Melvins Lite - Freak Puke

[jonE5]

Speechless.

Last time I was this stoked about a MELVINS release was H.A.T.
Tommy goes beserk is so refreshing.  the entire release is sooo nice
and quiet then the build up...

simply clean and heavy. The vocals are all over the place in a pure way.
Dales talents shine. 

I remember seeing the first show of MELVINS lite in San Diego.  The set was
strong.  Mostly MELVINS covers w/ Trevor fuckin shit up in a awesome way.
Never would have thought the new stuff would sound so MELVINS!!

Way to go MELVINS
thanks for the songs..

I woke up to find my Signed copy in the mailbox.. Today Will be a good day 

[pinkyslim]

The vocals are all over the place in a pure way.

great point.  perhaps something thats been missing since the 4 piece era started and they've focused more on vocal harmonies and less on effects.

vocal harmonies are great in small doses like reggae.
The barbershop stuff gets tired fast.

Spinal Tap Elvis grave scene

[EvilNewWarGod]

Speechless.

Last time I was this stoked about a MELVINS release was H.A.T.
Tommy goes beserk is so refreshing.  the entire release is sooo nice
and quiet then the build up...

simply clean and heavy. The vocals are all over the place in a pure way.
Dales talents shine. 

I remember seeing the first show of MELVINS lite in San Diego.  The set was
strong.  Mostly MELVINS covers w/ Trevor fuckin shit up in a awesome way.
Never would have thought the new stuff would sound so MELVINS!!

Way to go MELVINS
thanks for the songs..

I woke up to find my Signed copy in the mailbox.. Today Will be a good day 

where do you live jonE5? that might give me a better idea on when to expect mine

[Pound4abrown]

Never would have thought the new stuff would rock so hard and heavy.

Agree.
Based on the stripped down drums and the stand-up bass, I was not expecting this album to rock as much as it does.
I guess though, in hindsight, I shouldn't have been all that surprised.

[Uncle Fester]

Worm Farm Waltz-"We hear things all the time that are not there" and "He said we were sorry... he said we won't worry"
Is that Trevor on vocals?

and listen to the bass line during the part where Buzz is like "and I ain't no..."-It's really interesting.

I KNOW.
it's so beautiful. 

why are you crying?is it joy or you wish Trevor was a permanent member?

a little of both I reckon.

[MrLuck87]

Here's the review I posted to amazon.com:

Best Melvins album since The Bulls and The Bees

Wait, didn't the Melvins just release and tour on their excellent free EP, The Bulls and The Bees? How is it possible they already have another album out? Well, it's true. They're already back with a new full length album and they're planning a record breaking tour in the fall.

Freak Puke does have a pretty big difference from Melvins albums that have come out in recent years. Second drummer Coady Willis and bassist Jared Warren are not on this album. Instead we have Trevor Dunn playing stand up bass. He's no stranger to The Melvins though. He played bass on their "Houdini Live 2005" album and has also played with Buzz and Dale in Fantomas.

Needless to say this album sounds a lot different than their recent efforts (not that their recent efforts sound the same). If it sounded like any previous Melvins I would probably compare it to Honky or Stag, maybe even the Bootlicker although I think the album is much heavier than The Bootlicker. Like their other albums it really is it's own unique entry in their discography.

Honestly, this is one of the hardest albums in their discography to review. Sometimes it reminds me of their more 70's rock inspired songs (Leon vs the Revolution), sometimes it reminds me of their heavier sludge work (A Growing Disgust), sometimes it reminds me of an odd hybrid of Trevor's jazz influences combined with Buzz's indistinguishable guitar work (Baby, Won't You Weird Me Out), and that's barely the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot of depth to these songs and it's impossible to notice everything going on after a few listens.

So should you get the album? Absolutely! However, if you're just wanting a straight forward hard-rock album that's going to make sense on the first listen you probably aren't going to find that here. However, if you've been dying for an album that's weird, challenging, and rocks Freak Puke will likely be your favorite album of 2012. Buy it and support the hardest working band in the business!

[(PAUL)]

Allmusic.com review:

When the Melvins teamed up with Big Business, it felt like they were, in effect, creating a sort of "Melvins squared." Jared Warren and Coady Willis seemed to be a perfect fit with Crover and Osborne, with the two pairs doubling up to create what could almost be described as a four-piece duo. After three albums together, Crover and Osborne return with their stripped-down Melvins Lite lineup on Freak Puke, an album that finds them shifting away from the big sludge excursions of their recent work in favor of something altogether weirder. Featuring Trevor Dunn (of Mr. Bungle and Fant

[Pound4abrown]

Allmusic.com review:

When the Melvins teamed up with Big Business, it felt like they were, in effect, creating a sort of "Melvins squared." Jared Warren and Coady Willis seemed to be a perfect fit with Crover and Osborne, with the two pairs doubling up to create what could almost be described as a four-piece duo. After three albums together, Crover and Osborne return with their stripped-down Melvins Lite lineup on Freak Puke, an album that finds them shifting away from the big sludge excursions of their recent work in favor of something altogether weirder. Featuring Trevor Dunn (of Mr. Bungle and Fant

[(((O)))]

Something John Peel said about The Fall always makes me think relates to Melvins also.


"With The Fall you can never be absolutely certain what you're going to get. Sometimes it may not be what you want, but it's still...they're The Fall. That's all you need."

[MrLuck87]

Allmusic.com review:

When the Melvins teamed up with Big Business, it felt like they were, in effect, creating a sort of "Melvins squared." Jared Warren and Coady Willis seemed to be a perfect fit with Crover and Osborne, with the two pairs doubling up to create what could almost be described as a four-piece duo. After three albums together, Crover and Osborne return with their stripped-down Melvins Lite lineup on Freak Puke, an album that finds them shifting away from the big sludge excursions of their recent work in favor of something altogether weirder. Featuring Trevor Dunn (of Mr. Bungle and Fant

[homeless_dad]

My mailbox is getting pissed off!!! Still nothing!!

[Greasy Statement]

just got in the door with it right now. on to my player it shall go....

[Metalhead Cow]

-I love it when Buzz says "mollusk" in Tommy Goes Beserk

That sounds like Dale to me. Im probably wrong but i really don't recognise Buzzo vocal wise on the vast majority of this one at all.

I'm pretty positive that's Buzz. 

[J_B]

Came in the mail today, almost done with the first listen now... Pretty sick... It definitely has a different flavor than the last few which I'm really digging, with the sorta creepy riffs, heavy freak outs, and mellow sections.. Some of the stuff seemed to give off a stoner witch / honky vibe... And as a bunch of people have said already, trevor's upright playing is a cool twist.

[Mints]

I keep saying this, but Tommy Goes Beserk made me think of Prig.

And the two main guitar parts of Let It All Be played at the same time.