Description
When the grunge sound of Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam broke alternative rock into the mainstream at the start of the 1990s, there was a sudden rush by the major labels to sign a slew of previously underground bands with a similar sound. Although a lot of those musicians only saw their underdog status and relative geography in common many of them came from in and around Seattle, Washington it was enough to wipe away the hair metal and glam rock that had ruled the 1980s. Many bands from the Pacific North West, including Screaming Trees, Tad, Alice In Chains and Mudhoney, would benefit from this windfall of major label contracts, but one of the more surprising signings were the Melvins. Atlantic signed Melvins for their 5th album, 1993rsquos lsquoHoudinirsquo CD1. Sporting a cover design by famed poster artist Frank Kozik, lsquoHoudinirsquo was in part coproduced by Kurt Cobain, and their most commercially successful release was recorded mainly by Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover. A cover of KISSrsquo lsquoGoinrsquo Blindrsquo shouldnrsquot have surprised any of their long term fans, and the songs lsquoHoochrsquo and lsquoLizzyrsquo were issued as singles, with lsquoHoney Bucketrsquo even receiving airplay on MTV. Bonus tracks include their cover of the MC5rsquos lsquoRocket Reducer 62 Rama Lama Fa Fa Farsquo, a cover of The Germsrsquo lsquoLexicon Devilrsquo and lsquoIts Shovedrsquo Live. Their next Atlantic album was 1996rsquos lsquoStoner Witchrsquo CD2, where they were now joined by Mark Deutrom on bass. Their third and final Atlantic album, lsquoStagrsquo CD3, was in fact their eight album, as they had continued to record for various indies in the 1990s. lsquoThe Bitrsquo and lsquoBarX the Rocking Mrsquo were issued as singles, with a cover of Pink Floydrsquos sprawling lsquoInterstellar Overdriversquo, lsquoThe Bitrsquo Radio Edit and lsquoTipping The Lion Brsquo added as bonus tracks.
