Couple of listens in, I think this might be my favourite recent Melvins album.
We've often talked about the way they create a specific environment for studio recordings and then translate songs into a different energetic space for live shows. This record strikes a balance between those two poles, adding a third dimension to things that I find very intriguing. As amazon mentioned earlier 'it feels both practiced and in-the-moment' and I couldn't agree more.
This is also the first album that I feel really works with Steve. His upper register is essential to the Helter Skelterish vocal harmonies that haunt the entire thing. His bass work is also a lot more subtle than usual. If anything, Crover is the only one overplaying on this.
(Dropping a stick on the Evil New War God solo is such a nice touch)
The mix has been brought up a few times by this point and yeah, the drums are distractingly loud. Not always in terms of dBs, but the washed out cymbal use and boominess of it all is an odd choice, considering the way the tunes are put together. Knowing them, I'm sure this was deliberate and it's not off-putting, just a bit of a head-scratcher that they would decide to bury the guitars as much as they did. Reminds me of Beefheart's Dachau Blues, in the way that Don's vocals devour the (very interesting) instrumental beneath it. You find yourself leaning in closer to catch more of what you are enjoying. Buzz mentioned that his guitar work was all tracked with just a room mic, no direct inputs. Essentially the opposite of the Bootlicker recording technique. High level nitpick here, but I think something closer along with a more "Ringo" approach to the drum recording could have served the whole thing a little better but I might just need to live with the album a bit longer.
You can also tell that they must have gone back to some of the original recordings for reference. I've gotten so used to the lyrical mutations from live shows, that hearing certain songs performed true to the original, made them appear even fresher on first listen. Whole thing felt like a gig, come to think of it.
I'm not crazy about the covers, but they have their place. I could also do with a couple of deeper cuts in place of the more obvious hits. Brass Cupcake was mentioned earlier, which would kill with this lineup. Mr. Rip Off, Hospital Up, A Vast and Filthy Prison and Prenup Butter also come to mind. But again, only nitpicking because I like it so much.
Great record.
