The Melvins Trilogy- A Narrative by Dan Halen

[Dan_Halen]

Somehow this was edited and most of what I wrote is gone  .....


But I will try to re-tell the story. I was always a huge Melvins fan...then when I was young I bought Prick on cassette in the store. After Houdini I couldn't eait to hear the new album...well I was pissed. Long story short...I sorta stopped listening to them for a while until HAT dropped, at which point I discovered Stoner Witch and Stag. Somehow the Trilogy got lost in the sauce....last 4th of July Weekend I was fortunate enough to pick up a copy on vinyl. I locked myself in my house with the records and a nice bag of Pineapple Trainwreck. The following are the reviews and results from a die-hard Melvins fan listening to and loving the Trilogy for the first time ever. With the exception of Smells Like Teen Spirit and Let It All Be I had never heard any of the other songs previously.

[Dan_Halen]

The Maggot- This is the reason I had to have this set and it is well worth it even if the other two suck! I just listened to it and wow, this might end up being one of my favorite Melvins albums. I really love it. After I heard it all the way through I flipped it back over and began to immediately play it again with no hesitation. On a scale of 1 to 10 this one goes to 11! I seriously just had to listen to it twice to make sure it was real! I love this fucking album, I cannot stress that enough. Did you know I fucking love it!?!?

(Edit: I didn't single out any specific tracks on this one because they are all good and it was impossible to pick one over the other, although I prefer the second AMAZON track that's all caps to the lowercase one)

[Dan_Halen]

The Bootlicker- I really dig this one too. I love that they went a totally different direction. I couldn't handle another awesome heavy album after just being blown away my The Maggot anyways! Let it All be, Mary Bobbykins, and Jew Boy Flowerhead were the standouts at first listen. I also love the way the albums engs with Prig. This album is very trippy and psychedelic. I need to hear it a few more times but I'm feeling it. I recently read an article where Buzzo said they didn't even use amps they just plugged the guitars in direct with no amp modelling or anything. It almost sounds like that could be a true statement even tho the album sounds damn good.  Anyone know the facts on that or if Buzz was just kidding?

[Dan_Halen]

The Crybaby After listening I will say I do like this album, but for me it only works as a part 3 of the trilogy. It almost feels like the bonus disc, the end of the process where the Melvins had fun. Keep in mind I have the vinyl so I'm missing the last 4 songs or so. Instrumentally they got Teen Spirit near perfect, that track makes me laugh though. Leif Garret...ha! The Mike Patton one was easy to spot, it almost sounded like a lost Peeping Tom track. For me the standout tracks were Mine is No Disgrace and Divorced. So in summation... Crybaby is great and fun part three to the trilogy. I appreciate it for what it is.

[azathoth rising]

No matter what limited shit they release in the future that I can't afford, I'll always be okay because I have the Trilogy on vinyl. It was my Holy Grail, I love it, the cover art is fantastic, and the records nice and offensive.

[(((O)))]

Dan this is a funny and awesome story. I think we all have bands we drift away from for one reason or another and then can't believe what we missed out on in retrospect.

Thankfully you made the right decision tho to check out the Trilogy. For my money the bands crowning achievement so far. Im not so taken on about half of The Crybaby as that is definitely the poorest of the bunch but the other two are fantastic. The Maggot is such a rocking record and is my favourite Melvins album by far. Don't let me put you off Crybaby tho. For the few tunes that i dislike there are a few REALLY great songs too.

Im looking forward to your next report back. 

[black stallion]

I recently read an article where Buzzo said they didn't even use amps they just plugged the guitars in direct with no amp modelling or anything. It almost sounds like that could be a true statement even tho the album sounds damn good.  Anyone know the facts on that or if Buzz was just kidding?

it is possible. consider that they did something similar on Freak Puke

[williamblakestyger]

maggot
bootlicker
colossus of destiny

[Dan_Halen]

Im looking forward to your next report back. 

Thanks, just had my morning coffee and gave The Crybaby a spin, review updated up top.

I recently read an article where Buzzo said they didn't even use amps they just plugged the guitars in direct with no amp modelling or anything. It almost sounds like that could be a true statement even tho the album sounds damn good.  Anyone know the facts on that or if Buzz was just kidding?

it is possible. consider that they did something similar on Freak Puke

Yes but Buzz still used an amp. It is easy to make bass sound good directly plugged in, in fact 50% of the time an engineer will prefer that method of recording. Guitar however, usually sounds like crap when plugged in directly with no amp or modeling software. I do believe this is how they recorded it, and my hat is off to the engineer because he made it sound great and almost unnoticeable.

No matter what limited shit they release in the future that I can't afford, I'll always be okay because I have the Trilogy on vinyl. It was my Holy Grail, I love it, the cover art is fantastic, and the records nice and offensive.

Well said sir, it is an amazing package. Ipecac does a nice job on the limited edition vinyls, as long as they aren't warped 

[(((O)))]

For me the standout tracks were Mine is No Disgrace and Divorced.

I see it EXACTLY the same too.

[black stallion]

For me the standout tracks were Mine is No Disgrace and Divorced.

I see it EXACTLY the same too.

i'd add the man with laughing hand is dead and the song with HANK III. let's not talk about that track with Patton 

[Dan_Halen]

For me the standout tracks were Mine is No Disgrace and Divorced.

I see it EXACTLY the same too.

i'd add the man with laughing hand is dead and the song with HANK III. let's not talk about that track with Patton 

That is the sickest title...wish I could hear the song but alas it was left off the vinyl version of the crybaby. 

[(((O)))]

For me the standout tracks were Mine is No Disgrace and Divorced.

I see it EXACTLY the same too.

i'd add the man with laughing hand is dead and the song with HANK III. let's not talk about that track with Patton 

I forgot that one. It's another highlight for sure. It's funny how both Maggot and Bootlicker are about 40 minutes long yet Crybaby way over that. It would have been a truly killer (and concise) album featuring just the songs Divorced, Mine.. and The Man With...

[(((O)))]

That is the sickest title...wish I could hear the song but alas it was left off the vinyl version of the crybaby. 

You may notice the bassline pops up in 'A History Of Bad Men' too!

Melvins / Bliss Blood - The Man With The Laughing Hand Is Dead

[Dan_Halen]

That song is amazing...why the fuck didn't they put that on the vinyl and leave teen spirit off!?!? lol