Bad Mood Rising

[amazonAMAZON]

Well holy shit! Holy fucking shit!

I played this thing LOUD and it may very well be my favorite Melvins album of the last ten years. You know how playing Lysol feels like listening to 4.5 songs (all of them great?) Well this record does not feel like that. It feels like more songs than Working With God did (at least to me).

There's so much to unpack. The prologue (and epilogue) of "Mr. Dog" is both frightening and lovable. I think it's toms and reversed vocals and maybe something else, but it really sets the tone for the record.

Every tune rocks. There's no major diversions into genres they don't belong in or synthy noodling. There is a track or two on side two that feel a bit like the cheerier parts of Nude With Boots.

While much of it sonically resembles these past Toshi years, especially Melvins 1983 albums, there are also some new choices that feel more like 5 Legged Dog or Buzz's acoustic stuff in that there is space to listen and definition in each instrument.

I didn't notice any awkward lyrics or clunky melodic turns. The songs all pretty much end up somewhere different from where they started, except the two we've already heard on the EP. "Receiver and the Empire State" might be my least favorite track.

Anyway, I'm super excited. I'm really glad I splurged on the initial vinyl release. I'm still new to records, so I probably have nasty azimuth and a crappy preamp, but it still sounded alive and immediate. Though I know I'll buy the CD when it comes available, I'll also be happy to live with my little digitized copy for the car.

I heard some backing vocals that I don't think were Steven's on side 2. Almost sounds ladylike. Elsewhere the harmonizing is good. I like that they didn't lose that element from 5 Legged Dog either. Buzz sings lead throughout, as best I can tell. I certainly don't hear a Steven lead anywhere.

None of these songs would play on the radio, but this is a great record to introduce people to the Melvins. Perhaps the best such new studio album since the BB days.

Ha! This band does not keep fans waiting very long, and I'm grateful for that, but FUCK I've been waiting for this for a loooong time.

[black stallion]

great review, thanks!

[))))((((]

Thanks for the insight aA!! Funny you say 'Receiver...' is your least favourite track. I have had a feeling it will be mine too - a bit of a weird closer by usual Melvins standards. Anyway let's hope this darn thing is announced VERY soon. I'm thinking possibly tomorrow with a week to go!

[the bloat]

Thank you AMAZON!! About damn time someone chimes in! Really looking forward to this.

[Pound4abrown]

Man. Hammering is a great damn song.
Still digesting this one, but it is really good.

[rimb]

Yeah this was an enjoyable first listen. 

The things that stood out the most to me were the sharing around of vocals and harmonies which worked really well and the sludgy parts having more hooks in them so they don't get so bogged down.

[))))((((]

Happened to hear a little snippet of (i think) 'Hammering' on one of the bands Instagram stories. It does indeed sound pretty "catchy" as Haze described it.

[black stallion]

yeah, i heard that snippet too. Steven style probably

[jules]

Tuesday Shoxop



Orange tour vinyl available from Las Vegas

[immoraliste]

I love that melvins do all these special and unique releases for all the vinyl heads, just wish they would also release the music on bandcamp or something for those that aren't.

[CoryCory]

So it's AmRep exclusive? Rad!

[))))((((]

I love that melvins do all these special and unique releases for all the vinyl heads, just wish they would also release the music on bandcamp or something for those that aren't.

Someone asked on FB and they said it IS coming to streaming. "Not immediately though" was the reply.

[booji]

Black vinyl:

https://www.roughtrade.com/us/melvins/bad-moon-rising

https://www.plaidroomrecords.com/search?type=product&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=melvins

Also, the Boston and Norwood Newbury Comics stores (it's not on the Newbury Comics website)

[buddy holiday]

Orange vinyl is tour exclusive. Starting from vegas.
Orange black splatter is factory available on shoxop on tuesday.
Black is indie record stores exclusive.
Art editions already out and gone. 3 versions, plus TP.

CDs coming..  likely cheapy CDs...
Digital coming too, sometime....

All AMREP.

[))))((((]

CDs coming..  likely cheapy CDs...
Digital coming too, sometime....

Back when Big Business' album 'Battlefields Forever' came out i had really poor, intermittent internet. As a result i kept trying to listen to the album but it kept fucking up and i heard some songs over and over or they kept cutting out. As a result whenever i listen or think about that album now i think about those troubles. The two are tied together in my mind. I have a bad feeling that in time when i think about 'Bad Mood Rising' i will similarly recall the hassle trying to get a copy. The protracted release and my impatience to finally hear it! I hope it will be sooner than later.