(A) Senile Animal

[(((O)))]

Here's a question!


Did you guys instantly recognize the riff in 'A History Of Bad Men' the first time you heard it? I wasn't overly well versed in Melvins back when this album came out so i never picked up on it until much later.

[black stallion]

honestly not

[Metalhead Cow]

http://thequietus.com/articles/08837-dave-lombardo-slayer-favourite-albums?page=12

Cool!

[Metalhead Cow]

Here's a question!


Did you guys instantly recognize the riff in 'A History Of Bad Men' the first time you heard it? I wasn't overly well versed in Melvins back when this album came out so i never picked up on it until much later.

No I didn't realize that until I read posts on this board saying the bass lines were the same. I then listened to the two songs and realized that was true. I don't if I would have ever made that connection if I hadn't had read that here. My initial reaction to A History Of Bad Men when I listened to it for the first time, was that it reminded me of Night Goat (a lot of people were saying that too).

[bUTTHOLEmAN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=201&v=_BZ2UoBZzEI

[homeless_dad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=201&v=_BZ2UoBZzEI

Great clip! I noticed he used that phrase when I first watched this interview a few years back.

[homeless_dad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=201&v=_BZ2UoBZzEI

Walsby must be watching the board.

[amazonAMAZON]

THOUGHTS:

I was not that into this album when it came out but I was not yet a fanatic.

Now I see its genius. While "A History of Bad Men" and "Civilized Worm" are probably the most representative songs on the record it's "A History of Drunks" and "A Vast Filthy Prison" and "Blood Witch" and "You've Never Been Right" that I find myself anticipating the most.

But talking about the songs is far less interesting than talking about the album as a whole. I just listened to "Pet Sounds" the other day. I dare say Buzz is the Brian Wilson of the electric age.

Jared's voice has a greater range especially in the high registers which allows Buzz to write songs he simply wouldn't have been able to perform earlier (think of how hard he was reaching in "Hog Leg"). In context it's amazing for the primary songwriter and singer in a band to suddenly put himself in the backseat on half the album just because the new bass player can hit a high note. It is proof to me that Buzz has the utmost respect for his records and that his ethos is true.

Secondly this album stands as a landmark now (with three and a half albums worth of continuing proof) that those drum parts Dale has been playing were never random. When you listen to Bullhead for example it is easy enough to fall into the trap of convincing yourself that the wool is being pulled over the listener's eyes and ears. But when you hear Coady and Dale sync up so tightly on pretty much everything they play it sheds the light of deliberate intention on the 25 albums of Dale's drums previous.

I love this record, and its continuation in Nude, Bride, and Bulls. In that it is an experiment in band dynamics has probably made the record one of the least experimental in terms of avant garde approaches (my first listen I probably dismissed it as a classic rock nostalgia album). But there are literally dozens of classic Melvins riffs throughout. The difference is that the songs are not relying on the riffage, rather showcasing them at the appropriate time.

Also the FBI warning on the CD label is amazing.

[black stallion]

THOUGHTS:

I was not that into this album when it came out but I was not yet a fanatic.

Now I see its genius. While "A History of Bad Men" and "Civilized Worm" are probably the most representative songs on the record it's "A History of Drunks" and "A Vast Filthy Prison" and "Blood Witch" and "You've Never Been Right" that I find myself anticipating the most.

But talking about the songs is far less interesting than talking about the album as a whole. I just listened to "Pet Sounds" the other day. I dare say Buzz is the Brian Wilson of the electric age.

Jared's voice has a greater range especially in the high registers which allows Buzz to write songs he simply wouldn't have been able to perform earlier (think of how hard he was reaching in "Hog Leg"). In context it's amazing for the primary songwriter and singer in a band to suddenly put himself in the backseat on half the album just because the new bass player can hit a high note. It is proof to me that Buzz has the utmost respect for his records and that his ethos is true.

Secondly this album stands as a landmark now (with three and a half albums worth of continuing proof) that those drum parts Dale has been playing were never random. When you listen to Bullhead for example it is easy enough to fall into the trap of convincing yourself that the wool is being pulled over the listener's eyes and ears. But when you hear Coady and Dale sync up so tightly on pretty much everything they play it sheds the light of deliberate intention on the 25 albums of Dale's drums previous.

I love this record, and its continuation in Nude, Bride, and Bulls. In that it is an experiment in band dynamics has probably made the record one of the least experimental in terms of avant garde approaches (my first listen I probably dismissed it as a classic rock nostalgia album). But there are literally dozens of classic Melvins riffs throughout. The difference is that the songs are not relying on the riffage, rather showcasing them at the appropriate time.

Also the FBI warning on the CD label is amazing.

their best album since POTRE

[(the) Razor]

I remember buying the CD very clearly. Friday night after work, went straight down to the local store and bought it.

Sat in the car park listening to the first two songs before driving away. After Talking Horse I was like..."fuck yeah" then put in on a proper setup. Great album from start to finish.

Didn't leave the car's stacker for like a year .

[meezer]

I know POTRE is sacred around here, but I was relieved to hear this was a hard ass rock record from start to finish. Once I had it on a tape with Nude With Boots, I liked NWB better overall, but this is one hell of an album.

[Captain CoryCory]

Senile Animal turns ten today.

Couldn't resist writing a piece celebrating the anniversary. It's one of my all-time favorites.

http://doodlehound.blogspot.com/2016/10/distant-revisitation-melvins-senile.html

[buddy holiday]

nice write-up, thank you!
unbelievable it has been 10 years since the release of ASA already...

[(the) Razor]

Scary. Ten years!


Time to listen to it again today.

[Lesbian_Billy]

i have been playing along to this record for years.  it's fun as a drummer to pick out and play along with dale or cody.  by far my favorite album of the three big business records.