins. The singer then declares that he is coming with his "dick in his hand," a phrase that signifies power and domination. The singer then asks the person if they would like to have a "blockbuster up their ass," which can be interpreted as a metaphorical threat of violence and pain.
The lyrics then become even more disturbing as the singer talks about smashing the person's eggs (symbolizing the destruction of their potential), nabbing their kids, and bar-be-qing their ribs. The imagery of throwing their heads into the ivy and watering them with piss is graphic and horrifying. The singer then asks if the person would like all that to happen to them, implying that they are powerless and at the mercy of the Melvins.
Overall, the lyrics of "Blockbuster" by Melvins seem to be about power, domination, and revenge. The Melvins are portrayed as a force to be reckoned with, and anyone who dares to challenge or disrespect them will face violent consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Your first mistake
You messed up right at the beginning
Was to think
Your mistake was believing
You could fuck with the ranch
You thought you could mess with us
Here I come here I come
I'm about to bring the heat
With my dick in my hand
I'm ready for action
Do you think you'd like to have a blockbuster up your ass?
Would you enjoy a huge problem or threat happening to you?
Do you think you'd like that?
Are you ready for what's coming?
Do ya motherfucker?
Are you really sure?
We'll smash your eggs
We'll destroy everything you hold dear
And then your head
And then we'll come for you
And we'll nab your kids
We'll take your loved ones
Take out back on the deck and bar-be-q their ribs
We'll torture them to death
Throw their heads into your ivy, water them with piss
We'll desecrate their remains
Do you think you'd like that?
Is that something you really want to happen?
Do ya motherfucker?
Because we will do it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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